On January 29, 2024, Ebony M. Thompson was sworn in as the first woman and first openly gay City Solicitor in the 294-year history of the City. This landmark moment followed the unanimous confirmation by the Baltimore City Council.  In her role, Solicitor Thompson represents and advises the Mayor, City Council, City Administrator, boards and commissions, department directors, and employees in their official capacities in all legal matters before the City.

Since joining the Baltimore City Department of Law, Solicitor Thompson first served as Deputy City Solicitor in January 2022 and then as Acting City Solicitor in January 2023. With a focus on effective governance, Solicitor Thompson has been instrumental in addressing Baltimore's vacant housing issues through collaboration with the Baltimore City Council, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, and the Department of Housing and Community Development. She played a key role in establishing a new track for Baltimore City In Rem Tax Foreclosures, contributing to the revitalization of the City. 

She is also a pioneer in introducing the City to blockchain technology for recordation of land titles, land valuation, permit tracking and the use of smart contracts to simplify the process for purchasing vacant properties. This initiative aims to streamline the process of bringing vacant properties back into active use, particularly in neighborhoods still grappling with the consequences of redlining. In December 2023, the Board of Estimates approved a three-year pilot to record Baltimore’s vacant property deeds on a blockchain, positioning Baltimore as the first municipality in the country to leverage this emerging technology to combat vacant housing.

As leader of the Law Department, Solicitor Thompson is also responsible for ensuring compliance under the federal consent decree that the Police Department entered in 2017 with the Department of Justice. In January 2024, the City was granted the first instance of full and effective compliance for the Baltimore Police Department on two sections of the Consent Decree: Transportation of Persons in Custody and Officer Assistance and Support. 

Additionally, Solicitor Thompson has led the Law Department to initiate: (1) a lawsuit against the ATF to obtain the release of gun tracing data under the Freedom of Information Act; (2) legal action against Hyundai and Kia for jeopardizing public safety and abusing police resources by failing to install industry-standard anti-theft technology in their vehicles; and (3) consumer protection on a local level by drafting a new local ordinance aimed at preventing abusive, unfair, and deceptive trade practices against City residents, that was signed into law in October 2023.

Moreover, Solicitor Thompson has supported the Administration in multiple capacities by serving as the Interim Chief of Staff in the Mayor's Office while maintaining all her responsibilities and duties for the Law Department. As Interim Chief of Staff, she oversaw legislative affairs, communications, and constituent services. In this role, she developed strategic internal and external relationships to support the Mayor's mission and simultaneously developed the legal framework for the Mayor’s Squeegee Collaborative, resulting in an 85 percent reduction in crime associated with squeegee workers.

Before joining the Law Department, Solicitor Thompson began her legal career at Venable LLP, where she worked for over eight years. As an Associate and later as Counsel, she represented various clients in complex legal matters, including real estate litigation, regulatory approvals for mergers and acquisitions, insolvency proceedings, and labor and employment litigation.

She holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude in 2013. She served as the Associate Technology Editor for the University of Baltimore Law Review and emerged as the Overall Winner of the Moot Court Competition, showcasing her exceptional advocacy skills. Solicitor Thompson also obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Brown University and a Master of Business Administration from American Intercontinental University. Additionally, she completed the Blockchain Technologies: Business Innovation and Application program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management in January 2022.

Throughout her career, the Solicitor has received numerous accolades and awards, including being named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2022, acknowledged as Ones to Watch by The Best Lawyers in America in 2021, and selected as a Leadership Academy Fellow of the Maryland State Bar Association.

Her commitment to excellence extends beyond her legal career. She served as a Reservist in the United States Marine Corps Reserve for eight years, where she distinguished herself as the valedictorian and honor graduate of Officer Candidate School. She also obtained her Series 7 and Series 63 licenses when working for UBS in New York City. 

The Solicitor is a proud graduate of Baltimore City College high school and lives within walking distance of her family home in Northwest Baltimore, where she is raising her three girls.