Lawyer Pay

Obama Lawyer Nominees Giving Up Millions in Big-Firm Pay

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Attorney General nominee Eric Holder earned the highest big-firm salary last year out of four lawyers nominated to posts in the Obama administration.

Disclosure forms show Holder made $3.3 million in salary and deferred compensation at Covington & Burling last year, the Am Law Daily reports, with a hat tip to Politico. He will also receive between $1 million and $5 million as part of his separation agreement with the firm and a capital payout of between $500,000 and $1 million.

That tops these nominees, according to the Am Law Daily’s figures:

• Jeh Johnson, nominated to be the Pentagon’s top lawyer. He made $2.6 million last year at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. He will also get severance of between $1 million and $5 million and a capital payout of $200,000.

• Ronald Kirk, nominated for U.S. trade representative. He made about $557,000 last year from Vinson & Elkins. He will also get a $150,000 bonus and accrued benefits, including an $80,000 outstanding partnership share.

• Tom Vilsack, the former Iowa governor nominated for agriculture secretary. He made $300,000 last year at Dorsey & Whitney.

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