Kathryn Rubino

New York

Senior Editor at Above the Law

Host at Above the Law - Thinking Like a Lawyer

Senior editor at Above the Law @ATLblog, debate coach, sports fan

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Articles

Associate Compensation Is More Than Just The Cravath Scale

1 week ago | abovethelaw.com | Kathryn Rubino

Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day!According to the National Association for Law Placement’s 2025 U.S. Associate Salary Survey, what is the overall median first-year associate salary? Hint: It’s higher at firms with 700+ attorneys, at a median of $215,000 — which is still below the top-of-market scale which gives associates $225,000 as their starting salary. See the answer on the next page.
It's A Good Time To Be A MAGA Lawyer

1 week ago | abovethelaw.com | Kathryn Rubino

The Trump II reign has come with new legal wrinkles (many of them unconstitutional) as Donald Trump is taking the hint from Project 2025 and trying to radically remake the nation in the image of conservatives. As with any massive policy change, that’s led to a run on legal services as clients try to navigate exactly what the law is. But the Trump administration is also running on vibes with folks with a history of loyalty to the cause receiving benefits, regardless of actual experience.
The Trump Deals Reverberate In Biglaw's Relationship With Clients

1 week ago | abovethelaw.com | Kathryn Rubino

Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day!According to Above the Law’s 2025 Biglaw Intimidation Survey, what percentage of respondents who work at in-house legal departments say the deals with Trump have no impact on their relationship with the Biglaw firms that capitulated? Hint: As one in-house respondent said, “I need strong, principled attorneys on our side.
Skadden Develops A Hint Of A Backbone, Let's See How Long It Lasts

1 week ago | abovethelaw.com | Kathryn Rubino

Skadden and the rest of the order of obsequiousness — that is, the nine Biglaw firms that capitulated to Donald Trump’s bullying to get out from under (or avoid entirely) unconstitutional Executive Orders designed to extract a harsh financial penalty from the firms — have gotten a fair amount of well-deserved criticism. The firms sold out the rule of law and promised nearly $1 billion in pro bono payola earmarked for conservative causes.
Biglaw Equity Partners Are Seeing A Windfall

1 week ago | abovethelaw.com | Kathryn Rubino

Profit text chart and arrow moving up. 3d render and computer generated image. Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day!According to data collected by American Lawyer, in 2024 by what percentage was profits per equity partner up across the entire Am Law 100? Hint: PEP averages $3,147,269See the answer on the next page.
The Biglaw Executive Orders Get The FedSoc Echo Chamber Treatment

1 week ago | abovethelaw.com | Kathryn Rubino

Last week I did something I never imagined I would. I went to a Federalist Society event. The New York chapter held an event on The Law Firm Executive Orders: Law, Process, and Controversy, something I’ve spent a fair amount of time covering.
Executive Order Against Law Firm ‘Null And Void’

1 week ago | dealbreaker.com | Kathryn Rubino

Judge John Bates, appointed by George W. Bush, is overseeing the litigation filed by Jenner & Block against the Trump administration challenging the Executive Order targeting the firm. Bates quickly issued a temporary restraining order, barring the enforcement of the most pernicious provisions of the EO. And Jenner followed up with a motion for summary judgment.
The FBI Decides What We Really Needs Right Now Is Another Investigation Into The Dobbs Leak

1 week ago | abovethelaw.com | Kathryn Rubino

Since the moment that the Supreme Court’s draft decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health was leaked, there were theories the leak came from the right — one of the conservative justices or their inner circle. In terms of motive for the leak, it just made sense, since the leak was likely to calcify Samuel Alito’s scorched earth draft as the opinion of the Court, taking momentum away from John Roberts’s death by a thousand cuts approach.
Biglaw Needs To Follow The Lead Of Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, and Susman Godfrey

2 weeks ago | abovethelaw.com | Kathryn Rubino

Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day!According to Above the Law’s 2025 Biglaw Intimidation Survey, what percentage of respondents at Am Law 100 firms say that Biglaw should follow the lead of the firms suing the Trump administration over the (unconstitutional) Executive Orders targeting Biglaw? Hint: As one respondent said, “Sure, the bottom line is important, but so is legacy and longevity.
Executive Order Against Jenner & Block Is 'Null And Void'

2 weeks ago | abovethelaw.com | Kathryn Rubino

Judge John Bates, appointed by George W. Bush, is overseeing the litigation filed by Jenner & Block against the Trump administration challenging the Executive Order targeting the firm. Bates quickly issued a temporary restraining order, barring the enforcement of the most pernicious provisions of the EO. And Jenner followed up with a motion for summary judgment.