Appellate advocacy is a specialized practice that calls for talents and abilities different from those required of trial lawyers. Effective appellate advocates are skilled at making strategic decisions regarding which issues appellate judges will most likely care about and which arguments are most likely to resonate on appeal. This requires the appellate attorney to have the ability to think like an appellate judge and to assess objectively what transpired at the trial level. Appellate advocates must also integrate voluminous testimony and other evidence into a concise and comprehensible record.

The Redmon, Peyton & Braswell appellate team brings this expertise to many courts, including state appellate courts in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland, in addition to federal courts of appeals around the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Our appellate advocates have handled numerous merits and amicus briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the D.C., Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, Eleventh, and Federal Circuits, as well as the Virginia Supreme Court, the D.C. Court of Appeals, and the Maryland Court of Appeals.

The Redmon appellate team appreciates that appeals have far-reaching consequences for future trial court decisions that may affect entire industries, advocacy groups, or legal communities. Our appellate advocates offer the skill and experience necessary to handle every matter professionally and efficiently. We handle appeals in which our trial lawyers were lead counsel, and we also handle appeals for clients that were represented by other firms at the trial level. Because of the specialized nature of this practice, we do not seek to displace the attorneys who have been involved in the matter at the trial level. Recognizing that trial counsel has extensive knowledge about the case and often brings specialized expertise in a particular area of law or industry, our appellate team works closely with trial counsel to ensure clients receive the best representation.

In addition to serving as lead counsel in appeals, our team will also review and revise appellate briefs prepared initially by other counsel and provide skilled advice on Supreme Court or appellate strategy in important cases.