If you thought the Great Legal Pay Spike was last year, think again. At present Duane Morris is under fire in a partner-pay class-action suit, amid allegations of misclassifying non-equity partners to dodge taxes and benefits—even as women and minority partners allegedly earned less. That in itself sent ripples through partner compensation practices nationwide.

But perhaps more gripping: the Financial Times reports top corporate partners billing over $2,500/hour and annual earnings soaring above $25 million.