Latham & Watkins Opens $1m AI Bonus Pot to Associates Worldwide, One Percent of Revenue

Latham & Watkins has launched a $1m bonus programme for associates who lead or materially contribute to AI initiatives, an amount equal to one percent of the firm's $8.3 billion global revenue. CityAM reported the programme on November 12, 2026. Latham & Watkins is a global law firm founded in 1934 with 30 offices and roughly 4,000 professionals, advising private equity sponsors, public corporations and financial institutions on M&A, capital markets, litigation and regulatory matters.

How Latham's Associate Awards Work

The firm said the rewards will go "to recognise associates who lead or materially contribute to AI initiatives that create value for clients, practice groups, matter teams or the firm as a whole." Individual awards "will vary based on the significance, impact, and scalability of each contribution," Latham said.

Michael Rubin, chair of Latham's AI strategy committee, said the programme is part of the firm moving to "continue to advance our AI strategy." "Our associates bring firsthand insight into where AI can make a meaningful difference, and this award is designed to foster that ingenuity and help identify and scale the ideas that can create the greatest value for our clients and our firm," Rubin said.

Latham said it will run a nomination process next spring to select recipients, with associates worldwide eligible. Shoosmiths, whose annual revenue was £221.4m, in April last year became the first major law firm to link a firmwide bonus to its workforce's use of AI, setting a target of one million Microsoft Copilot prompts to unlock a £1m bonus pot for staff in the new financial year. Shoosmiths set aside a second £1m bonus pot after it hit the target four months early.

Latham's Deal And Advisory Record

Latham advised on 779 M&A transactions globally with combined deal value of US$790 billion in 2025, ranking first in deal value, according to akta.pro company records. The same records show the firm served as legal advisor on SpaceX's $75 billion IPO at a $1.78 trillion valuation, handling European retail components spanning seven countries, and represented Apollo in a US$35 billion capital solution for Broadcom's AI XPV platform.

Latham's Recent AI Training And Hiring

Latham held its annual AI Academy for first-year associates in Washington, D.C., on November 7-8, 2026, adjusting the schedule and curriculum for its third-year event to accommodate associates with advanced tech knowledge and a hunger for deeper training, Law.com reported. The firm also recruited a technology-focused M&A team into its London office to expand capabilities in AI, fintech, semiconductors, media and digital sectors across the transatlantic platform, according to company records.

When Latham Will Name Award Recipients

Latham will run its nomination process next spring to select the award recipients, with associates worldwide eligible.