APPELLATE PRACTICE

The final step in litigation is often appellate review. However, effective appellate advocacy is very different from trial practice. The art of appellate argument is the archaeological business of sifting through the chaos of prior proceedings to uncover the key elements which discerning appellate jurists will find meaning in the context of the ever-changing matrix of existing jurisprudence. Our experience and approach are highlighted by the following:

  • Our prior experience in appellate legal clerkships and the attendant exposure to the mechanics of appellate decision making which has proved invaluable in better understanding how to properly present an appeal.
  • A working knowledge of the unique procedural aspects of lodging an appeal which enables us to best select the most appropriate tack for each of our clients.
  • Being highly skilled researchers of the law and, consequently, having developed the ability to compose clear and persuasive legal writing.
  • Success in obtaining favorable appellate decisions. Recent examples include: Siemens Financial Services, Inc. v. MTG Guarneri Mfg., Inc. et al., 2012 OK CIV APP 1, ___ P.3d ____; Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. v. BancFirst, 2011 OK CIV APP 111, 264 P.3d 1262.
  • Careful attention to recent appellate decisions to track trends and the general movement of the law.