Squires boosts NQ solicitor salaries to £110k as it confirms 81% retention score

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By Legal Cheek on

8

21 out of 26

money pay rise
Squire Patton Boggs (SPB) has announced it will raise lawyer salaries in both its City and regional offices.

The firm confirmed that London salaries will increase from £100,000 to £110,000, while regional salaries will rise from £65,000 to £70,000. The uplifts take effect from 1 January 2025.

The Legal Cheek Firms Most List 2025 shows that the salary increase brings SPB’s London NQs in line with their peers at CMS, which last week confirmed similar rises, and DLA Piper.

At the same time, SPB confirmed a trainee retention rate of 81%, with 21 out of 26 trainees from the firm’s UK offices securing permanent associate positions.

 The 2025 Legal Cheek Firms Most List

The new recruits qualify into a range of practices including corporate, financial services, IP & technology, international dispute resolution, litigation, competition, restructuring & insolvency, environmental safety & health, white collar & government investigations, real estate and labour & employment.

European managing partner Jonathan Jones commented:

“Our associates represent the future of our firm. In a highly competitive market for talent, we remain committed to providing competitive pay and distinguishing ourselves with a culture that places the highest value on people’s development and well-being.”

8 Comments

Regional observer

Believe this makes Squires the second highest paying firm in the regions behind DLA at 75k?

NQNobby

Burges Salmon – £72k springs to mind

Regional observer

I meant as in salaries for a firm with multiple regional offices.

Otherwise you could also include the 2 NQs in Hogan Lovells bham office on 75k

Anon

Osborne Clarke in Reading is £84,600 and £72,000 in Bristol.

HogLov Birmingham is £85k.

Simmons & Simmons is £76,500 in Bristol.

Rooos

So, Squirt Patterned Bogs are now the news again?

Ferret Fancier

Leeds market currently:

DLA – £75k
SPB – £70K
Sheds – £65.5K
AG – £65k
Pinsent – £TBA
WM – £TBA

Things looking fairly rosy for NQ’s in Leeds – those £££££££’s go a long way up north.

Anon

I don’t agree – in absolute terms Squires increased its London NQ salary by £10k and its regional salary by £5k.

That’s a familiar pattern, the gap between London and the regions continues to widen.

Cheap as chips

That’s why most of the Leeds associates and seniors that want to, own their own home in a nice area, reasonable commute and plenty left over for a social life. They can even afford to have a family.

Not many of their London equivalents are in the same position.

That’s OK – horses for courses and all that – but the equivalent salary in Leeds affords a lifestyle that just isn’t available in London.

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