Larry E. Hepler

Bio

Larry E. Hepler focuses his practice on the defense of complex, multiparty civil cases and class actions involving a wide range of subjects, including all aspects of consumer fraud, personal injury, products liability, pharmaceutical, commercial, toxic torts, construction, and insurance litigation. He has represented clients in numerous jurisdictions, with a primary emphasis in Illinois and Missouri.

  • Washington & Lee University, J.D., magna cum laude, 1968
  • Bucknell University, B.A. in Economics, 1965

 

Law School Honors/Involvement

  • Order of the Coif
  • Omicron Delta Kappa
  • Washington & Lee Law Review
    • Articles Editor
  • Illinois
  • Missouri
  • United States Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
  • U.S. District Courts for the
    • Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of Illinois
    • Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri

 

Professional Associations

  • American Bar Association
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
  • American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
    • Board of Directors
    • Chair, Economics of Law Practice Substantive Law Section
    • Vice Chair, Technology Committee
    • Chair, Trial Tactics Substantive Law Section
    • Litigation Management College
      • Regional Vice President
      • Faculty Member
  • Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Madison County (Illinois) Bar Association
  • The Missouri Bar
Illinois Supreme Court Wipes Out $10.1 Billion Judgment Against Philip Morris, Again
Hepler, Bauer, Bays, Kinney and Kellett Obtained Reversal of Class Certification
Hepler, Bauer, Speciale, and Kuchar Defeat Plaintiffs' Motion to Alter or Amend Judgment in Multi-Million Dollar Claim
  • AV Preeminent® Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers in America (2007-2025)
  • FDCC Lifetime Achievement Award (2025)
  • Illinois Leading Lawyer (2003-2025)
    • Advisory Board Member
    • Featured in Leading Lawyers Network MagazineBusiness Edition, “Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Need Their ‘A’ Game When Facing this Madison County Defense Attorney” (2009)
  • Illinois Super Lawyer (2005-2024)
  • International Who’s Who of Product Liability Defence [sic] Lawyers (2016-2017)
Hepler Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from International Defense Counsel Organization
28 HeplerBroom Attorneys Honored with Inclusion on 2025 Best Lawyers Lists
13 HB Attorneys Named 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
28 HeplerBroom Attorneys Honored with Inclusion on 2024 Best Lawyers Lists
13 HB Attorneys Named 2023 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
HeplerBroom Attorneys Honored with Inclusion on Best Lawyers List
15 HB Attorneys Listed as Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
HeplerBroom Attorneys Selected as Best Lawyers in America
HeplerBroom Attorneys Honored with Inclusion on Best Lawyers Lists
Hepler Celebrates 50 Years at the Firm

Mr. Hepler has given numerous presentations on legal topics to groups such as Council of Owners and Construction Associates, Defense Research Institute, Federation of Defense & Corporation Counsel, Illinois Bar Association Law Education Series, and Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education.

  • Council of Owners and Construction Associates
    • “Comparison of Construction Safety Act of 2008 to Structural Work Act”
  • Defense Research Institute
    • “Advanced Technology in the Law Practice”
  • Federation of Defense & Corporation Counsel
    • “Developments & Trends in Product Liability Cases”
    • “Winning the Pre-Trial Battle – If You Can’t Beat Them, Join Them: Leaving it Behind”
    • “Closed Head Injuries – Cross Examination of the Neuropsychologist”
    • “Pre-Trial Strategies – Use of Focus Groups, Mock Trials, Jury Selection Techniques & Settlement Strategies”
    • “Class Actions and State Consumer Fraud Statutes”
    • “Diary for Federal Litigation in the Wake of the 1993 Amendments to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure”
    • “The Use of Technology in the Courtroom”
    • “The Federal Rules and Their Application to Your Practice”
    • “Law Office Management and the Use of Technology”
    • “Challenging the Status Quo, Reversing Your Litigation Tactics”
    • “Anatomy of a Hellhole”
    • “Use of Summation and Application to Trial”
    • “Trial Witnesses – Selection, Care, Feeding & Understanding Mastery of Direct Examination”
  • Illinois Bar Association Law Education Series
    • “Hot Tips – Proven and Winning Ways in Personal Injury Cases” (1993)
    • “Products Liability: In-Depth Study of Litigation Involving Products” (1992)
    • “How to Present and Defend a Personal Injury Case” (1991)
    • “Hot Tips on Handling and Avoiding Common Settlement and Trial Problems” (1991)
  • Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education
    • “Hot Tips for Responding to Plaintiff’s Request for Money”
    • “How to Minimize Plaintiff’s Disability and Suffering”
    • “Expert and Human Factors Testimony”
  • “Comparison of Consumer Fraud Statutes Across the 50 States,” FDCC Quarterly (Spring 2005).
  • “The Federal Rules and Their Application to Your Practice,” FDCC Quarterly.
  • “Trial Witnesses – Selection, Care, Feeding & Understanding – Mastery of Direct Examination,” FDCC Quarterly Trial Masters.

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