Executive summary
This report was prepared on the basis of in-depth research carried out from July to October 2018. The results are based on data collected from international law firm offices in Paris and Brussels.
The report was researched by Gwilym Davies of Lexology Insights.
Compensation and human resources (Paris)
• Average like-for-like levels of compensation for associates tended to increase slightly since last year. Increases have been marginally more pronounced at senior level than at junior and middle level.
• 64% of the firms surveyed increased fee-earner headcount during the past year, but the same proportion also decreased support staff headcount. The mean net change in overall headcount was a -3.5% decrease.
Compensation and human resources (Brussels)
• Average like-for-like levels of compensation for associates has tended to decrease slightly since last year as several firms saw associates rise up levels without pay increases. Average trainee compensation has increased slightly, however.
• 55% of firms surveyed increased fee-earner headcount during the past year, with many offices growing significantly in size. The median net change in feeearner headcount across the sample was a 15% increase, although support staff headcount tended to remain more or less unchanged.
Billing (Paris)
• Average like-for-like standard billing rates for associates tended to increase nominally over the past year.
Billing (Brussels)
• Average like-for-like standard billing rates for associates tended to decrease nominally over the past year.
