In real life, cases are rarely won in the cour­troom. Dazz­ling cross-​examination almost never pro­du­ces “Perry Mason” moments. In civil cases there is little cour­troom drama, because the wit­nes­ses have been depo­sed in advance of the trial. Indeed, the man­tra of the civil trial is “no sur­pri­ses.” And most turn out to be like ope­ning night of a Broad­way show that has been rehear­sed end­lessly before its pre­miere. Cri­mi­nal trials do occa­sio­nally gene­rate some exci­te­ment, but almost never of the sort that is the sta­ple of Holly­wood movies or TV cour­troom dra­mas. Cases are won and lost in pre­pa­ra­tion — in the library and in the field.

Too many law­yers depend on their “cour­troom skills” and down­play the pre­pa­ra­tion neces­sary to take advan­tage of their skills. As an appe­llate law­yer, I have pro­bably read as many transc­ripts of losing cri­mi­nal trials as anyone, and if there is one com­mon theme, it is lack of pre­pa­ra­tion. (Alan Dersho­witz, Let­ters to a Young Law­yer)

In law, the qua­lity of wri­ting mat­ters. Good wri­ting can win cases, and bad wri­ting can lose them. (Bryan Gar­ner, The Win­ning Brief)

Our approach is based on tho­rough pre­pa­ra­tion: care­fully revie­wing the record, researching all appli­ca­ble law, and draf­ting per­sua­sive argu­ments that fully speak to the issues. Our appe­llate ser­vi­ces include:

  • Researching and wri­ting post-​trial motions and appe­llate briefs
  • Hand­ling post-​trial proceedings
  • Arguing appeals in state and fede­ral courts
  • Assis­ting on appeals being hand­led by other attor­neys, inc­lu­ding research, draf­ting, edi­ting, and pre­pa­ra­tion and coaching for oral argument
  • Colla­bo­ra­ting with trial teams on key dis­co­very mat­ters, dis­po­si­tive motions, and pre­trial matters
  • Draf­ting pre­trial and trial motions in con­junc­tion with trial teams
  • Joi­ning with trial teams to iden­tify and eva­luate appli­ca­ble law and to plan pre­trial and trial strategy
  • Draf­ting jury char­ges and atten­ding jury charge conferences
  • Pro­vi­ding gui­dance on error pre­ser­va­tion before and during trials
  • Suppl­ying inde­pen­dent assess­ments of poten­tial appeals

Fede­ral Appeals

We handle all aspects of fede­ral appe­llate liti­ga­tion, inc­lu­ding the follo­wing areas:

  • White Collar and Other Fede­ral Crimes
  • Fede­ral Sen­ten­cing Appeals
  • Fede­ral Diver­sity Cases
  • Com­plex Com­mer­cial Cases
  • Man­da­mus Issues
  • Fair Debt Collec­tions Prac­ti­ces Act
  • Title VII

Immi­gra­tion Appeals

There are many law­yers who prac­tice in immi­gra­tion, but few that handle peti­tions to review to the appe­llate cir­cuit court. Our firm does not handle immi­gra­tion cases at the IJ level, but does con­sult with clients with peti­tions for review at the Uni­ted Sta­tes Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Texas Appeals

We handle all aspects of Texas civil appe­llate litigation.

Infor­ma­tion About Appeals

We’ve set up our site to be a good, gene­ral star­ting point for lear­ning about appeals and the appe­llate pro­cess. Below are some of our more popu­lar pages, but you can find all of them and more in the navi­ga­tion bar.

Liti­ga­tion and Small Firm Support

Appe­llate liti­ga­tion is one of those things that small firms and solos can’t do well because of their time cons­traints. Here are some helps that we’ve put on the site for them: