Appeals

A well-crafted appeal can undo what would otherwise be a devastating loss in the lower court or lock in a crucial victory.  Our approach starts with deep-dive legal research aimed at unearthing the most up-to-date support for our client’s position.  Then we, in close consultation with our clients, write crisp, intelligent briefs, tailored precisely to the issues that will resonate with the Court.  It is impossible to overstate the importance of a well-crafted appellate brief.  Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP’s appellate briefs are reviewed under the most exacting standards by lawyers with decades of experience in the craft. 

We come to court prepared to argue each case with poise and polish, drawing on our extensive experience and well-earned reputation in the field.  At oral argument, we go straight to the heart of the issue, addressing the Court’s questions head-on as we explain why our clients’ position must prevail. 

BKLW attorneys have a wealth of experience challenging errors made by both state and federal trial courts.  We are admitted to practice in all California appellate courts, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.  Several BKLW attorneys began their careers as federal judicial law clerks where they learned the art of advocacy first-hand.  We have won appellate victories at every level, including multiple ground-breaking published opinions vindicating our clients.  Our appellate wins have resulted in millions of dollars of recovery in civil cases and life-changing results in criminal cases.  We have won reversals of decades-long prison terms, multiple life sentences, and a death sentence.   

Our extensive trial experience informs our appellate practice and vice-versa.  Having litigated and prevailed on appeal, we know how crucial it is to proactively preserve appellate issues at trial.  And having tried and won many jury trials, we know how to identify the truly significant errors and distinguish them from the ones that the Court may later find “harmless.”