May 14, 2025 – Lawdragon’s Meghan Hemingway recently spoke with Elsberg Baker & Maruri partner Michael Duke to talk trials, teamwork, and the firm’s success. Duke is as known for his courtroom wins as he is for his thoughtful, team-first approach. “I’m a big believer that you win by out-thinking, not out-shouting,” Duke told Lawdragon. “You can be aggressive in your positions without being aggressive in your personality.”
His Lawdragon profile captures what makes Duke—and the firm he co-founded—stand out in a crowded field. After federal clerkships and early formative years at a fast-growing litigation boutique, Duke launched Elsberg Baker & Maruri, along with five partners, with a goal of building atrial firm that emphasized collaboration over hierarchy, and substance over showmanship.
“We’ve had a remarkable first year,” Duke said. “Just a few months ago, which capped off our first full year in business, we won the prestigious “Boutique of the Year” award from Benchmark Litigation. That’s a pretty remarkable achievement, given the firms we were competing against, and the short runway.”
Duke attributes much of that success to the culture the firm has fostered. “Everyone here is talented, driven and focused, but they also support each other. We don’t make this job harder than it already is. We make it better.”
That ethos extends to the firm’s approach to associate development, where responsibility comes early, but never without support. “The best way to learn is to do,” Duke said. “We give our junior associates real opportunities – whether that’s handling a deposition or part of one, or standing up in court.”
His advice to young lawyers and potential candidates? “Focus on what you enjoy doing,” he said. “This is demanding work. It’s easier when you love it.”
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