Areas Of Expertise

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Appellate advocacy is a particularized skillset that M&R deftly offers its client base. Having handled hundreds of appeals before federal and state courts throughout the country, the firm boasts a record of success founded upon uncompromising preparation and legal research, legal analysis that’s both practical and strategic, and a technical mastery of written and oral advocacy that’s a cut above.

It’s M&R’s considerable trial court experience that shapes our work and strategies on appeal. That being said, we’re always careful to preserve our clients’ rights on appeal, which is why – at the trial court level – the firm’s lawyers always make it a point to advise clients with appeals (and the trial and appellate records) in mind.

Be it a direct appeal of a trial court judgment, an intermediate appellate judgment, or any other matter subject to challenge, we represent appellants and respondents with utmost competence and confidence. Of note, M&R’s appellate mastery has resulted in several published (and unpublished) opinions that have impacted a slew of industries.

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Areas Of Expertise

  • Trial Consulting

    The importance of laying the groundwork –during trial – for a winning appeal can’t be overstated, which is why M&R’s appellate lawyers are frequently called upon to work with outside trial counsel to ensure that any important issues arising at trial are properly framed and preserved for appeal. With that in mind, we consult with other law firms to quickly identify the pertinent factors during trial that may contribute to an effective strategy on appeal, which oftentimes informs the filing of key dispositive motions and jury instructions and offers of proof.

  • Writs

    Sometimes, the only vehicle available for an effective appellate remedy is filing an immediate writ petition from an adverse interim trial court ruling. The firm understands this and is fluent in writ procedure, having drafted countless petitions. Our work has resulted in an impressive record of obtaining review on behalf of our clients. 

The firm represented the prevailing parties in all of the following appellate decisions:

Windsor Pacific LLC v. Samwood Co., Inc. (2013) 213 Cal.App,.4th 263

Zabasky v. American International Group, Inc. (2013) 9th Cir., no. 11-57111

Claus v. Paychex (2012) Cal. Ct. App., no. G045296

Zentner v. Farmers Ins. Exchange (2012) Cal. Ct. App., no. B235767

Harbor Regional Center v. Office of Administrative Hearings (2012) 210 Cal.App.4th 293

Anstey v. Beebe (2012) Cal. Ct. App., no. B228741

Hodson v. Sterling Casualty Ins. Co. (2011) Cal. Ct. App., no. G043783

Samantha C. v. Office of Administrative Hearings (2010) 185 Cal.App.4th 1462

ACS Systems, Inc. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. (2007) Cal. Ct. App., no. B181837.

Guseinov v. Burns (2006) 145 Cal.App.4th 944

Haynes v. Farmers Ins. Exchange (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1198

St. Paul Mercury Ins. Co. v. Frontier Pacific Ins. Co. (2003) 111 Cal.App.4th 1234

Hooker v. Department of Transportation (2002) 27 Cal.4th 198

Hamilton v. Maryland Casualty (2002) 27 Cal.4th 718 (amicus brief)

Vargas v. Athena Assurance Co. (2002) 95 Cal.App.4th 461

Publications

  • Should California Abandon Primary Rights?  
    Comment, Res Judicata: (1989) 23 Loy. L.A. L.Rev. 351., February 2010

Past Events

  • (In)efficient (Ap)proximate Cause:  Proving and Disproving Covered Losses Under Property Insurance Policies
    Lawyers' Club of San Francisco's Inn of Court
    February 2010
  • Here Come the Judges: Help Me, Help You, Help Us [Know What Not To Do in the Courtroom
    Lawyers' Club of San Francisco's Inn of Court
    September 2009
  • White Lawyers Playing the Race Card:  Exploitation, Arrogance, or Advocacy?
    Lawyers' Club of San Francisco's Inn of Court
    October 2008
  • A Brief History of Lloyd's
    West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Seminar
    2001
  • California Claims: Avoiding Insurer’s Extracontractual Liability Arising from Defense Counsel’s Conflicts of Interest
    Lloyd's of London
    London, UK, 1994