Best Lawyers in America for Appellate Practice
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State
With a practice focus on Appellate and Commercial & Business Litigation, Scott Hamilton has first-chaired more than 20 federal and state bench and jury trials and argued over 30 cases in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second, Sixth and Tenth Circuits, Michigan Supreme Court and Michigan Court of Appeals. With a strong background in Insurance & ERISA Litigation, Scott has represented large insurers in dozens of ERISA benefits actions in trial court and on appeal and has rep...
Jane M.N. Webre is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Jane M.N., who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jane M.N. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Dominic E. Draye is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Dominic E., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dominic E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Linda T. Coberly is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Linda T., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Linda T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jonathan Monson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation and Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants. Jonathan, who practices law in Portland, Oregon, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jonathan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
John P. Desmond is a shareholder and the firm's Reno Litigation group leader. He focuses his practice in the areas of commercial litigation and appellate work. He regularly represents and counsels clients in commercial and business litigation matters involving contract disputes, buy/sell agreements and disputes over intellectual property. He has also represented physician groups in regard to compliance and contractual matters. His representation of clients includes a significant number of mat...
Joan A. Lukey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Individuals, Litigation - First Amendment, Litigation - Labor and Employment, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Joan A., who practices law in Boston, Massachusetts, has been recognized since 1993. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting...
Jack O'Neill has been trying large complex cases for over 45 years. His experience in the courtroom involves many cases that have been widely publicized. Mr. O’Neill was co-trial counsel for UPR, Inc. in its attempted takeover of Pennzoil. He was lead counsel for Mitchell Energy Corporation in the company’s effort to overturn a $204 million judgment rendered against the company in a case tried for the company by another law firm. On appeal, argued by Mr. O’Neill, the case wa...
Eileen is a former state trial judge who tries and appeals cases in state and federal courts for both plaintiffs and defendants. She brings a unique perspective to litigation problem-solving, having served during her career as an advocate, judge, arbitrator and mediator. Eileen also has the benefit of having sustained both substantial trial and appellate practices for 30 years. As a result, she not only knows how to try a case to win, but does so with an informed view of how to keep (or rever...
Laura Smalley is committed to assisting clients in Pittsford, New York, with their technological development and safeguarding intellectual property rights. Her practice areas include Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Patent Law, and Trademark Law. She has considerable experience in handling complex cases related to patent infringement, particularly in the fields of medical devices, electronic components, and imaging technology. Laura also aids in p...
Gage has represented clients in a variety of matters in state and federal trial courts throughout Ohio, the Ohio courts of appeals, the Ohio Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. Gage has a practice focused on complex commercial and tort litigation, with an emphasis in appellate advocacy. Gage is a Best Lawyers® for appellate Advocacy, an Ohio Super Lawyer® and AV Preeminent® rated lawyer from Martindale Hubble. In 201...
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...
Doug Alexander is widely regarded as one of the premier advocates specializing in practice before the Supreme Court of Texas and is listed by Texas Super Lawyers as one of the Top 10 lawyers in Texas. Doug is the 2013 recipient of the Texas Bar Foundation's Gregory S. Coleman Outstanding Appellate Lawyer Award; was selected as the 2017 Austin Appellate Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America; and is listed in the Texas Lawyer Go-To Guide as one of five "Top-Notch Lawyers" in Texas for A...
Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Kevin P. Parker is the head of the Issues and Appeals Section of The Lanier Law Firm. His pre-trial work insures that client cases will stand the test of an appeal. Mr. Parker is an accomplished lawyer, having personally handled more than 20 cases at the appeals court level. He was a key member of the firm’s Pinnacle bellwether trial team that won a $1 billion combined jury verdict and a $502 million jury...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.