Pinsent Masons increases London NQ salaries by 8% to £105,000, and raises regional pay to £66,500.
The move adds to a wave of salary hikes, increasing pressure on mid-tier firms to raise compensation.
Pinsent Masons has bumped its London newly qualified (NQ) solicitor salary to £105,000, up from £97,000, effective from September 2025.
The 8% increase is part of a growing trend of salary hikes across the legal sector. Ashurst, Hogan Lovells, DLA Piper and CMS have all raised their NQ pay in recent weeks, in what appears to be the start of a new salary battle after last year's wave of increases.
The salary review also includes raises for NQs in the regions, moving them from £63,000 to £66,500.
Where they stand
The increase moves Pinsents ahead of UK peers Mishcon (£95,000) and Bird & Bird (£98,000), as well as Dentons and Addleshaw Goddard (both £100,000). But the firm remains some way off national powerhouse rival DLA which handed its NQs a £20,000 raise last week, moving them to £130,000.
See our City law firm salary table for where things stand.
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