When deciding their recent pay increases, DLA Piper set patent litigators on a different scale than other associates. First year patent litigators are put on the $160,000 pay scale while other associates in California receive the standard $145,000. Patent litigators often have science or engineering degrees, and are in high demand with clients who are willing to pay high rates for their services. As a result, many firms already offer these attorneys higher compensation, often through bonuses or other means. Though DLA has always rewarded attorneys with a technical or science background, the firm decided to increase its starting pay after competitors such as Fish & Richardson raised salaries to $160,000.
Source: www.law.com