What the team is known for

Maintains its premier standing in the appellate arena, calling upon a formidable array of highly experienced and deeply respected litigators to offer a wealth of experience before the US Supreme Court and state and federal courts nationwide. Makes frequent appearances in high-value and far-reaching matters, with notable experience in constitutional law, legislative challenges and wider business disputes. Its impressive client base spans a range of leading multinationals, trade associations and financial institutions.

Strengths

Clients note: "Gibson Dunn is an excellent firm. The quality of lawyers across practices and offices is excellent. The team’s ability to address multidisciplinary problems is unique and stems from the way it puts together its teams. For a global complex dispute, there is no firm better."

An interviewees reports: "They are fabulous and have a footprint that is national in scope and, in terms of an appellate practice for clients, that is incredibly helpful."

Sources regard it as a "go-to firm for complex, high-stakes disputes," with others adding that they are "as good as it gets" for appellate work.

Work highlights

Represented Rimini Street in the US Supreme Court to successfully reverse a Ninth Circuit judgment which had awarded Oracle and its affiliates $12.8 million in expert witness fees and other nontaxable litigation expenses in a copyright dispute.

Notable practitioners

Texas-based Allyson Ho is particularly adept at handling cases in the Fifth Circuit. Her expertise extends nationally and she has experience acting for clients across the country in federal and state courts, as well as the US Supreme Court.  Clients say: "She is an excellent oral advocate, her briefs are superb and she is just absolutely superb. She makes complicated things very simple."

Helgi Walker is praised by clients for her "appellate strategy, brief writing and oral advocacy," and is additionally noted for being "tenacious, prolific and a subject-matter expert." She has standout expertise in the telecommunications sector and is regularly called upon to advise on appellate challenges to federal agency actions.

Mark Perry is "just a fantastic lawyer and a real sharp practitioner all around. He is an excellent strategic thinker, and very polished in terms of his work and product, he gets high marks all around," states one client. He is an experienced Supreme Court advocate, as well as offering a wealth of experience in the federal courts of appeals and district courts. He receives particular praise for his intellectual property expertise. Other clients note: "He is good at crystallizing issues, and is phenomenal on his feet and a phenomenal writer."

Matthew McGill has a broad appellate practice spanning appeals to the Supreme Court and wider state and federal appellate courts. He is particularly noted for his successes in cases concerning sports gambling and the Wire Act. Clients describe him as a "really brilliant" advocate.

Miguel Estrada draws on a wealth of experience acting in appeals spanning federal and state courts, in addition to the US Supreme Court. His recent successes include acting for Crystallex in the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. One client notes: "He is an excellent advocate and usually the smartest person in the room. He puts in the time to learn the ins and outs of the case and understands how best to formulate an argument for his audience. He is the best appellate litigator I have ever seen and no doubt one of the best in the country."

Theodore Olson "is one of the greatest appellate lawyers of our generation," reports one source. He is highly regarded for his expert handling of a wide range of high-profile cases before the Supreme Court, with his enviable record extending to cases across all levels of  the state and federal court systems.

Theodore Boutrous wins praise from clients for "his client-first approach" to matters. He is experienced in acting for clients in federal and state appellate courts, as well as in Supreme Court matters, with a particular focus on the West Coast. He is held in particularly high esteem for his expertise in First Amendment matters, in addition to class action and data privacy cases. One source notes: "He is fantastic and a very talented lawyer."

Thomas Dupree is "excellent," according to clients, who  also note his "amazing appellate work, writing and oral advocacy."He is particularly noted for his expertise in the transport sector. Clients add: "When he argues in front of an appellate court or the Supreme Court he knows so well what he is going to say. He engages the judges or justices so well, and he brings that charm into the courtroom in a likable and effective way."