Matthew Ebert—a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota who brings over a decade of high-profile trial experience—has joined Ballard Spahr’s Litigation Department as of counsel, firm Chair Peter Michaud announced today. Matthew is resident in the firm’s Minneapolis office.
“Continuing the expansion of our litigation capabilities nationwide is a strategic priority for the firm, and we are thrilled to welcome Matthew to the team,” said Litigation Department Chair Jason A. Leckerman. “Matthew has first-chair experience in complex matters. He adds additional depth to our already formidable bench, and I know our clients will greet news of his joining with enthusiasm.”
As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Matthew helped spearhead prosecution of the 75-defendant Feeding Our Future case, which involved the theft of $250 million in public funds meant to feed low-income children. It was the largest pandemic-related fraud prosecution in the country and one of the largest-ever fraud cases in Minnesota. Matthew has tried multiple cases to verdict, including the jury trials of the lead Feeding Our Future defendants. In 2024, Matthew received the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service, the second-highest award granted by the U.S. Department of Justice.
At Ballard Spahr, Matthew will join a Litigation Department consistently recognized as among the best in the country and be a member of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution and White Collar Defense and Investigations Groups. The firm’s Litigation Department is home to more than 340 litigators who represent clients across the country in civil, criminal, and administrative matters. A perennial entry on The BTI Consulting Group’s annual list of the “most feared law firms” for litigation, Ballard Spahr recently received this honor once again for 2026.
"Ballard is recognized nationwide as an outstanding litigation firm, and I’m excited to work alongside this team,” Matthew said. “Ballard is a place where litigators work on bet-the-company matters for leading clients across the country. There’s a real energy here, and I’m glad to be part of it."
In January 2025, Ballard Spahr combined with Lane Powell, adding more than 150 new attorneys to the firm—including more than 80 litigators—as well as offices in Anchorage, Portland, and Seattle.