Appellate Practice

Appellate practice is a separate discipline requiring specialized training and skills. Our appellate lawyers have extensive experience and a well-deserved reputation for excellence in appellate litigation in state and federal courts. The senior lawyers in the group personally participate in all phases of the drafting and review of appellate briefs. Our understanding of the issues and concerns that motivate appellate judges consistently produces winning briefs and oral arguments in complex matters.

Appellate work is a substantial and important part of our litigation practice. In addition to appellate proceedings in our own cases, most of our work at this level involves prosecuting appeals for clients who feel that they could benefit from a fresh perspective on a case. Typically, these engagements involve the entry of a substantial monetary judgment against the client following an adverse verdict at trial. We also represent clients in the submission of amicus curiae briefs in cases having precedential significance beyond the matter at hand.

Our work at the trial level includes drafting and arguing post-trial motions, as well as litigating economic issues related to structured judgments. Our broad experience enables us to "get up to speed" expeditiously and efficiently in post-trial proceedings, where tight deadlines are commonplace.

Clients turn to our appellate practice group for assistance when the stakes are high. We frequently assist excess insurers in monitoring trials in high-exposure cases that have a jury verdict potential in excess of the primary limits. In this capacity, we work closely with trial counsel at other firms in shaping legal issues and properly preserving the record necessary to litigate those issues on appeal.

For more information, please contact Steven Ahmuty , Jr. at (516) 488-3300.