Standing with You
Harley C. Erbe
Ready to serve throughout Iowa
My Background
My dad was in the United States Army. I was born in Berlin and lived in Germany twice, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin. I stayed in Iowa after graduating Drake University Law School in 1999. Before law school, I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1996.
I’ve spent my law career since 1999 exclusively handling civil litigation matters, first as a member of two small Iowa law firms, then on my own as a solo attorney. I founded Erbe Law Firm in July 2005. From our Des Moines offices, I represent individuals and small businesses in car accident, personal injury law, employment law, contract law, insurance law, and construction defect cases throughout Iowa and the nation in state and federal court, offering personalized service and attention while delivering large firm results.
Since our founding in 2005, we’ve grown our firm’s reach while maintaining the small firm, personalized attention that we’ve offered from the beginning. I’ve now represented injured people throughout the United States. And, recognizing the need for other small businesses to receive big firm attention without the accompanying cost of big firm representation, I’ve expanded our services to small businesses, some of which have grown to a national scope too alongside us.
Teamwork is the Key
We don’t view the people we work with as simply clients or case files. We value them as individuals, teammates, partners, friends. When you work with us you’ll become part of a team dedicated to advancing your cause, and not just part of a sterile attorney-client relationship. When people invite us to stand with them, we in turn invite them to collaborate with us in all aspects of their fight because we never forget who we’re fighting for and why we’re fighting. We take the trust that you place in us seriously and personally.
Communication is a primary component of our partnerships and teamwork with our clients. We’ll keep you informed about your case, let you know what’s coming next, and ask for your input regarding future moves. We promptly respond to emails and telephone calls. If you’re thinking about your case, then so are your teammates at our firm. As part of our communication with you, we’ll fully advise you of the strengths and weaknesses of your case so that you can make the most informed decisions possible.
A Passion for Trials and Advocacy
I’m a dedicated trial lawyer. I’ve argued and tried cases in Iowa's state and federal courts resulting in $180 million in total recoveries for our clients. Some of those cases are summarized on our Representative Cases page. I’ve also argued before the United States Court of Appeals, the Iowa Supreme Court, and the Iowa Court of Appeals. I choose to be a trial lawyer because I enjoy the challenge of standing up and fighting for people in court. I began working with trial lawyers when I was in law school and clerked for a trial law firm. Since then, I’ve never wanted to do anything else as a lawyer but try cases.
I’m a member of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers. Membership in the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers is by invitation only, upon sponsorship and recommendation from peers and judges and unanimous approval by the Board of Governors. Membership is limited to 250 trial attorneys who have displayed exceptional skills and the highest integrity, and who have dedicated their professional lives primarily to trial practice.
I’m also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a national organization of experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial. Membership to ABOTA is by invitation only upon nomination by a member of ABOTA's Iowa Chapter. Attorneys must have significant jury trial experience to be considered for ABOTA. I’ve additionally accepted membership with the Litigation Counsel of America (“LCA”). LCA membership is limited to 3,500 attorneys throughout the Americas who are invited to join because they’ve demonstrated effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and have a superior ethical reputation.
The National Trial Lawyers Association has named me as a Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer for Iowa. I was honored to have been a member of the National Trial Lawyer Association's Top 40 Under 40, an invite-only organization that includes only the top young trial attorneys in Iowa as nominated, reviewed, and accepted by their peers. I’ve also been selected as a member of the American Academy of Trial Attorneys, an invitation-only organization that recognizes the top 100 trial lawyers in Iowa, as well as Great Plains Super Lawyers, also an invitation-only organization. I’m also a member of several other legal and professional organizations, including the Trial Law Institute, the American Association For Justice, the Iowa Association for Justice, the Iowa State Bar Association, the Polk County Bar Association, and the American Inns of Court.
Learning from the Real World
I live in West Des Moines with my wife Jannay, our two cats, and our mini-dachshund. In my free time I enjoy riding my Harley-Davidson motorcycle, enjoying Iowa's outdoors, reading, traveling, and cheering for the Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin Badgers, and Milwaukee Brewers. I try to apply my experiences and lessons from the real world to my cases as often as I can.
