Best Lawyers in California, United States for Appellate Practice
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Cities
Thaila Sundaresan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Thaila, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thaila is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Michael R. Williams is a trial and appellate lawyer with more than twenty-five years of experience representing clients in complex business disputes. Based in San Clemente, California, Mr. Williams is a partner with Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP , where he handles matters involving commercial litigation and appellate practice in state and federal courts. Mr. Williams represents plaintiffs and defendants in trials, arbitrations, and appeals involving a broad range of business and comme...
Kelly Woodruff is a seasoned appellate advocate, having represented clients and amici curiae in dozens of significant writs and appeals in the state and federal appellate courts in her 25 years of practice. Over the course of her career, Kelly has gained experience with appellate matters in nearly all subject areas related to business and civil litigation, including intellectual property, breach of contract, torts, probate, and trust matters. Recently, Kelly preserved a multi-million-dollar i...
Scott Tillett is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Scott, who practices law in Sherman Oaks, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Scott is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Ellie Ruth is an appellate attorney admitted to practice in California and Texas. Her practice focuses on appeals, writs, and dispositive pre- and post-trial motions on a broad range of legal issues, including premises liability, attorneys fees, contracts, family law/complex divorces, evidence, insurance (bad faith, Cumis counsel), product liability, employment, and civil procedure. Ellie has published and presented on a variety of issues including evidence, expert witnesses, and annual updat...
Kahn A. Scolnick is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Litigation - Securities. Kahn A., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kahn A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Rex Heinke is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished and experienced appellate practitioners in California, and among the best in the nation. He has argued more than 150 appeals in federal and state courts across the country. Between 2001 and 2020, Rex was co-head of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld’s nationally renowned Supreme Court and Appellate practice. He is regularly called on to defend major corporations and high-profile individuals in some of their most hotly conte...
Douglas Benedon is a co-founder of Benedon & Serlin LLP and has practiced law since 1993, focusing on Appellate Practice in California state and federal courts. Based in Woodland Hills, California, his work has included representing rank-and-file employees, police officers, firefighters, district attorneys, and other public servants in employment discrimination and retaliation matters. Certified in Appellate Law by the State Bar of California for more than two decades. Recipient of the Pr...
Jesse Gessin is trial counsel for businesses and individuals. He is the rare attorney who successfully tries both civil and criminal cases. For example, his multimillion-dollar jury verdict was recognized as the highest California verdict in several categories for that year. He entered the case only a few months before trial. In 2022, hired less than ten days before trial, Jesse achieved a complete defense verdict for a successor trustee against multimillion-dollar claims of wrongful investme...
Ernest Galvan is a partner at Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP. He assists clients in difficult and complex matters involving actual or potential litigation. Mr. Galvan has worked with clients to resolve a wide range of problems, including business formation and dissolution, commercial disputes, employment law matters, disability access compliance, and attorney fee disputes. Mr. Galvan’s practice includes both trial and appellate matters. He has successfully briefed and argued cases...
Julian W. Poon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Julian W., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Julian W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Rachel M. Garrard is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Rachel M., who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Rachel M. 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.