Carl Cecere brings a depth of experience to his appellate practice forged through participation in high-stakes representations in a broad array of substantive areas. He has worked on appeals that involved important issues relating to bankruptcy, constitutional law, insurance, statutory whistle-blower protections, family law, oil and gas, complex business law, and habeas corpus. Carl has equally broad substantive experience at the trial court level, including involvement in cases that presented issues of first impression concerning federal civil and workplace rights laws and business torts.

Carl’s experience is national in scope. He has represented clients at all levels of the Texas state appellate courts, including the Texas Supreme Court, as well as the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the United States Circuit Courts for the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Tenth Circuits. His practice also has featured several representations of clients in the United States Supreme Court. Foremost among these was District of Columbia v. Heller, where he worked on a team of lawyers representing the District in defense of its gun-control ordinances against a Second Amendment challenge.

Outside the courtroom, Carl has engaged in one-on-one debates with some of the nation’s leading policy experts on issues ranging from gun control to same-sex marriage. He also is a frequent speaker and writer in varied areas of constitutional law and appellate advocacy.

Carl received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College, and his law degree cum laude from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law, where he was on the Executive Board of the SMU Law Review and served as Managing Editor of the Journal of Air Law and Commerce. He also was elected to the Order of the Coif. Following graduation, Carl clerked for the Honorable Mary Lou Robinson of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He then started his legal career in the Supreme Court and Appellate Section of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.