Overview
Our firm has a distinguished tradition of effective appellate advocacy. We have represented clients in the Supreme Court of the United States, various federal circuit courts, the Supreme Court of Ohio, and other appellate courts across the nation. At the Ohio Supreme Court alone, our firm has appeared on more than 95 cases since 2014.
In such cases, we have briefed and argued many different matters, ranging from questions of constitutional interpretation, statutory construction, class certification, and application of the rules of evidence and civil procedure to detailed analysis of massive records created after multi-week trials. Our appellate attorneys have a wide breadth of experience in many different areas, as detailed below.
Types of Appeals:
- Antitrust
- Bankruptcy
- Commercial
- Consumer Protection and Financial Services
- Creditors’ Rights
- Energy and Utilities
- ERISA
- Federal Tax
- Health Care
- Labor and Employment
- Land Use, Zoning & Eminent Domain
- Oil & Gas
- Patent & Intellectual Property
- Real Estate
- State and Local Tax
- Workers’ Compensation
Our appellate work includes cases that the firm handled at trial as well as cases in which the firm has been retained after trial. In addition, we often file amicus curiae briefs for clients who have an important stake in the outcome of an appeal to which they are not a party. Our emphasis in all of our appellate work is on accurate, thoughtful, and persuasive presentation of the dispositive legal issues based on the appellate record, through concise briefs and focused oral argument.
Experienced Advocates
Our ranks include more than 55 lawyers who served as law clerks on the Ohio Supreme Court, state and federal appellate courts, including in the several U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, and federal district courts. These clerkships have given our lawyers valuable insight into potential appellate issues as well as the ways in which the appellate courts decide cases. In addition to our current attorneys, Vorys has a consulting relationship with a former colleague and former Supreme Court of Ohio Justice who has provided valuable guidance to many of our clients. The strength of Vorys’ appellate practice is also evidenced by the fact that several of our colleagues have gone on to serve with distinction as judges on federal and state appellate courts.
Pro Bono
In recognition of our fine appellate work, the Supreme Court of Ohio, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and other appellate courts have asked our lawyers to brief and argue cases as pro bono counsel on behalf of indigent clients whose cases present significant questions of law. Our appellate lawyers also been appointed by the Supreme Court of Ohio to serve on the Board of Bar Examiners, the Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness, and the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline.
