Larry Allen Nathans

Partner

Phone: (410) 783-0272 ext. 1
Email: nathans@nathanslaw.com
Facsimile: (410) 783-0518

For the last 40 years, Mr. Nathans has successfully represented individual white-collar clients, Maryland businesses, and non-white-collar clients in grand jury investigations, trials, appeals, and post-conviction matters in federal and Maryland state courts. He also litigates on behalf of lawyers in attorney grievance disciplinary proceedings. Mr. Nathans is a former Chief Assistant Federal Defender for Maryland and a former Trial Practice professor at the Catholic University School of Law.

Among other awards, Mr. Nathans was selected by his peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America for 2008-2024. He was also recognized in Best Lawyers as the Lawyer of the Year for White Collar Criminal Defense (2021) and General Criminal Defense (2015).

Attorney Nathans Successfully Defends Numerous Clients

Mr. Nathans has also won numerous cases on behalf of:

  • Clients accused of public corruption
  • Attorneys before grievance panels
  • Federal and state narcotics defendants
  • State post-conviction clients
  • Federal habeas corpus clients
  • Individuals being investigated/charged with other federal and state felonies and misdemeanors

Bar Admissions

  • Maryland
  • District of Columbia
  • Florida
  • The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
  • The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
  • The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • The U.S. Supreme Court

Education:

Mr. Nathans is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Florida, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, with High Honors, in 1978 after having only spent 6 1/2 years in college and high school. He received his law degree from Northeastern University School of Law in 1982.

During his second and third years of law school, Mr. Nathans clerked at several prominent law firms and public interest legal advocacy groups: The National Prison Project of the ACLU (Washington, D.C.); Rosen & Remcho (San Francisco, CA); The Center for Constitutional Rights (New York, NY); and Wickwire, Lewis, Goldmark, and Schorr. (Seattle, WA).

Speeches & Appearances:

Mr. Nathans is a regular lecturer at national and Maryland criminal defense programs, including serving as a panel moderator at the American Bar Association (ABA) White Collar annual seminar and as the only criminal defense attorney presenter at a seminar for newly appointed Federal District Court Judges. His publication, Federal Sentencing Downward Departures, was the preeminent text on federal sentencing mitigation.

Mr. Nathans lectures include the following topics: Defending White Collar cases; Supreme Court and Fourth Circuit Criminal Law; federal and state criminal trials; representing clients charged with various fraud offenses; cross-examining informants and cooperating witnesses; opening statements; making presentations to the government to stop criminal charges; sentencing mitigation; investigating federal criminal cases; dealing with the press in high profile cases; filing pretrial motions in federal court; effective use of federal 17(c) subpoenas; representing cooperating witnesses; attacking search and seizure warrants; detention and pretrial release issues; pretrial motions; forging new paths in demonstrative evidence; character and impeachment evidence; raising mental health issues at sentencing; Bureau of Prisons classification policies; how to impeach the government's witnesses; plea bargaining under the federal sentencing guidelines; legal ethics; and freeing the wrongfully convicted.

Mr. Nathans has appeared on ABC's Good Morning America, Fox National News, Court Television, Black Entertainment Television, National Public Radio, and all of the local Baltimore and District of Columbia area television stations.

Awards:

  • Recipient of the 2002 Leadership in Law Award presented by the Daily Record, Maryland's legal publication. The award honors efforts to better the legal system, the community, and mentoring efforts that promote a strong generation of future professional and community leaders.
  • Elected in 2003 to become a Fellow of the Maryland Bar, an honor reserved for only 1% of the members of the state bar.
  • Selected by his peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America® for 2008-2024 (White Collar and Non-White Collar Criminal Defense). Mr. Nathans was also recognized in Best Lawyers as the Baltimore Lawyer of the Year for While Collar Criminal Defense (2021) and General Criminal Defense (2015).
  • Selected by his colleagues for inclusion in the Maryland Super Lawyers® for 2008-2024 in the area of White Collar Criminal Defense.
  • Nathans & Biddle has been chosen by their peers for inclusion in U.S. News 2010-2024 listing of Tier 1 White Collar Criminal Defense and Criminal Defense firms in Maryland.
  • Martindale-Hubbell® has continually given Mr. Nathans its highest AV® Rated/Rating for more than 25 years in a row.

Leadership Positions and Professional Associations:

  • Former Chairperson of the American Bar Association's (ABA) White Collar Crime Subcommittee on Federal Sentencing (1999-2006)
  • Past President of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys' Association (2002-2003)
  • Past Vice-Chairperson of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer's (NACDL) Post-Conviction and Sentencing Committee
  • Former Member - University of Maryland's Law School's Leadership Forum
  • Former Member - Practitioner's Advisory Group to the Federal Sentencing Commission
  • Member - Federal Bar Association
  • Member - Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys' Association
  • Member - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Member - American Bar Association (Criminal Law Section)
  • Member - Serjeants' Inn Law Club

Personal:

Mr. Nathans has two children. One in the financial industry and the other is a Sophomore in college. Mr. Nathans has served as a coach for the LTRC Blue Knights Football, Towsontowne Recreational Basketball, Mount Washington Soccer, and Roland Park Baseball.

  • 7 Figure Settlement in Medical Malpractice Case

    Civil Litigation and Administration Proceedings

  • Baltimore Medical Student Avoids Disciplinary Charges

    Academic Proceedings

  • Political Figure Receives Minimal License Suspension After Federal Income Tax Conviction

    Attorney Grievance Investigations

  • No Charges Brought In Separate Unauthorized Practice of Law Matters

    Attorney Grievance Investigations

  • Attorney Who Violated Federal Discovery Rules Not Publicly Sanctioned

    Attorney Grievance Investigations

  • Charges Not Brought against Several of Our Attorney Clients

    Attorney Grievance Investigations

  • Attorney Found Guilty Of Stalking Avoids Bar Suspension

    Attorney Grievance Investigations

  • Favorable Result in Child Pornography Case

    Attorney Grievance Investigations

  • Favorable Result In Peer Review Hearing

    Attorney Grievance Investigations

  • Securities Attorney Found Not To Have Violated Rules

    Attorney Grievance Investigations

  • Attorney Grievance Complaint dismissed

    Attorney Grievance Investigations

  • Attorney admitted to Maryland State Bar after lengthy character committee hearing

    Attorney Grievance Investigations

  • Attorney Client Cleared In Attorney Grievance

    Attorney Grievance Investigations

  • Successful Appellate Ruling Overturning Denial Of Wrongful Termination

    Civil Appellate Practice

  • Substantial Private Settlement In Fatal Accident

    Civil Appellate Practice

  • No Charges In Auto Part Price Fixing Case

    Criminal Antitrust Defense

  • DOJ Antitrust Division Declined to Prosecute

    Criminal Antitrust Defense

  • Successful Representation Of High Level Executive

    Criminal Antitrust Defense

  • Five Year Minimum Mandatory Conviction Reversed

    Criminal Appellate

  • New Trial Granted In Insurance Arson Case

    Criminal Appellate

  • 25 Year Old Walk Around Money Law Declared Unconstitutional

    Criminal Appellate

  • Conviction Overturned For Client Serving A Life Sentence

    Criminal Appellate

  • Client Paid In Civil Settlement By Company Alleging Theft

    Embezzlement

  • U.S. Attorney's Office Changes Position And Declines To Bring Charges

    Embezzlement

  • Sentence Below Federal Sentencing Guidelines

    Embezzlement

  • Substantial Private Settlement In Fatal Accident

    Embezzlement

  • Government Declines to Bring Minimum-Mandatory Identity Theft Charges

    Embezzlement

  • Negotiated No Charges Being Filed for Attorney Accused of Theft

    Embezzlement

  • Avoided Criminal Charges for Alleged Embezzlement Of $400k

    Embezzlement

  • CFO Not Prosecuted For Alleged Role In Bank Fraud Investigation

    Embezzlement

  • Hung Jury For Client In Multi-Million Dollar D.C. Federal Embezzlement Fraud Case

    Embezzlement

  • Deputy Attorney General Refused To Allow Indictment Of Fortune 100 Oil Company Exec

    Environmental Charges

  • Puerto Rico Client Not Prosecuted For Lacey Act Violations

    Environmental Charges

  • DOJ Declined To Prosecute D.C. Executive For False Lead Report

    Environmental Charges

  • Chief Environmental Officer Avoided Prosecution For Clean Water And Air Violations

    Environmental Charges

  • Client Charged With Illegal Importation Of Caviar Receives Reduced Sentence

    Environmental Charges

  • Houston Client Avoided Charges For Alleged Role In Federal Clean Air Violations

    Environmental Charges

  • Charges Declined in Asbestos Removal Case

    Environmental Charges

  • Senior In House Counsel Not Charged For Submitting Alleged False Statements

    Environmental Charges

  • Secured A Significant Sentence Reduction For Client Involved In Historical Document Theft Scheme

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Client Acquitted Of All Charges In Assault Retrial

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Physician Found Not Guilty For Attempted 1st Degree Murder

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Howard County Felony Indictment Dismissed

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Presented New Evidence Of Innocence And Client Freed After Having Served 39 Years

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Innocent Man Freed From Prison, Later Pardoned And Awarded $1.4 Million

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Client Received Unsupervised Probation After Initially Being Charged With 1st Degree Murder

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Excellent Result in Alleged Child Sex Assault Case

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Client’s Assault Charges Dropped after Extensive Investigation

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Client Escapes Child Porn Charges

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • College Student Avoids Sex Assault Charges

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Prince George's County Multi-Count Felony Extortion and Theft Scheme Indictment Dismissed

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Illegal Wire Tapping Case Dismissed

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Domestic Violence Assault Acquittal

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Federal Credit Card Charges Dismissed

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Not Charged In Alleged Sexual Assault

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Sex Charges

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Assault Case Put On Stet Docket

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Third-Degree Sexual Indictment Dismissed

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Sexual Assault Case Declined To Be Prosecuted

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Baltimore County Sexual Assault Case Declined

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • No Charges Brought In Child Sex Abuse Case

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Felony Automatic Weapon Charges Dropped

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Animal Rights Felony Burglary Charges Dismissed

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Assault Charges Dismissed after Investigation Shows Supposed Victim Was the Aggressor

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Assault Charges Dismissed against Attorney Client

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • State Declines to Bring Child Porn Charges against Juvenile

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Student Avoids Murder Charges

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Tremendous Result in Travelling to Have Sex with Minor Case

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Great Result in Juvenile Child Porn Case

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Client Acquitted Of All Charges In Federal Civil Rights Trial

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Federal Motion To Suppress Client's Admission Granted And All Federal And State Charges Dismissed

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Indictment Dismissed Based on FBI Misrepresentations

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Motion To Dismiss Granted For Computer Tampering Case

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • No Charges Brought After Long Public Corruption Investigation Of Elected Baltimore City Council Members

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Plant Manager Found Not Guilty of Assault

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Client Acquitted of DWI Based on Unusual Defense

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Client Acquitted of Sexual Assault

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Charges against in House Attorney for Assault Dismissed Moments Before Jury Selection

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Criminal Charges Dismissed And DSS Investigation "Ruled Out"

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Cross-Examination Exposed Witness' Shady Past And Led To Hung Jury

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Felony Embezzlement Charges Dropped Against Franchise Owner

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Felony Theft Charges Dismissed Against College Football Player

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Dismissal of Landlord’s Felony Theft Charges

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Alford Plea Leads To Unsupervised Probation

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • No Charges Filed In Sham Marriage Investigation

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Dismissal of Theft And Assault Charges For Maryland Lawyer

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Probation Before Judgment And No Sex Offender Registration For Maryland Attorney

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • No Charges Filed In Bankruptcy and Mortgage Investigation

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Scientist Not Indicted In Manufacturing Chemical Agent Investigation

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • No Child Pornography Charges Filed After 3 House Searches

    Federal and State Felonies & Misdemeanors

  • Large Cocaine Distribution Case Dismissed Based On Profiling Defense

    Federal Drug Charges

  • Motion to Suppress Granted And All Charges Dismissed In Narcotics Case

    Federal Drug Charges

  • Career Offender Status Removed

    Federal Drug Charges

  • Drug Charges Dismissed For Hells Angel Client

    Federal Drug Charges

  • Largest Cocaine Dealer's Sentence Reduced

    Federal Drug Charges

  • $10 Million Recovered For Client

    Federal Forfeitures

  • Possible 3 Year Imprisonment Negotiated To Home Detention For Baltimore Attorney

    Federal Sentencing

  • Reduced Sentence For Embezzlement Client After Multi-Day Sentencing Hearing

    Federal Sentencing

  • Physician Avoids Incarceration

    Federal Sentencing

  • Reduced Sentence In Criminal Mortgage Flipping Case

    Federal Sentencing

  • Embezzlement Sentence Reduced 50%

    Federal Sentencing

  • 30 Day Sentence In $6 Million Security Fraud Case

    Federal Sentencing

  • Prison Sentence Reduced to Home Detention

    Federal Sentencing

  • Bribery Client Receives Probation

    Federal Sentencing

  • Successfully Fought "Grouping" Enhancement

    Federal Sentencing

  • Sentence Drastically Reduced In Historical Document Theft Scheme

    Federal Sentencing

  • Hobbs Act Charges Dismissed And Sentence Negotiated To Probation In Corruption Case

    Federal Sentencing

  • Attorney Threatened With Obstruction Of Justice Avoids Charges

    Grand Jury

  • No Criminal Charges Filed For Institutional Investment Manager In Insider Trading Case

    Grand Jury

  • No Charges Brought Against Real Estate Developer

    Grand Jury

  • Client Accused Of Bankruptcy Fraud Has Case Dropped

    Grand Jury

  • Client Not Indicted After Being Accused Of Computer Code Theft

    Grand Jury

  • Physician Not Charged

    Grand Jury

  • Political Figure Avoids All Charges After Separate Multi-Year Federal Environmental And Tax Investigations

    Grand Jury

  • Government Fraud Case Declined

    Grand Jury

  • Charges Avoided In Fraud Scheme

    Grand Jury

  • Prosecution Declined In Bribery Case

    Grand Jury

  • No Charges For Bribery

    Grand Jury

  • Liquor Investigation

    Grand Jury

  • Doctor Not Charged in Maryland Kickback Investigation

    Health Care Fraud

  • Physician Avoids Incarceration Sentence

    Health Care Fraud

  • Extremely Low Sentence in Maryland Federal Health Care Fraud Case

    Health Care Fraud

  • Prosecutors Decline to Indict CFO Of Health Care Company

    Health Care Fraud

  • CFO Of Health Company Granted Immunity And Avoids State And Federal Charges

    Health Care Fraud

  • Senior Executive Receives Significant Sentence Reduction After Long Federal Health Care Trial

    Health Care Fraud

  • No Charges Filed Against Lawyer

    Mortgage Fraud

  • No Criminal Charges Filed In Flipping Case

    Mortgage Fraud

  • Federal Prosecutors Agree To Not Indict Client

    Mortgage Fraud

  • House Flipping Clients Not Charged

    Mortgage Fraud

  • Favorable Sentence in Fraudulent Deed Scheme

    Mortgage Fraud

  • Attorney Receives Probation Sentence

    Mortgage Fraud

  • Appraiser Receives Reduced Sentence for Falsifying Photographs

    Mortgage Fraud

  • No Charges In Maryland Federal Political Corruption Bribery Case

    Political Corruption

  • Baltimore City Political Corruption Case

    Political Corruption

  • Federal Habeas Corpus Petition Granted Based On Defense Lawyer Error

    Post-Conviction Proceedings

  • Multi-Law Firm Effort Successful in Reducing Sentence Of Judge's Relative

    Post-Conviction Proceedings

  • Multiple Death Sentence Overturned And Client Freed

    Post-Conviction Proceedings

  • Life Sentence Reduced To Time Served

    Post-Conviction Proceedings

  • Client Serving Life Sentence has Sentence Reduced and is Freed

    Post-Conviction Proceedings

  • Conviction Overturned For Client Serving A Life Sentence

    Post-Conviction Proceedings

  • New Trial Granted In Insurance Arson Case

    Post-Conviction Proceedings

  • Innocent Client Freed After 27 Years

    Post-Conviction Proceedings

  • Exonerated Client Receives Second Monetary Award

    Post-Conviction Victory

  • Election Law Charges Dismissed And Dismissal Upheld on Appeal Based On First Amendment Defense

    Public Corruption

  • Chief Of Staff Avoids Criminal Charges In Corruption Case

    Public Corruption

  • Attorney General Declines Bribery Prosecutions

    Public Corruption

  • Two Counts Of Attempted Felony Extortion Reduced to Misdemeanor

    Public Corruption

  • School Bribery Case Dismissed

    Public Corruption

  • No Charges Filed For Government Agency Boss

    Public Corruption

  • Client Sentenced To Home Detention In Lieu Of Imprisonment

    Public Corruption

  • Baltimore City Council Federal Corruption Investigation Ends With No Charges

    Public Corruption

  • Prosecution Of CFO Declined

    Public Corruption

  • Conviction Overturned In Bribery Case Based On Actual Innocence

    Public Corruption

  • No Prosecution For Senior Level Military Contractor

    Public Corruption

  • Client Not Indicted In High Profile DC Bribery Case

    Public Corruption

  • No Prosecution In Bribery Case Against CFO

    Public Corruption

  • Attorney Client Not Indicted Regarding State Contract Fraud

    Public Corruption

  • Prosecution Declined For Senior Baltimore City Official

    Public Corruption

  • Furniture Owner Not Charged

    Public Corruption

  • Dismissal of Hobbs Act Federal Criminal Indictment

    Public Corruption

  • Attorney-Client Avoids Public Corruption Charges

    Public Corruption

  • Builder Client Avoids Kickback Charges

    Public Corruption

  • Attorney Escapes Charges in Campaign Finance Investigation

    Public Corruption

  • SEC Declines to Sanction

    Securities Fraud

  • Successfully Navigated Our Broker Client Through SEC And Insider Trading Investigation

    Securities Fraud

  • No Prosecution or SEC Sanctions For Senior Institutional Investment Manager

    Securities Fraud

  • Huge Sentence Reduction In Securities Fraud Case

    Securities Fraud

  • No Criminal Charges Filed In Algorithmic Theft Investigation

    Securities Fraud

  • IRS 4 Year Off-Shore Tax Investigation Ended With Favorable Result

    Tax and Accounting Fraud

  • Criminal Structuring Charges Dismissed

    Tax and Accounting Fraud

  • Criminal Structuring Charges Dropped

    Tax and Accounting Fraud

  • Political Corruption And Tax Investigation Dropped

    Tax and Accounting Fraud

  • DOJ Tax Division Declined to Bring Charges in Off Shore Tax Sheltering Case

    Tax and Accounting Fraud

  • Prosecution Declined in LA Off-Shore IRS Tax Investigation

    White Collar Crimes

  • Successful Representation of Xerox-Conduent

    White Collar Crimes

  • No Charges in Large Embezzlement Case

    White Collar Crimes

  • Client Not Charged in Federal Fraud Case

    White Collar Crimes

  • Client Escapes Kickback Charges

    White Collar Crimes

  • Oversees Military Supplier Not Charged

    White Collar Crimes

  • CFO Client Avoids Theft Charges

    White Collar Crimes

  • Election Law Charges Dismissed

    White Collar Crimes

  • Attorney Cleared In Political Corruption Investigation

    White Collar Crimes

  • Federal Employee Cleared By OIG

    White Collar Crimes

  • Successfully Brought Company Into Subpoena Compliance

    White Collar Crimes

  • Client Avoids Prosecution After Five-Year DOJ Environmental Investigation

    White Collar Crimes

  • Sentence Reduced In Attorney Misappropriation Case

    White Collar Crimes

  • No Charges In Administrator Sick Leave Fraud Case

    White Collar Crimes

  • No Charges in Fake Competitor Bids Case

    White Collar Crimes

  • Criminal Lacey Act Charges Not Filed

    White Collar Crimes

  • Baltimore Federal Fraud Loss Reduced From $1.5 Million To $180,000

    White Collar Crimes

  • Alien Harboring Indictment Dismissed

    White Collar Crimes

  • No Prosecution for Client In Asbestos Removal Case

    White Collar Crimes

  • No Criminal Charges Filed In Environmental False Statement Case

    White Collar Crimes

  • Former CFO Not Prosecuted

    White Collar Crimes

  • Institutional Manager Avoids Being Criminally Charged

    White Collar Crimes

  • International Military Housing Company Successfully Represented

    White Collar Crimes

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