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Our appellate team has significant experience in Maryland, DC, and the United States Courts of Appeal, upholding clients’ trial court victories and overturning unfavorable trial court judgments. Over the decades, our attorneys have not only developed a long list of happy clients but have also shaped Maryland and federal law, setting precedents that apply to all cases.

What Is Appellate Litigation?

Appellate litigation involves a different skill set than trial litigation. Our appellate attorneys have a keen understanding of appellate standards and procedure, beginning with selecting, framing, and presenting issues and arguments for optimal results.


In our briefs, we present tight, persuasive written arguments that draw on and weave together all relevant facts and law. We understand that oral argument is our chance to clarify and answer any questions the appellate court may have and to dispel any doubt that our client should prevail.

Types of Cases We Handle


We handle both appeals from both civil and criminal trials. We handle a wide swath of cases in the civil arena, including all variety of business disputes, as well as disputes involving estates and trusts, family law, insurance coverage, and employment matters. As to business disputes, we have had several appeals arising out of derivative suits, fiduciary duty issues, shareholder disputes, contract disputes, fraud, negligence, and the gamut of business torts.

Who We Serve

We serve both individuals and companies who understand that they may be best served by securing counsel with significant experience for their appeal.

Understanding the Appeals Process

If a party is unhappy with the result of a trial, in Maryland state courts, that party has the right to ask a higher court, the Appellate Court of Maryland, to review the decisions made during the trial. That Court will give some deference to the factual findings made at the trial level, but will review issues of law and their application without deference. As such, identifying errors in the trial court’s legal conclusions provides the best avenue for success on appeal.

Why Choose Lerch Early?

Given that the appellate process involves additional litigation costs, we often recommend to clients that we first conduct a substantive assessment of the trial court’s decisions to determine whether they should pursue the appeal. Upon completing the assessment, we are candid with the client about the issues and arguments that can be pursued on appeal, along with their chances of success.

We also ask clients whether they wish to participate in the Maryland courts’ pre-appeal ADR
program to try to settle their dispute. We believe that both the assessment and the ADR
program are often in our clients’ interests, but we are also always ready to pursue an appeal, as
that is what our experienced team of appellate attorneys loves doing best.

Reach Out to Our Appellate Litigation Team


Whether you’re considering an appeal, defending a favorable judgment, or simply want an honest assessment of your options, our appellate attorneys are ready to help. We’ll walk you through the strengths and risks of your case with the same candor and rigor we bring to every brief and oral argument.

If you would like to discuss any civil appeal in the Maryland state appellate courts, feel free to reach out to Trish Weaver at tweaver@lerchearly.com or call Trish at 301-841-2433. For any federal, D.C., or criminal appeal, please reach out to Stuart Berman at saberman@lerchearly.com or call Stuart at 301-657-0729. Both Trish and Stuart would be happy to talk with you about any issues regarding a potential appeal.

Reach out today and learn how our appellate team can help protect what you’ve won — or fight to reverse what you haven’t.

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