Department profile
WilmerHale

Appellate Law

USA Guide 2026 : USA - Nationwide

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WilmerHale

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About

Provided by WilmerHale

Our practice is universally recognized as among the very best nationwide. Clients retain us for the most complex and high-stakes matters, and our victories have helped shape the legal landscape in many arenas. We have an equally wide-ranging practice in the federal courts of appeals and the state appellate courts; handle or assist with complex legal matters in the trial courts; and provide strategic advice to clients in a variety of industries and across a range of legal areas.

Our practice is chaired by former US Solicitor General Seth Waxman, who has argued 84 cases before the US Supreme Court. We have a remarkably deep bench: Vice Chairs Mark Fleming and Danielle Spinelli have argued six and seven Supreme Court cases, respectively, and Partners Debo Adegbile, Catherine Carroll, Tom Saunders and David Bowker have each argued multiple Supreme Court cases. The group has argued several hundred appeals in the federal courts of appeals and state appellate courts.

In 2020, 36 different lawyers made 58 oral arguments in 17 different federal and state courts of appeals. In 2019, we recorded an additional 37 arguments by 13 lawyers in 10 courts. In 2018, 31 of our lawyers argued 52 cases in 16 federal and state courts of appeals, covering a wide range of substantive areas.

To learn more, click here: https://www.wilmerhale.com/en/solutions/appellate-and-supreme-court-litigation

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Appellate Law - USA - Nationwide

Band 2

What the Team is Known For
WilmerHale is widely considered a leading light in technically complex cases and regulatory challenges, including considerable strengths in intellectual property disputes before the Supreme Court and the Federal Circuit, alongside broader capabilities in areas such as bankruptcy and restructuring, civil rights issues and Native American law. The firm draws from a notably deep bench with talented and experienced appellate litigators at all ranks of the practice, who are able to provide exceptional breadth of expertise in handling appeals in state and federal courts nationwide.
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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • WilmerHale represented Richard Glossip before the US Supreme Court in post‑conviction proceedings challenging his Oklahoma death sentence. The Court reversed the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals and remanded for a new trial, holding that the prosecution had failed to correct materially false testimony presented at trial.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The appellate lawyers I work with are of an extremely high quality in their doctrinal analysis, legal research and writing, and in their openness to learning and incorporation of feedback from us.

    Appellate Law respondentUSA

  • They're a gifted team. They are fantastic litigators, and they are great at strategy. They were able to mobilize a high-quality team, where can you trust the bench is excellent and has such consistent quality.

    Appellate Law respondentUSA

  • They're super intelligent, extremely smart and understand things in ways others don't. They have the resources, connections and heft to take on huge, important matters. When something is really bad, they are my first thought.

    Appellate Law respondentUSA

  • It was a challenge where they came up with a creative argument that ended up carrying the day. They were very creative and ultimately successful in a difficult case.

    Appellate Law respondentUSA

  • It feels like they are a well-oiled machine. The value-add is in the efficiency and their ability to operate without too much oversight – they know exactly what to communicate and when. They are are fantastic at predicting outcomes based on the arguments that we make.

    Appellate Law respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Seth Waxman
    Seth Waxman

    Seth Waxman

    Seth Waxman has a highly respected appellate practice spanning the technology, media and financial sectors, in addition to particular expertise in appeals involving Native American law. He has appeared in a broad array of high-profile disputes and has handled over 80 oral arguments in the US Supreme Court.

    • Seth has a distinct ability to comprehend complex topics and drill to the heart of the pertinent question matters. He understood our business incredibly well and was curious and persistent enough to ask the difficult questions which get to the crux of the legal matter.

      Appellate Law respondentUSA

    • Seth is a very well-known and nationally regarded litigator, yet has zero ego. If anything, he is too humble for how good he is.

      Appellate Law respondentUSA

    • He is a superstar.

      Appellate Law respondentUSA
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Ranked Individuals at WilmerHale (1)

USA - Nationwide

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