An Appellate Attorney for Every Stage of the Process
Not every appeal starts after a verdict. Courts issue rulings at every stage of litigation — pre-trial, mid-trial, and post-judgment — and any of them can be challenged or defended on appeal. Whether you're pursuing a ruling you disagree with or protecting one you won, Northman Legal handles the full range of Washington appellate work.
What Northman Legal Handles
1
Civil Appeals
Trial courts make legal errors — in how they apply the law, what evidence they consider, how they calculate damages, or how they award attorneys' fees. When that happens, an appeal is how you fix it. I handle civil appeals across all three Washington Court of Appeals divisions, the Washington Supreme Court, and the 9th Circuit
2
Criminal Appeals
A criminal conviction isn't always the final word. If there were legal errors at trial — in the evidence, the instructions, the sentence, or the constitutional framework — those errors can be raised on appeal. I've handled more than 100 appeals, the majority criminal, and have published opinions resulting in reversed convictions.
4
Litigation Support
Not every engagement starts at the notice of appeal. I work with trial attorneys throughout active litigation — drafting dispositive motions, motions in limine, and trial briefs, researching complex legal issues, and helping build a record that holds up on appeal. If the case does go up, the groundwork is already done.
100+ Appeals. Published Opinions.
Real Washington Experience
There's More to an Appeal Than the Brief
Appellate work starts long before a word gets written. It means pulling and reviewing the full trial record, identifying which issues actually survived for appeal, and understanding what the standard of review will do to each of them. It means knowing what to argue — and what to leave out.
​
Over six years and more than 100 appeals across Washington state courts and the 9th Circuit, that process is what I bring to every case — whether I'm handling the appeal start to finish or coming in to support trial counsel on the brief.
How Northman Legal Works With You
Appeals don't follow a single pattern, and neither does the way I work. Some situations call for a full handoff — I take the lead from notice of appeal through oral argument and handle everything in between. Others call for something more targeted: brief writing, co-counsel support, or discrete research during active litigation.
Whether you're pursuing a ruling or defending one — and whether the matter is pre-trial, mid-litigation, or post-judgment — I can step in at whatever stage makes sense for your case.
Fees are structured to fit the matter — flat fee for most appeals, hourly at $200/hr for appeals and litigation support, and contingency arrangements for qualifying civil matters. We'll talk through what makes sense when you reach out.
Who Northman Legal Serves
Get Started for Free
