Eligible Hours Billed

Associates may receive credit for up to 100 hours during a bonus cycle spent on any combination of the following Genesis and DEI activities:

Non-Billable Legal-Related Work ("Genesis") (up to 100 hours creditable hours, less any DEI hours): 

• Term sheets or proposal letters on non-billable matters that do not go forward;
• Non-billable work on forms for clients;
• White-papers or other legal analysis requested by clients or by principals for the benefit of clients;
• Legal work conducted for business development purposes, with the approval of a principal, for instance, drafting an article or conducting a presentation on a practice-relevant topic, but specifically excluding client entertainment (e.g. lunches, attending sporting events, playing golf);
• Non-billable work for the benefit of the Commercial Finance Association,,including:
  • Assisting on UNICTRAL and related projects 
  • Preparing/revising submissions to The Secured Lender for case note updates; and
• Materials prepared at the request of a principal for articles/speeches

Diversity Equity and Inclusion Hours ("DEI") (up to 50 creditable hours): Participation in the GK Advocates Program;

• Participation in client-sponsored or GK-promoted diversity-focused activities;
• Presenting at, or preparing materials for use in, diversity-focused programs;
• Attending training programs or conferences focused on diversity issues;
• Writing articles for diversity publications or on topics related to the promotion of diversity;
• Serving as a panelist or moderator at diversity events and conferences; and
• Time spent executing the duties of holding a leadership position in a legal affinity group or an organization that promotes diversity in the 
  legal profession.

These DEI hours are subject to approval by the Diversity Committee or the Management Committee. 

For this purpose, the definition of "diversity" would include legal programs, groups and activities relating to or focusing on equity and inclusion in the legal profession, including those focusing on lawyers in the following categories: people whose race or ethnicity is Black or African-American, Latinx, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern and those of multi-racial heritage, women, military veterans, people with disabilities, religious minorities and people identifying as LGBTQ.

The Genesis and DEI hours are separate from and in addition to hours billed to pro bono matters. Pursuant to the existing Pro Bono Policy, 200 pro bono hours automatically count toward the 2,000 hour requirement, with additional hours potentially counted subject to discussion and agreement by the Management Committee.

NOTE: THIS POLICY IS NOT INTENDED AS A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION OF THE FIRM. THE FIRM RESERVES THE RIGHT TO AMEND THIS POLICY FROM 
TIME TO TIME IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW.

Goldberg Kohn has an established hybrid work schedule for all employees.

Target bonuses for part-time associates, associates on leave (paid and unpaid), associates who join the Firm after January 1st of any given year, or associates whose target billable hours are reduced for any other reason (i.e. studying for the bar or another approved reduction) may be calculated on a pro rata basis; provided, however, that if any such associate achieves the full-time target hours requirement (i.e. 1000 hours through June 30 or 2000 hours through December 31) notwithstanding such associate's reduced hours target, such associate may receive the full amount of the eligible target bonus for which such associate is otherwise eligible.

Discretionary bonuses may be reduced ratably for associates on leave (paid and unpaid), associates who join the Firm after January 1st of any given year, or associates whose target billable hours are reduced for any other reason (i.e. studying for the bar or another approved reduction) and will be based on their experience in totality over the bonus period. 

NOTE: THIS POLICY IS NOT INTENDED AS A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION OF THE FIRM. THE FIRM RESERVES THE RIGHT TO AMEND THIS POLICY FROM TIME TO TIME IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW.

Case-by-case basis.

PARTNERSHIP ELIGIBILITY
An associate choosing to work part-time must meet the same standards for partnership applicable to all associates. Associates should recognize that part-time work arrangements may delay an associate's promotion to partnership as a result of the reduced number of hours worked and associated experience gained. Generally, a part-time associate's progress towards partnership will be evaluated and discussed annually as part of the associate's review process.

WORK SCHEDULE
Generally, a part-time associate is expected to work on fewer matters than a full-time associate but to employ the same level of commitment to and responsibility for each matter as a full-time associate. Similarly, a part-time associate is expected to continue participating in Firm administration, including departmental meetings, committee assignments, and business development activities on a proportional basis. An associate working a part-time schedule must be flexible and willing to perform the work required to provide superior legal services to our clients, including occasional highly concentrated periods of work, and work outside of normal business hours.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Compensation for a part-time associate is determined on a case-by-case basis as part of the part-time policy proposal process discussed above and will be re-evaluated on an annual basis. Generally, the Firm compensates part-time associates with a base salary that is proportional to the associate's Pro Rata Target Percentage. In determining this base salary, however, certain other factors may be considered,including, without limitation, the Pro Rata Target Percentage proposed, overhead expenses or alternative arrangements. In addition, the expectation is that a part-time associate will be eligible to be considered for pro-rated bonuses based on the Firm's associate bonus policy. As always, however, the Firm retains the right to determine, GK Policy Handbook for Associates within its sole discretion, any associate's eligibility for a bonus based on various factors, including, without limitation, the associate's work performance and quality of work. 

Effective January 1, 2023, the Firm discontinued its current attorney Vacation and Sick policies and transition to a Time Off policy that allows attorneys to take time away from the office for these needs without a defined number of days.  The intent is neither to provide unlimited, nor to unduly constrict, time off for rest and relaxation, or when an attorney or their family member is ill. Part-time associates who work 24+ hours or more may be eligible to participate in all of the Firm's benefit programs, subject to any minimum hours threshold determined under the appropriate plan or insurance policy. To the extent that any information contained in this provision is inconsistent with the information contained in the benefits plan documents, the underlying benefits plan documents control. 

NOTE: THIS POLICY IS NOT INTENDED AS A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION OF THE FIRM. THE FIRM RESERVES THE RIGHT TO AMEND THIS POLICY FROM TIME TO TIME IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW.

Not applicable in the past 5 years. But has previously occured.

Case-by-case basis for all Goldberg Kohn practice groups.

Determined on a case-by-case basis.