HFW hikes NQ pay to £103.5k in fresh round of city salary wars

3.5% pay rise puts HFW ahead of rivals as firms jostle for junior legal talent

International law firm HFW has announced a 3.5% pay rise for its newly qualified (NQ) solicitors, lifting base salaries from £100,000 to £103,500 with immediate effect.

The increase puts HFW in a stronger position in the ongoing summer salary skirmish across the legal sector, as firms jostle to attract and retain top junior talent.

The move comes hot on the heels of Bird & Bird raising its NQ rates earlier this week to £102,000, meaning HFW now leapfrogs the firm and reclaims its lead — if only by £1,500.

According to the Legal Cheek Firms Most List, HFW recruits 18 trainees annually across its UK offices, with many likely eyeing this boost as a signal of ongoing investment in junior lawyers.

While the firm is known for its shipping specialism, its NQ salary strategy now puts it comfortably ahead of Dentons and Stephenson Harwood (both on £100,000), though still trailing slightly behind Pinsent Masons and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), both sitting at £105,000.

The legal pay race has escalated this summer, with multiple major firms hiking NQ salaries. Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer now leads the pack with rates reaching £145,000, followed by Ashurst (£140k), DLA Piper (£130k), and Eversheds Sutherland (£110k).

The message from HFW is clear: it’s not stepping aside in the battle to stay competitive in a market where NQs are in high demand and big-money packages are increasingly expected.

This pay rise adds to the growing chorus of firms prioritising junior pay to secure future growth, even amid wider economic caution. For NQs watching the moves of rivals, this is yet another signal that the pay war is far from over.