Biglaw and boutique firms continue to match Cravath’s year-end bonuses and Milbank’s special bonuses, but some firms are offering even more. The latest firm to make its bonus announcement is going up, up, up over the market standard. It’s clearly their moment. You could even say these bonuses are golden.
Elite trial boutique Elsberg Baker & Maruri was founded about one year ago, when David Elsberg, a founding member of Selendy Gay Elsberg, announced that he was leaving the elite boutique to start his own firm, Elsberg Baker & Maruri, in partnership with his former Quinn Emanuel colleagues, Rollo Baker and Silpa Maruri.
The firm has achieved remarkable success, and to that end, Elsberg Baker & Maruri recently announced bonuses that are 175% above the 2025 scale that was set by Cravath/Milbank. Check out the firm’s bonus scale, below.
| Class Year | Special Bonus | Year-End Bonus | Total Bonus* |
| 2025 | $6,000 | $26,250 | $32,250 |
| 2024 | $6,000 | $35,000 | $41,000 |
| 2023 | $10,000 | $52,500 | $62,500 |
| 2022 | $15,000 | $100,625 | $115,625 |
| 2021 | $20,000 | $131,250 | $151,250 |
| 2020 | $25,000 | $157,500 | $182,500 |
| 2019 | $25,000 | $183,750 | $208,750 |
| 2015+ | $25,000 | $201,250 | $226,250 |
These generous bonuses will hit bank accounts on December 19. Congratulations to everyone at Elsberg Baker & Maruri!
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Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
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