Appellate Law

Morrison & Foerster is at the forefront of appellate litigation in the U.S. Supreme Court, the federal courts of appeals, and state appellate courts.  Our appellate team leverages its substantive and strategic expertise to take on some of the most challenging legal issues before the appellate courts.  Our team takes full advantage of the firm’s vast platform that combines the expertise of attorneys across multiple specialties, including those in the firm’s highly ranked Intellectual Property practice.

The lawyers in our group specialize in appeals, spending the vast majority of their time in appellate courts.  The practice is co-chaired by Deanne Maynard and Joe Palmore, both former Assistants to the Solicitor General; they collectively have argued 24 cases in the United States Supreme Court and dozens more in the federal courts of appeals.  The group is also home to Miriam Vogel, a former Justice on the California Court of Appeal who is now among California’s most prominent and successful state court appellate practitioners.

We regularly represent major corporations, trade associations, and industry groups before the Supreme Court. We are skilled at presenting our clients' positions in a context that facilitates the Supreme Court's resolution of a broad legal issue presented, while also advancing our client's interests in the particular case. We are experienced at briefing and oral argument before the Supreme Court on the merits of cases, and also at the certiorari stage.