Trio of international firms hike salaries for newly-qualified lawyers Tom Coxtom.cox@legalease.co.uk16 June 2025Pay Ashurst, CMS and DLA Piper have all hiked pay for newly qualified (NQ) lawyers as the battle for junior talent continues to rage.Ashurst has increased its NQ salary to £140,000, with DLA bumping rates up to £130,000 and CMS to £120,000.Your limit of 1 article in 30 days is up. Please login for full access or subscribe. Corporate users - click here for simple access (no password needed). For more information, please contact jasmine.glass@legalbusiness.co.uk Related ContentMore in this categoryRevolving Doors: Linklaters adds eight-lawyer Paris team as Goodwin hires in London and Broadfield recruits from Sidley and KirklandRevolving Doors: Weil continues London funds rebuild as Dechert hires in-house PE star from GICAshurst hits £1bn milestone as firm looks to digital economy for future growthHogan Lovells ups City NQ pay to £140,000Latham rewards more than 20 star performers with new ‘super points’ rankKirkland and Davis Polk lead as Ferrero seals $3.1bn tie-up with cereal giant Kellogg‘Lifting ourself into the upper mid-market’ – Taylor Wessing posts double-digit revenue growth and breaks £1m in UK PEPFreshfields lands major US mandate advising Merck on $10bn Verona Pharma acquisition opposite LathamBird & Bird keeps sights on €1bn target as revenue climbs 6%