Hogan Lovells has become the latest law firm to increase pay for its junior talent in London, with its newly-qualified lawyers set to see their base salary rise to £140k.

The 4% rise from the previous £135k the firm paid puts it on a level with Macfarlanes, according to Legal Cheek, and means that among the UK firms it sits behind only the international Magic Circle – Freshfields, Clifford Chance, A&O Shearman and Linklaters, all of which upped NQ pay to £150k last year. 

“Following our annual salary review in the UK, and after careful consideration, we have increased salaries for our newly-qualified lawyers in London,” a Hogan Lovells spokesperson said. “The base salary for newly-qualified lawyers in London has increased from £135,000 to £140,000, with effect from 1 May 2025.

“Base salaries are only one component of lawyer remuneration. We operate a total compensation matrix that includes a competitive bonus scheme, taking into account both chargeable work and other contributions to the firm and our values.”

The pay increase is somewhat smaller than last year, when Hogan Lovells bumped London NQ pay 12% from £120k to £135k. Last year’s round of salary increases also extended to London trainees (from £50k to £56k in year one and from £55k to £61k in year two), as well as the firm’s Birmingham office, where NQ pay rose from £75k to £85k and trainee pay from £35k to £37.5k in year one and from £38.5k to £41k in year two. 

A spokesperson confirmed Hogan Lovells would not increase salaries for its trainees and Birmingham NQs this year. 

“We regularly review our salaries to ensure these are competitive in the local markets in which we operate,” they said. “Following our most recent review, we have taken the decision not to increase salaries for newly-qualified lawyers in Birmingham and our trainee solicitors this year. We are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent by offering a comprehensive package that includes high-quality work, career development opportunities and a supportive working environment in addition to a competitive compensation offering.”

Hogan Lovells’ salary rise continues a junior salary war that has seen repeated waves of pay increases on both sides of the Atlantic. UK firms, however, remain nowhere near the top of the market in London, where US firms dominate.

In February, Willkie Farr & Gallagher bumped NQ salaries 5% to £170k, in the process joining the elite group of around 20 US firms that have raised pay for their London NQs to £170k or more. Most of these firms pay between £170k and £175k, although Sullivan & Cromwell hands out £177k, and a quartet of firms – Davis Polk, Gibson Dunn, Paul Weiss and Quinn Emanuel – sit at the top of the market with an eye-watering £180k starting salary for associates.