Best Lawyers in America for Appellate Practice
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State
James Meadows focuses his practice on contract disputes, real estate claims, construction payment and defect claims, insurance coverage actions, and employment cases. As a former law clerk for the Supreme Court of Missouri, Mr. Meadows has handled high-profile state and federal appeals as a replacement for trial counsel as well as handling litigation from start through jury trial to a verdict himself.
Stephen J. Rhodes is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Appellate Practice, Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law and Utilities Law. Stephen J., who practices law in Okemos, Michigan, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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.
Donald Morgan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Donald, who practices law in Indianapolis, Indiana, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Donald is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Louis Cohen is a senior counsel in the firm's Litigation/Controversy Department, and a member of the Appellate and Supreme Court Litigation Practice Group. He joined the firm in 1967. Mr. Cohen served as Deputy Solicitor General of the United States from 1986-1988, and focuses on US Supreme Court and other appellate litigation and corporations law. Mr. Cohen’s appellate practice has included more than fifty cases on the merits in the US Supreme Court and a large number of cases in the c...
Barry is a litigator in our Birmingham office. He recently returned to Sirote, where he began his legal career, after spending the last 15 years representing defendants and plaintiffs in anti-trust, securities, insurance and business fraud cases. He also handles matters involving products liability, shareholder, and other complex litigation and class actions. Barry represents clients in state and federal courts.
Whether by obtaining an acquittal of his white-collar client at the conclusion of the prosecutor's opening statement, or proving that the drug dog's sensitive nose has been kicked by a horse, during the past 45 years, Dan Monnat has been recognized as a creative trial and appellate criminal defense lawyer. He co-founded Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered, a criminal defense trial and appellate firm in Wichita, Kansas, in 1985. A graduate of the Creighton University School of Law and Gerry Spenc...
Guy A. Fortney is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Civil Rights Law, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Guy A., who practices law in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Guy A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Michael B. Heister is a managing member at Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC, with extensive experience in regulatory, environmental, and complex commercial litigation. Mr. Heister’s practice focuses on electrical utility regulatory proceedings, environmental enforcement/compliance, and defending clients who do business in highly regulated industries. His recent experience includes: Advising and representing clients in matters before the Arkansas Public Service Commission, including e...
Julie Smith is an appellate lawyer who also specializes in advising trial attorneys on litigation strategy and in drafting and arguing complex motions. Before joining Cosgrave, she served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Trial and Appellate Divisions of the Oregon Department of Justice, where she twice received the department’s Outstanding Achievement Award. Prior to that, she clerked for the Honorable Virginia Linder of the Oregon Court of Appeals. Appellate services include: Re...
Douglas S. Chin has extensive experience in state and federal courts, from Hawaii to the United States Supreme Court, and experience in managing state and local government agencies at the highest levels. Mr. Chin focuses his practice in commercial litigation, administrative law, and government relations. Mr. Chin is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell® ; the highest rating possible, for his skill and integrity. Mr. Chin has been named to The Best Lawyers in America® list in...
Brian Pipkin provides legal counsel and regulatory guidance to insurance companies, insurance agencies and producers, health plans, managed care companies, and other insurance and health care related entities, on a national basis. He has extensive appellate experience in cases before the federal courts of appeals, state supreme and intermediate appellate courts, and federal and state administrative agencies.
Dinah S. Stein is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Dinah S., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dinah S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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.