Best Lawyers in America for Appellate Practice

Chris Dove is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Chris, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Chris is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. Chris is a board-certified appellate specialist with nearly 25 years of experience representing clients in high-stakes, complex disputes...

Peter J. Rusthoven, a partner in the Indianapolis office, has a multi-dimensional practice. His business experience includes transactional and corporate governance work, in areas ranging from manufacturing to publishing to healthcare. Peter was active in drafting Indiana's corporation statute and official comments and has frequently written and spoken on corporate change-of-control issues. In the governmental services area, he is experienced in gaming and alcoholic beverage licensing and othe...

Carol Rooney is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Carol, who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Carol is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Marc Fiedler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Marc, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Marc is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael Sansbury has represented clients in trial and appellate courts across the United States. He has argued in courts ranging from Oregon Circuit Court to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He has examined countless witnesses—from the president of a multi-national corporation in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to a newspaper publisher from Auburn, Alabama—and has tried issues in state and federal courts in Alabama. Always thinking of the long-term impact, Sansbury spec...

Julian Modesti is Co-Leader of the Business Litigation practice group at Harris Beach Murtha, based in Syracuse, New York. With over 30 years of experience, Julian has a substantial background in both state and federal court matters related to commercial litigation. These include handling disputes among shareholders, partners, and members, addressing business separations, lease and land-use issues, contract disputes, and safeguarding trade secrets as well as dealing with unfair competition an...

J. Beverly is a board-certified civil appellate attorney with decades of experience representing businesses, investors, property owners, contractors, and individuals in complex litigation and appellate matters. His practice spans commercial disputes, construction and real estate litigation, environmental contamination claims, insurance coverage disputes, partnership conflicts, securities and investor claims, probate matters, and oil and gas litigation. He has represented both plaintiffs and d...

Mark Jacobs is a creative and accomplished litigator with deep experience that is enhanced by his background as a transactional lawyer. Mark has broad commercial litigation experience in state and federal trial and appellate courts, arbitration proceedings, and mediation. As lead trial and appeals counsel, he advises businesses on all aspects of legal issues with a focus on defining and achieving successful business outcomes. Mark also has experience in advising clients in mergers and acquisi...

William A. Waddell Jr. is a member of the firm’s litigation practice group. Bill’s work is focused on litigation and other representation for banks, insurance companies, healthcare entities, and other businesses. He has deep experience in class actions, bet-the-company jury trials, and regulatory litigation.

Kendyl T. Hanks is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Kendyl T., who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kendyl T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Heidi G. Bloch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Heidi G., who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Heidi G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

As a board-certified civil appellate attorney, Whitney Brieck is uniquely qualified to assist trial teams in seeking dispositive rulings, exploring procedural nuances, and preserving the record from the outset of litigation through post-judgment proceedings, and to pursue and defend relief sought in interlocutory and final appeals and emergency mandamus proceedings. Whitney studies the tenor of recent judicial decision-making to comprehensively counsel her clients about complex legal issues a...

Daniel Finerty, a Shareholder with Lindner & Marsack, S.C., represents and counsels private and public sector clients, Native American communities and Employment Practice Liability Insurance carriers in labor and employment litigation matters. Daniel aggressively defends discrimination, retaliation and harassment claims under federal, state, local and tribal law as well as health care retaliation claims under Wisconsin’s Health Care Worker Protection Act, arrest and conviction recor...

L. Lamar Armstrong III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. L. Lamar, who practices law in Smithfield, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which L. Lamar is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

A former Chief Judge of Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal and member of the court for 22 years, Gerald Cope is the chair of Akerman’s Appellate Practice. He represents clients in appellate litigation at the state and federal levels. Ranked by Chambers USA , peers say “He’s superb and doing great work.” He is a founding member of Akerman Bench, an innovative practice including former appellate and trial court judges providing the perspective of both sides o...

Brian Duffy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Real Estate and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Brian, who practices law in Charleston, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brian is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.