Legal blog Firmspy reported the rumour this week that the salaries of Blake Dawson lawyers will remain frozen for several months and that the firm would not be considering any salary changes until July this year.

The anonymous source said that a "courageous colleague" asked about salary increases at a meeting and was told that salary considerations would not be complete until July.

But a Blake Dawson spokesperson today denied the rumour with Lawyers Weekly, stating that: "This year the firm's annual remuneration review will commence as usual in March with increases effective 1 July."

A number of large law firms have been declaring firm-wide salary reviews will occur this month, following salary freezes through 2009.

Freehills CEO Gavin Bell recently revealed that staff can expect to see the first of two 2010 salary reviews this month.

Norton Rose managing partner Don Boyd emailed staff last month and revealed that "most" lawyers can soon expect a salary increase.

"We have now undertaken a mid-year review of the firm's financial performance in the period to December, salary market conditions and the outlook for 2010," Boyd said in the email. "The outlook of the review will result in salary increases for most of our lawyers."

Such announcements also echo the predictions of the 2010 Mahlab Recruitment market update - released last week - that found firms will soon announce plans to review salaries.

Managing director of Mahlab Recruitment (NSW) Lisa Gazis said that lawyers can expect to see further salary reviews in May and June.