Lawrence S. Ebner

Independent, Pro-Business, Appellate Specialist With a Half-Century of Litigation Experience

Larry Ebner is an accomplished, steadfast advocate for individual businesses and entire industries in federal and state appellate courts throughout the United States. Companies of all sizes, national trade associations, professional organizations, and free-enterprise public interest groups call upon Larry when they need an articulate voice in the Supreme Court, federal courts of appeals, and state appellate courts.

Larry began practicing law in 1972 following graduation from Harvard Law School and Dartmouth College. His first legal position was as an Honors Program attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He then spent 42 years as a Washington, D.C.-based litigator and appellate practice leader at a national law firm that in 2015 was acquired by a global mega-firm. One year later, Larry decided to depart “Big Law” so that he could serve his clients in a more personalized, cost-effective manner. He launched his own independent, nationwide, appellate litigation boutique, Capital Appellate Advocacy PLLC.

Much of Larry’s legal practice focuses on matters that involve the federal government or federal law. This includes, for example, cases involving interpretation or application of the Constitution, federal statutes, or federal  regulations; tort litigation concerning federally regulated or procured products or services; and federal civil justice issues such as class-action fairness. Larry is particularly well known for his substantive expertise on federal preemption of state and local law, including in product liability litigation.

In addition to practicing law at Capital Appellate Advocacy, Larry serves as Executive Vice President & General Counsel of the Atlantic Legal Foundation, where he is responsible for all aspects of that national, nonprofit, public interest law firm’s renowned amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) program. This includes reviewing requests for amicus support and personally drafting the Foundation’s amicus briefs, which focus on individual liberty, free enterprise, protection of property rights, limited and efficient government, sound science in judicial and regulatory proceedings, and school choice.

Strategic Thinking Enhanced By Finely Honed Brief Writing & Oral Advocacy Skills

Clients and colleagues praise Larry for his analytical, brief writing, and oral advocacy skills, and for approaching litigation and other client problems strategically.

Larry is a “hands on” attorney. He personally researches and writes his own legal briefs and presents oral arguments, and also teams seamlessly with trial counsel at other firms whenever that is helpful to a client.

Flexibility

As an independent professional, Larry has the flexibility to serve the needs of all types and sizes of corporate and nonprofit clients. His solo-practice firm rarely encounters the conflicts of interest that often burden multi-practice mega-firms. Larry also sets his own flat-rate and hourly-rate fees, which usually are lower than a large firm would charge for a senior partner with Larry’s level of knowledge, experience, and skills.

Devoted To the Legal Profession

Larry’s prolific professional writing and frequent professional speaking cover a broad range of subjects. Some of his favorite topics include the practical significance of recent Supreme Court decisions, strategic use and preparation of amicus curiae briefs, and how attorneys can function effectively in today’s digital world.

Larry has been inducted as a Fellow of the highly selective American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, and also is a peer-nominated and vetted member of the prestigious Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Center for Law and Public Policy for DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar.

In recognition of his accomplishments, Larry has been designated as a Washington, D.C. Super Lawyer – Appellate Litigation for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. He is one of only several solo practitioners on the Super Lawyers list of Washington, D.C.’s top private-practice appellate specialists.

Harvard Law School J.D. (1972)

Dartmouth College B.A., with honors, Phi Beta Kappa (1969)

Fellow, American Academy of Appellate Lawyers

Federation of Defense & Corporate Council

DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar

• Vice Chair, Center for Law and Public Policy
• Past Chair, Amicus Committee
• Past Publications Chair, Appellate Advocacy Committee
• Former Board Member, National Foundation for Judicial Excellence

The Federalist Society

The Heritage Foundation

Dartmouth Lawyers Association

International Network of Boutique & Independent Law Firms

District of Columbia Bar

Courts

• Supreme Court of the United States
• U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
• U. S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• U. S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
• U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• U. S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• U. S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• U. S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• U. S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
• U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia
• U. S. District Court for the District of Maryland