RB&R - Appellate Litigation

The argument of an appeal raises a completely different set of issues from those underlying the original trial. In its most raw form, the focus moves from persuading a jury of laymen as to what happened to persuading a panel of judges that the trial process was either fairly conducted or tainted by legal error. When we act as trial counsel, we keep in mind any issues which may pave the way for an appeal. When we have been called upon to handle appeals in cases where others acted as trial counsel, we bring a fresh eye to the trial record, looking for a new perspective which will assist our clients' cause. In either event, our job is to distill for the appellate panel those few critical issues which make a difference to the outcome of the case.