Best Lawyers Near You in Santa Monica, California for Appellate Practice
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...
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.
Michael Gelfound is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Insurance Law. Michael, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Simon Kress represents clients in complex government, regulatory and commercial litigation at the trial and appellate levels. His practice spans a range of substantive areas, including anti-discrimination law, constitutional law, administrative law, consumer protection law and privacy law. Mr. Kress maintains an active pro bono practice, with particular focus on LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights and poverty law.
Matt Aidan Getz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Matt Aidan, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matt Aidan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kian Tamaddoni has been an attorney with Benedon & Serlin LLP since 2020 and focuses his practice on Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Based in Woodland Hills, California, Kian has built his career around civil appeals and complex litigation matters. His professional connection to the firm began during his college years, when he worked as a law clerk during summer breaks, an experience that helped shape his long-term commitment to appellate advocacy. After graduating from the ...
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.