Appellate Practice

Many clients seek our appellate court expertise. We understand that appellate courts function differently from trial courts and that success at the appellate level requires knowledge and skill different from that needed in trial courts.

Appellate courts review decisions of the trial courts for legal correctness. Unlike in trial courts, no witnesses testify in the appellate courts and generally no new evidence is admitted. There are no juries, and the case is generally decided by a panel of judges. Appellate courts decide cases based on: (a) the written record of what happened in the trial court, including the trial transcript, (b) the written briefs submitted by the lawyers, and (c) oral argument of the case by the lawyers. To succeed at the appellate level, a lawyer needs keen insight, superlative writing skills, and effective oral-advocacy ability.

The firm's lawyers have the skills needed to win at the appellate level. We have handled successful appeals in a tremendous variety of cases. Often our efforts have resulted in precedent-setting decisions. Several of our lawyers were appellate moot court leaders in law school and have continued their successful ways in their practices. A number of our lawyers are former law clerks for appellate judges, including judges of the Louisiana Supreme Court, the Louisiana Courts of Appeal, and various federal courts. This experience gives us an edge in understanding how appellate judges think and decide cases.

* Denotes Practice Area Leader