Associate Life

Our Recruiting Philosophy

Elsberg Baker & Maruri prides itself on its deep bench of exceptionally skilled litigators who share an aggressive approach to winning high-stakes commercial disputes.

Associates are essential members of our team, and we give them the opportunities to make valuable contributions to our cases, including standup experience in court, developing case strategies and theories, and managing our client relationships.  

If you are interested in joining our team, please contact recruiting@elsberglaw.com.

A Day in the Life of an Elsberg Baker & Maruri Associate

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“I chose to join Elsberg Baker & Maruri because of the unique opportunity to be part of a tight team of exceptional trial lawyers who are building something new at the very top of the complex commercial litigation market. Having worked closely with three of the Firm’s Founding Partners in the past, I know from experience that the partnership is committed to mentoring young lawyers and providing associates with real responsibility and stand-up opportunities, such as cross-examinations at trials and arbitration hearings. At this firm, I get to work on highly complex cases while enjoying the freedom to take on leadership roles and develop my skills as a trial lawyer without being inhibited by unnecessary hierarchy.”
       - Nicholas Martin, Associate

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“I joined the team at Elsberg Baker & Maruri knowing that I will get meaningful substantive experience right off the bat, working side by side with partners who care deeply about mentorship and junior associate growth. I previously worked with several of the Firms’ Founding Partners who gave me the types of opportunities that most firms reserve for associates more senior than me. The high-stakes, complex cases the Firm takes on are fascinating, and this is one of the very few places where young lawyers can have prominent roles on cases of such caliber.”
- Ella Epstein, Law Clerk
Read more on Ella <here>

"Moving to EBM has been a great career decision. The best thing is that, although I’m only a first-year, my work is assigned by partners and not other associates. This means a lot of partner contact and real-time feedback on a daily basis. At other firms, there tends to be a hierarchy within the associate population, with the juniors reporting to the mid-levels, and the mid-levels reporting to the senior associates. This makes junior associates feel they are working for a senior associate’s work stream rather than as a full member of the case team. If you’re a driven young lawyer and you find yourself defined by your class year, you’ll see the difference right from day one at our firm."
- Rogan Feng, Associate
Read more on Rogan <here>

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"EBM is a firm where if you're willing to bet on yourself, you can achieve significant things, and it will be recognized. Partners here really take note of the quality of work you do. When you're coming in as a junior associate from a larger place, you may not be used to that.

My first case, a highly expedited arbitration, went from start to finish in six weeks. The partners gave me a great deal of valuable substantive experience in that process. If you had told me six weeks before I started the job that I would be helping prep David Elsberg for his cross-examination of a key witness, I would have been taken aback, but this is a place where junior lawyers get the chance to shine."
- Alastair Pearson - Associate
Read more on Alastair <here>

Training

EBM Associates are trained chiefly through early standup opportunities with additional formal classroom-style trainings as a complement. In our firm’s first six months, all of our associates of every class year had been to trial or arbitration at least once. We are committed to developing skilled, well-rounded attorneys prepared to excel in all aspects of their careers. We offer a comprehensive Associate Training Program that begins with our “How to Succeed as an Associate” series. New associates learn the essentials of time and case management, producing high-quality work, effective communication with clients and opposing counsel, and more. To further support growth, we also provide quarterly business development training for all associates, equipping them with the tools to build and sustain strong client relationships, including an annual business development budget. With ongoing guidance and targeted learning opportunities, our associates are set up for success from day one.

Summer Program

Our 10-week Summer Associate program is designed to provide aspiring litigators with an immersive experience in trial and litigation work. We offer a unique environment where summer associates work closely with partners on the firm’s active client matters. This program emphasizes skill development in litigation practice areas while fostering a sense of ownership and accomplishment in every project.

A cornerstone of our program is the mentorship and guidance provided by our partners. Each summer associate is paired with a partner who offers personalized feedback, support, and training throughout the summer. Our firm environment encourages direct and open communication, allowing associates to build relationships with partners and receive in-depth insights into the litigation practice. In addition to work assignments, social events and networking opportunities, summer associates will leave with valuable experience, professional skills, and a comprehensive understanding of the litigation landscape.

‍Compensation & Benefits

Salary – The Firm generally sets associate salaries based on law school graduation year, subject to adjustments for lateral associates. The Firm’s 2024 associate salary scale is as follows:

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Year-End Bonuses – Associates are eligible for year-end bonuses at the Firm’s discretion.  The Firm expects to pay year-end associate bonuses that are above market.

Clerkship Bonuses – The Firm offers a bonus of $125,000 to associates joining the Firm immediately after completing a clerkship for an Article III federal court, a state’s highest court, or for a Chancellor or Vice Chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery. The Firm offers a bonus of $150,000 to associates who, for two consecutive years immediately before joining the Firm, clerked for an Article III federal court, a state’s highest court, or a Chancellor or Vice Chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery.

Health Insurance – The Firm offers associates health insurance coverage at no cost to the associate.  The Firm also offer subsidies to associates who elect to purchase additional coverage for themselves and their spouses, domestic partners, or dependents above what is provided by the Firm’s base health insurance plan.

401K – The Firm offers 401k accounts to all associates and contributes a fixed percentage into associates’ 401k accounts each year based upon the Firm’s profitability.

Bar Dues – The Firm covers associates’ bar admission and registration dues for admission and registration to practice in New York.

Life Insurance – The Firm covers life insurance, short-term, and long-term disability benefits.

Gym Benefit – The Firm offers access to a range of gym and wellness benefits through our partner, Wellhub. Through Wellhub, Associates get access to a network of gyms, online classes, nutritionists, and more. The Firm subsidizes a Gold membership for every Associate, offering access to over 12,400 gyms (including the Life Time Fitness gym in our building), in addition to 46 wellness apps, live stream workouts and more.

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