Appellate Practice

The American court system adheres to the rule of stare decisis, i.e., that lower level courts are bound by the rulings and policies established by higher level courts. Consequently, practice before the appellate courts in the federal and state court systems presents a prime opportunity to affect the interpretation of statutes and judicial policy. Recourse to the appellate courts is also necessary when a party believes error occurred at the trial court level. Effective representation at the appellate level is an important skill for a full service law firm. Several of our senior attorneys have worked for, or interned with, the California Court of Appeal and the California Supreme Court.
We have had extensive experience in the practice of law at the appellate court level, in both the state and federal systems. Our attorneys have filed briefs in cases of interest to the real estate finance industry, to insurance policyholders, lenders, mortgage brokers and foreclosure trustees, and to real estate appraisers. AHK has also argued cases of significance in the insurance coverage area, particularly involving coverage for employers involved in litigation with employees. In addition, AHK has filed many amicus curiae briefs in appellate courts at all levels.
Our firm’s appellate experience includes cases argued before the United States Supreme Court, the California Supreme Court, the Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, the California Courts of Appeal, and the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel.