Appeals and Writs

Many legal battles do not end after a trial court grants summary judgment or a jury delivers a verdict. If one of the parties decides to seek review from an appellate court, the landscape of a case can shift even further, sometimes bringing novel or landmark legal questions to the fore. Whether challenging an erroneous decision or upholding a favorable one, achieving a victory on appeal requires agility, creativity, and a tireless work ethic.

Cohen Williams steps in when the stakes are highest, routinely obtaining successful outcomes in civil and criminal appellate proceedings in state and federal courts across the country. Our résumé encompasses a wide range of cases—from allegations of financial misconduct to healthcare fraud, product liability class actions, and complex business disputes with millions at stake—for individuals and companies of all sizes. In addition to reversals of unfair verdicts and unjust sentences, our lawyers have also litigated numerous questions of first impression, both constitutional and statutory, in cases that garnered national media attention. 

Recently, we obtained reversals in two published opinions from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: one involving a false statements charge in a bank fraud case, which resulted in a plenary resentencing and a more favorable sentence on remand; and one involving multiple counts of healthcare fraud that led to an unlawful sentence, which we successfully argued violated the Constitution's ex post facto clause. Our team also appeared before the Ninth Circuit to contest a punitive damages award on behalf of a foodstuffs producer erroneously held liable for millions of dollars in consumer claims following a hepatitis A outbreak, which the court struck. 

Our results reflect our knowledge of the appellate process from the inside out. As former clerks in federal district courts and courts of appeals who know how judges think and operate, we are able to craft writs, briefs, and motions that resonate. Our lawyers are also master orators in the courtroom, adept at communicating with clarity, simplicity, and precision. Coupled with our exhaustive knowledge of the law and legal procedure, these skills yield overarching strategic positions that effectively advance our clients' interests. 

We are equally well-versed in trial and appellate practice, frequently shepherding cases from inception through final judgment and appeal. At the trial court level, we are diligent in positioning cases for future success by advantageously framing arguments and preserving the record. Conscious of CW's strong track record in the appellate arena, clients also enlist us to triumph where other firms have failed. Often retained on the eve of key deadlines, we are known for our ability to seamlessly accept the baton from preceding trial teams. Our lawyers thrive under pressure, swiftly mastering voluminous records from trial or administrative proceedings, then refining the material into concise arguments for appellate judges.