Best Lawyers in America for Appellate Practice

Jim Layton joined the firm in 2017 after serving more than 22 years in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office—nearly all of those as the State’s principal civil appellate lawyer, Solicitor General. Jim practices in both appellate and trial courts, particularly in matters involving complex legal questions, including those arising under the U.S. and Missouri constitutions, Missouri school funding and other education statutes, discrimination laws, and Missouri tax laws. He repr...

Seth Horvath focuses his practice on trial and appellate litigation in state and federal courts nationwide. He represents a wide variety of clients in complex commercial disputes across multiple industries. My focus My practice includes three main areas: Commercial Litigation My commercial litigation experience is wide-ranging. From single-witness administrative hearings to complex, multiparty trials to summary proceedings on issues of law, I represent clients in the real-estate, financial-se...

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...

Since joining Watkins & Eager in 1991, Walter's practice has included both federal and state court litigation in the areas of pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, medical malpractice, general product liability, and personal injury. Walter has served as lead trial counsel in numerous product liability and medical malpractice cases in both state and federal courts and has tried multiple cases to verdict. Walter chairs the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device and Alternative Dispute Re...

Levon G. Hovnatanian is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Appellate Practice. Levon G. practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Levon G. Hovnatanian since 2021. 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 Levon G. Hovnatanian is held by other lawyers.

Wes Black’s practice combines the determination of a high-stakes trial lawyer with the exacting focus of a veteran appellate attorney. Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Wes represents clients involved in catastrophic injury cases and high-stakes business disputes. He has briefed and argued cases before both state and federal appellate courts, including numerous Texas Courts of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, and the Fifth Circuit Court ...

Scott Perwin represents clients in antitrust matters, other commercial disputes, and bet-the-company litigation at trial and on appeal. With decades of experience, Scott has achieved successful results based on his clients’ litigation objectives and business goals. Renowned in antitrust, Scott has been named Best Lawyers in America’ s “Lawyer of the Year” for Miami six times in either Antitrust Litigation or Antitrust Law. Scott’s work primarily focuses on the pl...

Joe Rainsbury has 25 years’ experience representing clients before state and federal appellate and trial courts. Prized by clients and colleagues for his writing and oral advocacy skills, he has participated in appeals across the country on myriad legal issues. Over the years, Joe has been involved—either briefing the merits or arguing to a tribunal—in cases from nearly every corner of civil litigation. Joe successfully represented a bank on an appeal of the first Sarbanes-O...

William Chapman biography

John Cadagan is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Appellate Practice and Insurance Law. John practices law in Seattle, Washington Best Lawyers has recognized John Cadagan since 2026. 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 John Cadagan is held by other lawyers.

Lo Bielby is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer who appears throughout Florida in all Courts, representing business as well as state and municipal entities with complex commercial and civil litigation, smoking and health cases, medical product disputes, regulatory administrative matters, employment, medical cannabis regulatory items, and select criminal matters. Lo is regularly listed in The Best Lawyers in America and has completed more than 100 jury trials, as well as bench and admin...

Biography The head of the trial practice at Britcher, Leone & Sergio, LLC, located in Glen Rock and Morristown, New Jersey, E. Drew Britcher has spent more than 40 years practicing medical malpractice and personal injury law. Focusing his practice exclusively on litigation, he represents plaintiffs throughout northern and central New Jersey in medical malpractice, product liability and other personal injury matters. He has served as Counsel of Record or Amicus Counsel in nearly 45 reporte...

Ryan Younger handles disputes involving contracts, fraud, deceptive trade practices, trade secrets, insurance, products liability, government regulation, and other matters. He represents clients ranging from individuals to multi-national corporations. He has extensive experience in state and federal courts across the nation and has served as first-chair trial counsel and lead lawyer for appeals. He has defended clients in multiple multidistrict litigation proceedings. Mr. Younger also represe...

Elissa B. Haynes is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Appellate Practice and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Elissa B. practices law in Atlanta, Georgia Best Lawyers has recognized Elissa B. Haynes since 2025. 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 Elissa B. Haynes is held by other lawyers.

Spencer G. Scharff represents and advises businesses, nonprofits, and individuals in complex litigation in state and federal courts. He is admitted to practice in California, Arizona, New York, and the District of Columbia, and has extensive experience in high-stakes commercial litigation, regulatory disputes, and appellate advocacy. Before founding Scharff PC, Spencer was a member of Goddard Law Office PLC, where he practiced alongside former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard. He previo...

Nancy Penner is an Attorney and Senior Vice President at Shuttleworth. She focuses on legal writing, appellate law, and medical malpractice. Her appellate practice includes briefing and oral arguments before the Iowa Supreme Court, Iowa Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She was the first chair of the firm’s Appellate Law Practice Group.Nancy grew up on a farm in southeast Iowa. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing an...