A successful appellate strategy requires understanding what needs to happen at trial – both before and after a verdict. At DBS, our nationally-recognized appellate team works closely with our trial lawyers to ensure the greatest opportunity for a favorable outcome on appeal. Our appellate team is comprised of experienced trial attorneys who are highly-skilled and knowledgeable about the complex procedures and nuances of appellate practice and emerging trends in the law. The appellate team handles post-trial practice and appeals stemming from the firm’s own matters and represents a steady stream of clients whose cases were handled at the trial level by other firms. The appellate team at DBS is frequently consulted by existing and new clients regarding novel and sophisticated legal issues – at the trial court level as well as in the reviewing courts. DBS’ excellence in appellate practice is best exemplified by the frequent referral to the DBS appellate team of appeals involving cases that were tried to verdict by other defense firms, who entrust DBS with protecting their legal position on appeal.
The DBS appellate team frequently submits briefs and argues appeals in cases of first impression, cases involving complex, intertwined issues of law and procedure, and in cases requiring the challenge of excessive jury verdicts. DBS’ appellate attorneys have a successful record in all districts of the Illinois Appellate Court and in the Illinois Supreme Court. Our appellate attorneys also have secured victories for clients in other state courts throughout the Midwest and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The DBS appellate team has obtained precedent-setting results for its clients on key procedural and evidentiary matters, and in substantive areas including products liability, professional liability, institutional liability and commercial disputes.