Despite law firms’ turbulence and falling profits for 08-09 (see below), the UK’s top lawyers are still raking in solid numbers. We won’t invite comparisons with bankers because that’s just not fair but if you can stick it out in law for long enough and squeeze yourself into the pointy bit at the top of the triangle there are rich rewards to be had.

Allen & Overy’s highest-earning partner in the last financial year was paid a total of £2.3m, according to the firm’s Annual Review 2009. That’s £200,000 up on last year’s highest.

Whilst Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s top-earning partner made £3.3m in the 2008-09 financial year, nearly half a million more than last year’s top earner at the firm.

And Linklaters’ highest-paid partner took home £2.5m in the 2008-09 financial year about £1m less than the previous year’s winner.

We don’t yet have the figures for Clifford Chance; and Slaughters are rather coy about their results. But, a quick look at the snap-summaries below shows how the top earners have done pretty well for themselves in the circumstances…

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Turnover: £1.29bn ▲ up 9%
PEP: £1.44m down 1%
Job losses: no redundancies but pay freezes for junior lawyers and support staff

Linklaters

Turnover: £1.3bn ▲ up 9%
PEP: £1.3m ▼ down 9.6%
Job losses: 400 staff, 200 in London

Allen & Overy

Turnover: £1.09bn ▲ up 7%
PEP: £1m ▼ down 9%
Job losses: 450 staff worldwide — 9%

Clifford Chance

Turnover: £1.26bn ▼ down 5%
PEP: £733,000 ▼ down 37%
Job losses: 200 in London, more worldwide

Slaughter & May

Does not disclose results