David Elsberg is a founding partner of Elsberg Baker & Maruri.
David is a “go-to” trial lawyer with decades of successful experience trying cases through final judgment or verdict, as well as domestic and international arbitration hearings through final award. David is ranked among the top trial lawyers in the United States by the leading legal industry rankings publications.
Chambers refers to David as “an amazing trial lawyer,” “an excellent cross-examiner,” “fabulously smart” and “fearless”—as well as “very creative, thoughtful and collaborative” and “an excellent litigator with a strong commercial sense.” Chambers notes David’s “impress[ive] … ability to communicate with the court very effectively” and de-scribes him as “strategic and understated, yet able to be as aggressive and effective a litigator as you will ever encounter.” Chambers also named David a “Leading Individual” in commercial litigation.
The Legal 500 ranked David (along with only five other lawyers) in Tier 1 for Commercial Disputes in its US Elite rankings for New York. The Legal 500 also recognized David as a Leading Trial Lawyer, and reports that David is a “superb,” “experienced”, “pro” who is “highly regarded for his trial practice.” The Legal 500 further reports that David “displays particular strength in financial litigation, including major bankruptcy and securities cases.” David has been named by The Legal 500 as a Leading Partner in General Commercial Dispute Resolution and a Leading Commercial Litigator.
Benchmark Litigation named David a “Top 100 Trial Lawyer” which is comprised of an “elite group of partners who have been venerated by peers and clients as being the best in breed at the nuanced practice of trial law.” Benchmark Litigation also named David a “Litigation Star,” describing him as a “master of thoroughness” with a “relentless approach.” Benchmark Litigation named Elsberg Baker & Maruri the Boutique Litigation Firm of the Year for 2025.
Law360 named David a Securities MVP, noting his “artful and measured cross-examination style.” Law360 also reports that clients describe David as “aggressive, passionate, and a first-rate thinker” whose “ability to read people and think numerous questions ahead is uncanny.”
The National Law Journal named David a “Plaintiffs’ Lawyer Trailblazer.”
Lawdragon named David one of the “500 Leading Lawyers in America,” “500 Leading Litigators in America” and “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers.” Lawdragon also named David one of the “100 Managing Partners You Need to Know.”
The New York Law Journal honored David with its “Distinguished Leader” award for “great performance while demonstrating clear leadership skills leading to positive out-comes.”
Litigation Counsel of America named David as a Fellow in its Trial Law Honor Society comprised of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers selected for effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation and trial work, along with ethical reputation.
Crain’s selected David as one of its Notable Litigators and Trial Attorneys. Crain’s also selected David as one of its Notable Leaders in Law.
David represents a wide variety of clients, including private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds and their portfolio companies. David represents clients in disputes in a range of areas including fiduciary duties, corporate governance, control contests, corporate-entity “divorces,” crisis management, financial services and products, energy, life sciences, bankruptcy and insolvency, fraudulent transfer, and breach of indentures and other complex contracts. David is a veteran litigator in New York federal and state courts and the Delaware Court of Chancery, and he has also handled many litigations in other U.S. jurisdictions as well as international arbitrations.
Updated Sep 2025
