Morrison & Foerster will return first year salaries to $160,000 after lowering them late last year. The firm lowered starting salaries to $145,000 beginning last October outside of New York and Asia. In a memo to associates on Tuesday Chairman Keith Wetmore said, “Although a great deal of uncertainty continues regarding how the economy will perform in 2010, we, like our most successful competitors, remain in demand. We are planning conservatively for 2010. However, if 2009 is a predictor, 2010 will provide opportunity despite its challenges.”

Morrison & Foerster was founded in 1883 and has over 1,000 attorneys. Headquartered in San Francisco, the firm has 16 offices in various locations throughout the world.