Akin houses a thriving national appellate practice, which is primarily recognized for its record in IP, American Indian law, financial restructuring and labor law cases. Additionally, the wider firm’s formidable regulatory offering marks it as a key player in administrative law and Administrative Procedure Act litigation, as recently evidenced by its wor on behalf of four importers challenging the Trump Administration’s trade war with China, which represents one of the largest cases in the Court of International Trade’s history. Spearheading the group is Washington DC-based Pratik Shah, who has argued seventeen cases before the US Supreme Court and sixty cases in other appellate courts across the country. Shah teamed up with fellow DC-based appellate specialists James E. Tysse and Julius Chen to lead the importer challenge appeal before the Federal Circuit. In San Francisco, Aileen McGrath is noted for her focus on federal and state appellate courts in California.

Arnold & Porter was one of a small band of firms to prevail in every one of its arguments before SCOTUS during 2022/23. Most notably, department head John Elwood in Washington DC successfully represented the plaintiff in a landmark First Amendment case discussing whether the US Constitution requires prosecutors to prove a minimum mental state before a person can be punished for threatening speech. In another SCOTUS win, newly promoted counsel Andrew Tutt in Washington DC represented Gorgi Talevski in a nursing home abuse case with national implications for civil rights litigation. The group also draws on Denver’s Reeves Anderson, who maintains a broad appellate and trial practice; Washington DC’s Stanton Jones, who has represented parties and amici curiae in 16 cases before SCOTUS; and next-generation partners Allon Kedem and Elisabeth Theodore, both of whom are based in Washington DC. The group was further strengthened by the recent arrival of New York-based Joseph Greenaway, who was formerly a judge for the Third Circuit.

Arguably best known for its record in local intermediate and higher appellate courts, including the Texas Supreme Court, Baker Botts L.L.P.’s Texas-centered team also has experience arguing before all 13 Courts of Appeals, numerous state appellate courts and SCOTUS. The firm’s signature oil and gas expertise ensures that energy-related appeals are a strong suit, with the team recently securing a win for Vitol Americas Corp in the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in a case upholding a $147m breach-of-contract judgment against Targa Channelview. Houston-based Macey Reasoner Stokes heads the appellate practice and led on the Vitol Americas work. Also recommended are Houston’s Aaron Streett, who fronts the Supreme Court and constitutional law group, and Austin-based former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice, Thomas Phillips.

Bracewell LLP’s firm-wide focus on the energy sector is reflected in its appellate practice, where it specializes in representing energy companies before all courts of appeals, with a particularly notable record before the Texas Supreme Court. The team is also well versed in appeals concerning the insurance, toxic torts, IP, and environmental law fields. The group is concentrated in Houston, where department head Warren Harris is valued for his ‘ability in oral argument’. Also noted in Houston are Jeffrey Oldham, who is a former general counsel in the Office of the Governor of the State of Texas, and newly promoted partner Walter Simons.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP’s appellate practice is closely aligned with its trial practice and the team frequently—though not exclusively—handles appeals for litigation led by the firm at trial level. From its New York base, the group is active in appellate courts across the country, including recent appearances before the Federal, Fifth and Ninth Circuits, as well as in the California, Delaware, and US Supreme Court. Gary Bornstein and Kevin Orsini co-lead an overarching litigation department that also includes Antony Ryan.

Widely acknowledged to rank among the leading appellate practices in the US, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP fields an enviably deep bench that is well dispersed across the country, leveraging platforms in key states such as California, Texas, and Washington DC. Among its recent high-profile cases, Washington DC-based Thomas Hungar scored a unanimous win at the US Supreme Court for Slack Technologies in a landmark case discussing direct listings. Hungar also teamed up with the labor and employment practice to successfully represent UBS before the Second Circuit in a Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower retaliation case. The national group is co-chaired by former Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Thomas Dupree in Washington DC, who has argued more than 100 appeals; Dallas-based department co-head Allyson Ho, who is set to represent Truck Insurance Exchange before SCOTUS in a high-profile bankruptcy-related case; and Los Angeles-based Julian Poon. The formidably strong practice also draws on Theodore Olson, who is a former Solicitor General; Theodore Boutrous in Los Angeles whose impressive appellate track record spans civil, constitutional and criminal cases; Miguel Estrada, who has argued twenty-four cases before SCOTUS; and global litigation co-chair Helgi Walker. Former District Judge for the District of Maryland George Hazel recently joined the team. All lawyers mentioned are in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

The appellate practice at Goodwin finds favor for its ‘ability to synthesize complex and nuanced legal issues’. Historically best known for its record in life sciences and technology-related appeals, where it can lean on the wider firm’s dominant industry offerings, the group additionally handles a steady stream of class actions, financial services and transport-related cases. In Washington DC, high-profile appellate specialist William Jay contributes experience in arguing seventeen cases before SCOTUS; he recently scored a win for Boeing—and co-defendant Southwest Airlines—at the Fifth Circuit in a case concerning Boeing’s 737 MAX aircraft. The DC team also draws on Brian Burgess, who co-chairs the FDA litigation practice, and up-and-coming appellate partner Jaime Santos, who has a focus on ERISA litigation, patent litigation, constitutional law and product litigation. Recommended in Boston are experienced department head Kevin Martin; David Zimmer, who specializes in IP, administrative law and consumer financial services; and newly promoted partner Gerard Cedrone.

With experience before intermediate and higher appellate courts across the country, Greenberg Traurig LLP’s broad practice is well versed across an array of commercial, regulatory, white-collar and IP law cases. The far-reaching national group is co-led by Miami-based Elliot Scherker, who has handled over 2000 appeals in state and federal courts during his career; Austin-based Dale Wainwright, who served on the Texas Supreme Court for a decade; and former Solicitor General of Arizona, Dominic Draye, who divides his time between Washington DC and Phoenix. The group additionally draws on New York-based of counsel Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick, who is a former senior associate judge of the New York State Court of Appeals.

A force in appellate work nationally, Jones Day maintains its formidable record before the US Supreme Court: during the October 2023 term alone, five of its partners appeared as counsel of record before SCOTUS in five different cases. Its enviably deep bench includes 48 former Supreme Court clerks as well as a former US Solicitor General in high-profile specialist Noel Francisco. Francisco had a banner year in both the intermediate and higher appellate courts, which included securing a major win for one of the ‘Varsity Blues’ defendants, in convincing the First Circuit to vacate all of his principal convictions. Yaakov Roth also notched up a strong 2022/23, which included scoring a unanimous SCOTUS victory on behalf of a former campaign manager for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, in a case discussing federal corruption laws. Other key names include New York-based department head Traci Lovitt, who prevailed in the Second Circuit in four related appeals on behalf of IBM; Hashim Mooppan, who successfully represented Boeing in a CEQA dispute before the California Court of Appeal; and of counsel Beth Heifetz. Additionally, Jeffrey Johnson and Detroit-based next-generation partner Amanda Rice are also recommended. Michael Carvin recently retired. Named attorneys are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

Among King & Spalding LLP’s sector strong suits, the appellate practice stands out for its expertise in life sciences and healthcare-related cases, where it can act hand-in-hand with the wider firm’s dominant life sciences group. Other key areas of activity include energy, environmental and IP-related matters, while geographically it is particularly noted for its presence in Florida appeals. In a highlight example of its strength in the pharmaceutical sphere, Washington DC-based department co-head Ashley Parrish successfully represented Novo Nordisk in a Third Circuit appeal challenging efforts to expand the scope of manufacturers’ obligations under the federal 340B drug pricing program. The group also draws on fellow department co-lead Jeffrey Bucholtz, based in Washington DC, and California appellate specialist Anne Voigts, who splits her time between Silicon Valley and San Francisco.

Demonstrating a marked focus on IP-related appeals, satisfied clients of Kirkland & Ellis LLP praise the team as the ‘best in the business’. The firm has a strong presence before the Federal Circuit, which hears federal cases involving patents and trademark registrations, among other specialist issues. Key contact John O’Quinn, who is based in Washington DC, is particularly recommended for IP and regulatory appeals and has argued more than fifty patent appeals in the Federal Circuit. O’Quinn recently teamed up with the IP practice to secure three wins for Intel in the Federal Circuit with the reversal of three unfavorable Patent Trial and Appeal Board rulings. The department also draws on George Hicks, who splits his time between Washington DC and Dallas; New York’s Jay Lefkowitz, who is noted for his record in the life sciences sphere; and Washington DC-based William Burgess.

A destination practice for appellate work, Latham & Watkins LLP’s key advocates have argued more than 100 cases before SCOTUS over the past two decades. The group also demonstrates strong activity before state supreme courts and courts of appeal across the country. Former US Solicitor General Gregory Garre steers the team and is sought after for his broad subject matter expertise, which spans constitutional, statutory and regulatory matters. Garre recently secured a 9-0 victory in SCOTUS in a landmark case ruling on federal district courts’ jurisdiction to hear constitutional claims challenging the structure of SEC and FTC administrative proceedings. In another 9-0 SCOTUS win, Roman Martinez successfully represented a plaintiff in a case vindicating the rights of disabled students under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In a significant victory before the Third Circuit, Melissa Arbus Sherry saw off an appeal filed by the federal government in an antitrust case challenging US Sugar Corporation’s acquisition of Imperial Sugar Company. The deep bench also benefits from a deep pool of younger partners, including Michael Bern, who specializes in appellate, commercial and securities litigation; and New York-based Samir Deger-Sen, who recently secured three separate Ninth Circuit wins on behalf of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Meta Platforms and Pharmaniaga Berhad respectively. Richard Bress recently retired. Named attorneys are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

A longstanding leader in the appellate sphere, Mayer Brown is active across the full gamut of commercial and constitutional law matters, with a particularly prominent record in the financial services arena. The group possesses a strong bench of appellate specialists, with Washington DC-based Andrew Pincus regarded by some as ‘one of the deans of the Supreme Court bar’. Pincus recently secured a win for for the US Chamber of Commerce and the California Chamber of Commerce before the Ninth Circuit, in a decision affirming a preliminary injunction against a 2019 California anti-arbitration law. Nicole Saharsky, also in DC, co-heads the practice alongside Pincus; she has argued thirty cases before the US Supreme Court and recently persuaded SCOTUS, on behalf of The HuffingtonPost.com, to deny certiorari in a personal-jurisdiction case involving HuffPost. Other seasoned appellate court specialists include Timothy Bishop and Michael Scodro, both of whom are based in Chicago, and Washington DC-based Evan Tager, who specializes in cases concerning punitive damages, class certification and enforceability of arbitration agreements. Newly promoted partner Avi Kupfer is also noted in Chicago.

Over the past year, McDermott Will & Emery LLP’s national appellate practice has had strong showings before the DC and Fourth Circuits, and also scored a win at the US Supreme Court. Department co-chair Paul Hughes secured the SCOTUS victory when he successfully represented an individual in seeking relief from deportation on account of her gender identity—he has now argued ten times before SCOTUS. Increasingly prominent appellate specialist Michael Kimberly co-chairs the group and has clocked up eight arguments before the US Supreme Court; he has carved a significant niche in advising on issues concerning the Medicare Act, among other matters. The Washington DC-based group also includes younger partners Andrew Lyonsberg and Sarah Hogarth, who provide specialist support on appellate matters.

National dispute resolution boutique MoloLamken LLP continues to strengthen its formidable record before the US Supreme Court; it argued three SCOTUS cases during the 2022/23 term, despite the Court’s shrinking docket overall. The firm’s emphasis on high-profile appeals involving IP, energy, telecoms and sovereign immunity also ensures that it is frequently engaged to represent clients before various courts of appeals. Highlighted by sources as a ‘great senior partner’, appellate chair Jeffrey Lamken has argued twenty-seven cases before SCOTUS. Among Lamken’s recent cases, he represented The Humane Society of the United States before the US Supreme Court in a successful defense of California’s Proposition 12 against a constitutional challenge. Next-generation partner Lucas Walker recently argued—and won—his first case before SCOTUS, when he represented Abitron Austria in a precedent-setting trademark case holding that US trademark law is not extraterritorial and applies only to uses of trademarks within the US. The team also includes experienced appellate litigator Michael Pattillo, who is noted for his record in patent appeals before the Federal Circuit; Robert Kry, whose practice spans trial and appellate litigation; and Rayiner Hashem, who focuses on appellate and patent litigation. Named attorneys are based in Washington DC.

Among Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP’s recent appellate work, the team had a strong run of wins in the labor and employment space. Other key areas include bankruptcy, financial services regulation, IP, administrative law and tax. From Washington DC, David Salmons chairs the national group and leverages significant SCOTUS experience from his fifteen appearances before the Court. Salmons recently paired up with fellow Washington DC-based appellate partner Michael Kenneally to score a win for Amazon.com before the Oregon Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit in a putative wage and hour class action brought by a former warehouse employee. In San Francisco, Thomas Peterson stands out for his activity before the California Supreme Court and each of the California Courts of Appeal, while William Peterson is recommended in Houston.

The ‘smart and strategic team’ at Morrison Foerster is distinguished by its dominant position in IP appeals before the Federal Circuit, where its lawyers have collectively argued more than 65 times—on behalf of both patentees and defendants. That being said, the group also has a strong presence in the Ninth Circuit, which is the largest court of appeals covering nine states, and the Second Circuit, which includes New York City. Deanne Maynard co-chairs the department from Washington DC and has argued fourteen times in the US Supreme Court; she is currently representing F5 in two Ninth Circuit appeals. Washington DC office managing partner, Joseph Palmore, co-chairs the practice and obtained an appellate victory for US Oncology in the Second Circuit when the Court affirmed the district court’s dismissal of a False Claims Act-related action. Washington DC is also the seat of Brian Matsui, who is recommended for patent cases. In San Francisco, up-and-coming partner James Sigel is noted for his growing activity before the Ninth Circuit and the California Courts of Appeal. Lena Hughes recently left to join the White House Counsel’s Office.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP leads with its self-sustaining appellate model, which sees approximately two-thirds of its new work originate from existing appellate clients. The wider firm’s San Francisco headquarters is reflected in its appeals roster, which demonstrates a significant weighting towards cases in the technology and media sectors, while other practice strong suits include financial services, IP, life sciences, criminal law and constitutional litigation. In New York, department head Joshua Rosenkranz brings to bear top-level appellate experience gained during 200 arguments before state and federal appeal courts, including 20 before SCOTUS. Among his recent work, Rosenkranz successfully represented Kite Pharma in three defenses of a Federal Circuit win vacating a $1.2bn judgment. In a significant SCOTUS case, Washington DC’s Robert Loeb represented the City of Saint Louis in efforts to preserve its 8th Circuit win affirming the grant of summary judgment against a city employee who alleged that she was transferred for discriminatory reasons but failed to allege harm from the transfer. The Washington DC team also includes Mel Bostwick, who has a growing reputation for technology-related cases, particularly patent appeals before the Federal Circuit; Eric Shumsky, who is representing Oracle in a high-stakes appeal deciding whether the largest class action ever certified under California’s Equal Pay Act can proceed; and Mark Davies, who specializes in representing technology companies. Other key contacts include Elizabeth Moulton in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, and senior associate Jeremy Peterman in Seattle.

The appellate practice at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP continues to enjoy an upward trajectory under the leadership of Washington DC-based department head Kannon K. Shanmugam—considered by many peers and clients as ‘the best of the best’—who is a former Assistant to the Solicitor General and one of the most active appellate advocates in the US. Among Shanmugam’s recent headline-grabbing cases, he represented Warner Chappell Music and Artist Publishing Group in a SCOTUS case concerning the Copyright Act’s statute of limitations for civil actions; and he was also engaged by the Oklahoma Tax Commission for an appeal before the Oklahoma Supreme Court concerning the state’s power to tax the members of Indian tribes. New York-based firm chairman, Brad Karp, also leverages significant appellate expertise and was recently involved in appeals on behalf of the National Football League and Blackstone. New York’s Robert A. Atkins, whose practice spans trial and appellate litigation, and Washington DC-based associate William Marks are also noted.

Proskauer Rose LLP’s cross-practice representation of the Financial Oversight and Management Board of Puerto Rico (FOMB) in relation to the restructuring of Puerto Rico’s public debt translates into a significant volume of appellate cases, both before the First Circuit and the US Supreme Court. Alongside its robust activity in the bankruptcy sphere, the team also argues appeals concerning constitutional law, patent issues, and antitrust matters, among other areas. The department is led jointly by New York-based Mark Harris and Boston-based John Roberts; together they lead the FOMB’s appellate work. New York’s Myron Rumeld is recommended for ERISA-related appeals.

Straddling both the IP litigation and the litigation and enforcement practices, Ropes & Gray LLP’s appellate offering has a focus on patent appeals and financial services. In terms of the latter area, the team utilizes the firm’s dominance in funds and regulatory matters to pack a punch in complex business cases, such as its representation of approximately thirty defendants, including major public and private pension plans, in $8bn worth of fraudulent conveyance litigation connected to a leveraged buyout of the Tribune Company. Washington DC-based department head Douglas Hallward-Driemeier maintains a broad appellate focus, which encompasses the full range of civil and criminal matters; he is leading the appellate side of the Tribune case. James Batchelder, who splits his time between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, is noted for IP appeals.

Drawing on ‘excellent all-around litigators’,  Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP’s appellate practice is closely aligned with its premier financial services litigation and commercial litigation teams. Largely based in New York, the group is nonetheless active in courts of appeals and state supreme courts across the country. From New York, Jonathan Youngwood co-chairs the overarching global litigation department and recently secured a pro bono win at the Fifth Circuit, with a ruling overturning Mississippi’s criminal disenfranchisement laws. The New York team also benefits from the senior experience of global litigation co-chair Lynn Neuner and key appellate contact Joseph McLaughlin.

The practice at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP punches above its weight in the appellate space, as is evidenced by its impressive US Supreme Court roster. Among its recent high-profile SCOTUS cases, prominent department head Shay Dvoretzky represented the Navajo Nation in two consolidated merits cases regarding the scope of the United States’ duties under its 1868 treaty with the Navajo Nation in a landmark matter concerning water rights. Additionally, talented counsel Parker Rider-Longmaid scored a 6–3 SCOTUS victory on behalf of Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed in a pro bono case regarding DNA testing. The Washington DC-based group also argues before courts of appeal and state supreme courts across the country, where it is equipped to handle the full range of civil and criminal law issues.

Standing as a popular choice to handle energy and infrastructure-related appeals, Vinson & Elkins LLP’s practice is further characterized by its robust skill sets in the IP, bankruptcy, tax, commercial and regulatory areas, among others. The national group benefits from significant platforms in Houston, Washington DC and Austin, while its geographical focus extends across the country, with notable recent activity before the Fifth and DC Circuits, as well as the Texas Supreme Court. From Houston, Marie Yeates fronts the appellate group and is recommended for her prominent record before the Texas Supreme Court. In Washington DC, deputy practice lead Jeremy Marwell is noted for his focus on constitutional and administrative law.

The increasingly prominent practice at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP continues to make inroads into the appellate space under the leadership of department co-head Mark Perry in Washington DC. Collectively, the team has extensive experience in arguing cases before all thirteen federal circuits and the US Supreme Court, as well as in various state intermediate and supreme courts. Its subject matter expertise is equally far-reaching and spans a range of commercial and constitutional areas, including recent cases covering antitrust, IP, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, bankruptcy and class actions. Among Perry’s recent highlights, he successfully represented Apple before the Ninth Circuit in a high-profile antitrust case brought by Epic Games. Fellow group co-head Zachary Tripp, who splits his time between DC and New York, scored a significant SCOTUS win with a 9-0 ruling on behalf of an individual in a bankruptcy-related case. The team also includes practice co-head Gregory Silbert and appellate-focused partner Adam Banks—both of whom are based in New York.

Appellate lawyers at Wiggin and Dana LLP are roundly praised by sources as ‘smart and creative with the right amount of practicality’. Centered in Connecticut, though it also draws on a significant New York base, the group is a regular fixture in all thirteen federal circuit courts, while it also argues in lower and higher state appellate courts nationwide. Most notably, the team’s representation of Hartford Financial Services Group in business-interruption claims related to Covid-19 has created a steady stream of appellate cases across the country, including Florida, New York, and California. From New Haven, department chair Jonathan Freiman leads on the Hartford matters. Other recommended names in New Haven include Jeffrey Babbin and Tadhg Dooley.

During the 2022/23 term, Williams & Connolly LLP argued seven cases before the US Supreme Court. The team is widely acknowledged as a go-to practice for high-stakes appeals and is routinely engaged by major corporate and public-sector clients, including recent representations for Google, the Kingdom of Spain and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board. Held up by many as ‘one of the nation’s premier SCOTUS advocates’, practice chair Lisa Blatt possesses a formidable record before the country’s highest court, where she has argued forty-six cases and prevailed in forty-one. Blatt paired up with fellow US Supreme Court specialist Sarah Harris to secure wins in a string of SCOTUS cases over the past year, including successfully representing Lynn Goldsmith against the Andy Warhol Foundation in a landmark copyright case; and representing Google in an appeal concerning the Communications Decency Act. The Washington DC-based group also includes up-and-coming appellate partner Amy Saharia, who recently acted alongside Blatt to successfully represent the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board before the Third Circuit in defending its new rule of professional conduct prohibiting discrimination and harassment on the basis of protected grounds. Whitney Hermandorfer recently left to join the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General.

An appellate powerhouse, WilmerHale presented twenty-seven oral arguments in the first six months of 2023, including two before the US Supreme Court. The group routinely appears before appellate courts across the country, with particularly vast experience in the Federal Circuit, as well as in the Ninth, Fourth and First Circuits. Equipped to advise on appeals spanning the full spread of industries and legal spheres, the team has recently led cases dealing with issues as diverse as trade secrets, the Anti-Terrorism Act, First Amendment rights, and voting rights, among others. Former US Solicitor General Seth Waxman co-chairs the practice and is widely considered a dean of the appellate bar; he recently paired up with with Ari Holtzblatt to secure a 9-0 SCOTUS victory on behalf of Twitter in a case unanimously reversing a Ninth Circuit decision concerning the liability of social media platforms for acts of terrorism. Boston-based department co-chair Mark Fleming has argued 62 appellate cases, including eight SCOTUS appeals, and is highly regarded for his record in patent cases before the Federal Circuit. The deep bench also includes practice vice-chair Catherine Carroll, who has argued four SCOTUS cases; fellow vice-chair Daniel Volchok, who has niche expertise in Native American law; Thomas Saunders, who specializes in IP appeals; and New York-based Alan Schoenfeld. Named attorneys are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

During 2023, Winston & Strawn LLP’s appellate and critical motions practice argued a strong concentration of cases before the Second, Seventh and Federal Circuits. Among its diverse docket of work, the team secured a significant volume of antitrust-related appeals. Most notably, Chicago-based department head Linda Coberly successfully represented Chicago Parking Meters (CPM) in the Seventh Circuit in a case brought by two Chicago residents challenging the $1.1bn concession agreement between CPM and the City of Chicago. Andrew Tauber and patent specialist Brian Ferguson are also recommended—both sit in Washington DC.