Best Lawyers in America for Appellate Practice

Jody S. Sanders obtains his clients’ goals by telling their stories and legal arguments through concise, well-written legal briefing and informative and persuasive oral presentations. His effective legal writing has been recognized by his clients, colleagues, co-counsel, and opposing counsel. But, successful presentations are only part of the process. He also ensures the best outcome by preparing strategies that bring success in litigation and throughout the appellate process—whet...

Dennis R. Rose represents clients across a wide spectrum of industries at both the trial and appellate level. Dennis has extensive experience handling a broad range of disputes in federal and state courts throughout the country. He has served as national litigation counsel in products liability litigation and Ohio counsel for lender liability and toxic tort matters. He represents clients in a diverse spectrum of industries, including financial services, paper, manufacturing, retail, real esta...

Jim Marrow is an experienced trial lawyer and appellate specialist. He has developed cases and arbitration matters from beginning to end, including appeal. Jim has tried cases on both sides of the docket, winning judgments for plaintiffs and defendants, and has handled civil appeals and mandamus proceedings in state and federal courts. Jim has extensive appellate experience and has successfully obtained several appellate reversals and writs of mandamus for his clients. Jim also has particular...

Benjamin Gooding is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants and Utilities Law. Benjamin, who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice ...

Steven Richard is a highly experienced trial and appellate lawyer who handles complex commercial, employment and higher education cases throughout the federal and state courts of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Steve is especially active in the Rhode Island Federal District Court, where he serves as the Chair of its Local Rules Committee. What do you focus on? I handle a broad array of commercial, civil rights and higher education cases, using more than 20 years of pretrial and c...

Michael Gwin was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1986. His experience ranges from commercial litigation, complex litigation and appellate advocacy to tort and general litigation, product liability and professional malpractice litigation. Michael is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been listed as one of The Best Lawyers in America since 2006.

3 Things to Know About Rick Fleming: He is a rare North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Social Security Disability Law. He was recognized for his service and advocacy by the North Carolina Advocates for Justice with a Lifetime Service Award in 2025. He has served in many lead roles for the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR). Rick Fleming is a Partner at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, where he leads the firm’s Socia...

Business owners, celebrities and trust beneficiaries across California turn to Christopher C. Melcher for his assistance protecting their most valuable assets. With deep experience in complex family law litigation and premarital agreements, Mr. Melcher helps his clients achieve successful outcomes despite extremely challenging circumstances. He understands the need to keep sensitive family matters private for his noteworthy clients and is dedicated to handling family law matters in a discrete...

A highly skilled civil, criminal, and appellate litigator, Joel Bertocchi handles appeals in state and federal courts and represents clients in connection with criminal and regulatory investigations and proceedings, providing counsel on compliance policies and related issues. He has argued cases in the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple federal Circuits and state appellate courts, and served as Illinois’ Solicitor General, the chief appellate lawyer for the State. A former federal prosecut...

Marie has experience in both trial and appellate matters. In private practice, Marie handles or assists in all phases of litigation for a wide variety of clients involved in products liability, premises liability, personal injury, insurance defense, contract disputes, and commercial lawsuits. She has appeared and handled appeals before the Supreme Court of Texas and various Texas courts of appeals. Marie has taught Appellate Advocacy as an adjunct professor at Thurgood Marshall School of Law....

Brad is a board certified appellate lawyer, specializing in Texas civil appeals. He has handled over 75 appeals, including interlocutory appeals and original proceedings, primarily in the intermediate state appellate courts and the Texas Supreme Court. He has also presented over a dozen oral arguments in Texas appellate courts, including in the Texas Supreme Court. Further, he has significant experience in state trial courts, from handling pre-trial motion practice to the jury charge. His pra...

Steven H. Stodghill is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television and Oil and Gas Law. Steven H., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Bice is a co-founder of Pisanelli Bice PLLC, a Las Vegas, Nevada law firm focused on commercial litigation and complex business disputes. Before forming the firm in 2010, he served as a shareholder at his prior firm, was part of its national litigation group, and led the Las Vegas office’s appellate practice. His practice includes Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation involving the First Amendment, Litigation related to Land Use and Zoning...

Gretchen Garrison graduated from the University of Missouri in 1982 with a degree in Hospital Administration. She earned her law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1986, where she served as managing editor of the UMKC Law Reviewand on the Moot Court Board. Ms. Garrison is admitted to practice before all Missouri state courts, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. She has appeared before every appellate court in...

Rebecca practices within Butler Snow’s Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Litigation group. Rebecca is an experienced trial attorney who now focuses her practice on pharmaceutical product liability litigation. She has tried over 40 cases to jury verdicts in state and federal courts in Mississippi. She has served on teams successfully defending the manufacturers of prescription and over-the-counter products from discovery through the appellate process. As a result of her work ...

Wendy Albers is a partner at Benedon & Serlin LLP in Woodland Hills, California, where she focuses her practice on Appellate Practice. She joined the firm in 2012 and has more than 25 years of experience representing clients in state and federal appellate courts throughout California. Her work includes briefing and oral argument in complex civil appeals, as well as strategic guidance at critical stages of litigation. Certified in Appellate Law by the State Bar of California. Recognized by...