Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, W.D. Pennsylvania
34 approved rates from 9 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Sep 1, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partner | $675 | $300 to $713 | 5 | |
| Associate | $383 | $225 to $600 | 6 | |
| Attorney | $603 | $413 to $649 | $280 to $850 | 14 |
Approved rates by year
| Year | Partner | Associate | Paralegal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $675 (5) | $383 (6) |
Median approved rate by the year of the ruling (number of rates in brackets). A year shows a median at 5 or more rates. Not adjusted for inflation.
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 13 of 34 timekeepers (38%), by a median 25%.
Cite these rates
$675/hr
In W.D. Pennsylvania fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved partner rate was $675 an hour (5 rates).
$383/hr
In W.D. Pennsylvania fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved associate rate was $383 an hour (6 rates).
$603/hr
In W.D. Pennsylvania fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $603 an hour (14 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent W.D. Pennsylvania rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
HAMLIN v. ARCOSA, INC., No. 2:25-cv-01801 (W.D. Pa. Sept. 1, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $605 for an attorney with 30 years' experience); WBL SPO I LLC v. REVIVE PITTSBURGH REAL ESTATE, LLC, No. 2:25-cv-01642 (W.D. Pa. Feb. 3, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $280 for an attorney); HARRIS v. DAKIS LEGAL GROUP, LLC, No. 2:25-cv-00170 (W.D. Pa. Dec. 23, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $375 for an attorney; $125 for a paralegal); UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. BEEGHLY TREE, LLC, No. 3:21-cv-00160 (W.D. Pa. Sept. 26, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $450 to $850 for attorneys; $250 for other timekeepers); MUNDRATI v. UNUM LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA, No. 2:23-cv-01860 (W.D. Pa. Sept. 16, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $625 for an attorney with 25 years' experience; $400 for an attorney with 7 years' experience); SIGNATURE ENERGY LLC v. CORPORATE AIR, LLC, No. 2:25-cv-00540 (W.D. Pa. July 10, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $300 for a partner with 24 years' experience; $300 for a partner with 18 years' experience; $225 for an associate with 5 years' experience); WINTJEN v. DENNY'S, INC., No. 2:19-cv-00069 (W.D. Pa. Apr. 4, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $713 for a partner; $675 for a partner with 14 years' experience; $675 for a partner with 13 years' experience); MULLINS v. THE CONSOL ENERGY, INC. LONG TERM DISABILITY PLAN, No. 2:20-cv-01883 (W.D. Pa. Mar. 5, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $600 to $645 for attorneys); PEPKE v. MANOR HOUSE KITCHENS, INC., No. 2:23-cv-02089 (W.D. Pa. Dec. 6, 2024) (approving hourly rates of $600 for an attorney with 33 years' experience; $400 for an attorney with 15 years' experience).
Rulings
Rates turn on experience, practice area, and the work done. Use these as a starting point and cite the rulings, not this page, in a fee petition.
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HAMLIN v. ARCOSA, INC., et al.
Sep 1, 2026 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 30 years $605 $605 The court's words
Patak's hourly rate in the Ogletree Deakins invoices was $605.00. With regard to attorney experience, Patak has been admitted to the Pennsylvania bar for over 30 years
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WBL SPO I LLC v. REVIVE PITTSBURGH REAL ESTATE, LLC
Feb 3, 2026 · Other · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $280 $280 The court's words
attorneys’ fees in the amount of $6,824 and costs in the amount of $315.35 based on hourly rates of $280 - $300 per hour
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HARRIS v. DAKIS LEGAL GROUP, LLC
Dec 23, 2025 · Consumer protection
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $375 $375 Paralegal $125 $125 The court's words
Harris seeks $516.80 in costs and $4,750 in attorneys’ fees which reflect an hourly rate of $375 for attorney review and $125 for paralegal review.
Harris seeks $516.80 in costs and $4,750 in attorneys’ fees which reflect an hourly rate of $375 for attorney review and $125 for paralegal review.
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA et al v. BEEGHLY TREE, LLC et al
Sep 26, 2025 · Other · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $850 $850 Attorney $825 $825 Attorney $750 $750 Attorney $650 $650 Attorney $450 $450 other $250 $250 other $250 $250 other $250 $250 other $250 $250 The court's words
Scott Oswald $850
Andrew Stone Stone Law Firm $825
Nick Woodfield $750
Janel Quinn $650
Lydia Pappas $450
Rosamond Kopzynski $250
Anthony Primelo $250
Cole Wilson $250
Ellenor Whitfield $250
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MUNDRATI v. UNUM LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA
Sep 16, 2025 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 25 years $625 $625 Attorney 7 years $415 $400 The court's words
Plaintiff seeks $126,648.50 in attorney’s fees for 230.2 hours of work, consisting of the following: (1) $92,687.50, representing 148.3 hours by Marc Snyder at $625 per hour
fees for his services will be calculated at the hourly rate of $400 per hour.
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SIGNATURE ENERGY LLC et al v. CORPORATE AIR, LLC
Jul 10, 2025 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 24 years $300 $300 Partner 18 years $300 $300 Associate 5 years $225 $225 The court's words
Attorney Butcher states that the hourly rates of $300 claimed for the shareholder fees and $225 for the associate fees are 'customary billing rates for these attorneys,'
Attorney Butcher states that the hourly rates of $300 claimed for the shareholder fees and $225 for the associate fees are 'customary billing rates for these attorneys,'
Attorney Butcher states that the hourly rates of $300 claimed for the shareholder fees and $225 for the associate fees are 'customary billing rates for these attorneys,'
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WINTJEN v. DENNY'S, INC. et al
Apr 4, 2025 · Wage and hour · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $950 $713 Partner 14 years $900 $675 Partner 13 years $900 $675 Of counsel $900 $675 Associate $800 $600 Associate $550 $468 Associate $450 $383 Associate $450 $383 Associate $450 $383 Law clerk $275 $190 Law clerk $275 $190 Paralegal $275 $240 The court's words
Kelly Iverson Partner $950 ... $712.50
Jamisen Etzel Partner $900 ... $675
Elizabeth Pollock-Avery Partner $900 ... $675
Katie Horrigan Of Counsel $900 ... $675
James McGraw Associate $800 ... $600
Matthew Brady Associate $550 ... $467.50
Ken Held Associate $450 ... $382.50
James LaMarca Associate $450 ... $382.50
Lucia Romani Associate $450 ... $382.50
James LaMarca Law Clerk $275 ... $190
Sadie Fahsbender Law Clerk $275 ... $190
Daniel Hart Paralegal $275 ... $240
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MULLINS v. THE CONSOL ENERGY, INC. LONG TERM DISABILITY PLAN
Mar 5, 2025 · ERISA benefits · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $600 $600 Attorney $645 $645 The court's words
Mr. Mullins’s counsel’s hourly rates are $600 per hour for Attorney Glass, and $645 per hour for Attorney Brett.
Mr. Mullins’s counsel’s hourly rates are $600 per hour for Attorney Glass, and $645 per hour for Attorney Brett.
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MARCO CONTRACTORS, INC. v. CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
Dec 9, 2024 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Associate $400 The court's words
Taking the Special Master’s previous estimate of one associate reviewing 10,000 documents at a rate of 100 documents per hour at $400 an hour resulting in $40,000 in fees
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PEPKE v. MANOR HOUSE KITCHENS, INC.
Dec 6, 2024 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 33 years $600 $600 Attorney 15 years $400 $400 The court's words
Mr. Pepke’s counsel seek hourly rates of $600 per hour for Attorney Winebrake, who has 33 years of experience, and $400 per hour for Attorney Gottesfeld, who has 15 years of experience.
Mr. Pepke’s counsel seek hourly rates of $600 per hour for Attorney Winebrake, who has 33 years of experience, and $400 per hour for Attorney Gottesfeld, who has 15 years of experience.
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Sep 26, 2024 · Immigration · Statutory rate, not in medians · Older than two years, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $241 The court's words
Abioye originally sought $14,847.08 in fees, which did not include the 14 hours of work spent on the Reply. Applying the hourly rate of $241.45, the additional fee due is $3,377.50, for a total of $18,224.58.
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MCDONNELL v. KRG KINGS LLC et al
Sep 16, 2024 · Wage and hour · Older than two years, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $500 $500 Attorney $400 $400 Attorney $250 $250 The court's words
Attorney Santillo has an hourly rate of $500, Attorney Gottesfeld has an hourly rate of $400, and Attorney Tolodziecki has an hourly rate of $250.
Attorney Santillo has an hourly rate of $500, Attorney Gottesfeld has an hourly rate of $400, and Attorney Tolodziecki has an hourly rate of $250.
Attorney Santillo has an hourly rate of $500, Attorney Gottesfeld has an hourly rate of $400, and Attorney Tolodziecki has an hourly rate of $250.
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MILKO v. EXCALIBUR MEDIATION GROUP et al
Jan 31, 2024 · Consumer protection · Older than two years, not in medians · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $400 $400 Paralegal $75 $75 The court's words
His normal billing rate is $400.00 per hour. Mr. Amador has submitted his "billing file" for this case as an exhibit to his Declaration, which reflects billing for his time at $400.00 per hour
which reflects billing for his time at $400.00 per hour and $75.00 per hour for paralegal work
FAQ
What hourly rate does the W.D. Pennsylvania approve for partners?
A median of $675 an hour across 5 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024.
What hourly rate does the W.D. Pennsylvania approve for associates?
A median of $383 an hour across 6 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024.
What hourly rate does the W.D. Pennsylvania approve for attorneys?
A median of $603 an hour across 14 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $413 to $649.
How often does the W.D. Pennsylvania cut a requested hourly rate?
For 13 of 34 timekeepers (38%) in recent fee rulings, by a median 25% when it did.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the W.D. Pennsylvania?
With evidence beyond your own declaration, usually recent awards in the same district for lawyers of similar experience. The rulings on this page can be cited directly; use the citation block to copy them.
The data is free to use under CC BY 4.0. Please credit "LegalTime Fee Cut Tracker" with a link to this page. Spot an error? Email team@legaltime.ai with the case name and we will correct it. Summaries of public court opinions. Not legal advice.
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