Best Lawyers in America for Appellate Practice
State
Michael Bentley is a partner in the Jackson, Mississippi office, where he concentrates his practice on appellate and commercial litigation. In addition to his responsibilities at the firm, Michael was elected Chair of the Mississippi Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section (2013-2014) and currently serves on the Board of Governors for the Bar Association of the Federal Fifth Circuit. Prior to joining the firm, Michael clerked for Judge Leslie H. Southwick at the Fifth Circuit Court...
Jonathan built an early reputation among his colleagues as the lawyer other lawyers turned to with their problems. Since focusing on appellate work, he has briefed and argued before the Fourth Circuit, the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He has also been retained to serve as an appellate consultant in jury trials, providing real time guidance and briefing to preserve appellate issues in high stak...
Out of well over 1000 civil trial attorneys in North Florida, Michael Fox Orr was recognized by Attorney-at-Law Magazine as one of the “top 8 civil litigators.” Michael tries civil jury and bench trials primarily in the area of complex commercial and civil litigation with significant damages at issue. Most of his cases involving situations where the company could be bankrupted or an individual stands to lose their net worth. His experience and success as a civil trial lawyer has l...
John A. Collins practices in the areas of Civil Appellate and Motion Practice. He has argued appeals before the New York Court of Appeals, all four Departments of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second and Third Circuits. Speaking Engagements Prepared course materials and lectured on Article 78 Proceedings and Appeals From Administrative Determinations for the New York State Bar Association as part of its New York Appe...
Anne M. Johnson is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Anne M. practices law in Dallas, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Anne M. Johnson since 2010. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Anne M. Johnson is held by other lawyers.
Ben Cooper advocates for clients in high-stakes appeals and writ proceedings in the U.S. Supreme Court, federal circuit courts, and state supreme and intermediate appellate courts from coast to coast. Ben’s practice also emphasizes both trial-court and appellate representation in such fields as intellectual-property protection and e-commerce disputes; federal, state, and local taxation; insurance coverage and bad-faith defense; and public pension plans. In the U.S. Court of Appeals for ...
Ms. Breetz's practice focuses on both federal and state appellate advocacy, complex commercial litigation, including financial institution, real estate, and trust and estate litigation. She currently serves as co-chair of the firm's Appellate Advocacy group. Recent Assignments Handles a variety of federal and state court litigation and appellate matters for the Kentucky Bar Association and related entities and employees, e.g., Deters v. Herrick, 2020 Ky. Unpub. LEXIS 14 (Ky. 2020); Mischler v...
Tyler moved to Seattle in 2007 and became a partner of Harrigan Leyh Farmer & Thomsen LLP in 2010. He co-founded Martinez & Farmer LLP in 2025. Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America (Appellate, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property), Benchmark Litigation, Super Lawyers (Top 100), and Martindale-Hubbell rank Tyler among the top trial lawyers in the state. He is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, Fellow of Litigation Counsel of America and included on America’s Top 10...
Jonathan Monson is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation and Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants. Jonathan practices law in Portland, Oregon Best Lawyers has recognized Jonathan Monson since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Jonathan Monson is held by other lawyers.
Bill Wynne is a member of the Complex Commercial Disputes practice group, where he represents individuals and businesses across a variety of industries. What do you focus on? My practice concentrates in the areas of commercial and business litigation. Specifically, my practice focuses on helping clients with complex commercial, business, land use, and real estate litigation. I also work with clients to protect their intellectual property and rights to publicity. I have extensive experience su...
Sharon Stuart devotes her practice to civil trial work and arbitration. She focuses on complex commercial and insurance litigation, and she handles a variety of product liability cases including pharmaceutical and medical device products liability litigation as national, regional or local counsel. Her trial experience includes a wide range of business tort claims, contract disputes, commercial and insurance fraud and bad faith suits, and wrongful death cases. She has defended dozens of class ...
Stephen R. Senn is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Appellate Practice. Stephen R. practices law in Lakeland, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Stephen R. Senn since 2013. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Stephen R. Senn is held by other lawyers.
Amy M. Pepke is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Amy M. practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Amy M. Pepke since 2012. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Amy M. Pepke is held by other lawyers.
Bess DuRant is a litigator engaged in complex business disputes on both the trial and appellate level. Her practice includes corporate governance issues, bet-the-company litigation, shareholder disputes, derivative actions, along with other business torts and contractual disputes. Bess' practice also includes trust and estate litigation. Additionally, Bess focuses on Constitutional issues, Freedom of Information Act matters, and election disputes. Bess’ practice includes appellate work ...
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.
