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Nevada & Ninth Circuit Appeals

The trial isn't always the last word.

Many disputes are decided at the appellate level, on the record and the briefing rather than on witnesses. It’s a different discipline from trial work — and it’s one we do.

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From 201+ Google reviews

33 years

Combined experience

Get a free case review

Tell us what’s going on. We’ll tell you where you stand — usually on the first call.

Prefer to talk? Call 702-850-7798.

Deadline triage first

The first thing we check is how long you have

Record-driven analysis

Thorough review of the record and the law

Persuasive briefing

Appeals are won on the page before the podium

Oral argument

Nevada Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Who We Help

When to call an appellate attorney.

Ideally before the trial ends. Realistically, the day the judgment arrives.

No obligation. No pressure. Just a clear answer on where you stand.

What We Handle

Appellate work, at every stage.

Insightful issue analysis, thorough research, and careful review of the record.

Appellant and respondent briefs

Briefing in the Nevada Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Ninth Circuit.

Writ petitions

Extraordinary relief where waiting for a final judgment isn't a real option.

Oral argument

Prepared, tested, and argued by the attorney who wrote the brief.

Amicus briefs

Briefing on behalf of interested parties in matters of broader consequence.

Trial counsel consultation

Advising during trial so the issues you'll need on appeal are preserved.

Appealability assessment

An honest read on whether the order is appealable and whether the appeal is worth taking.

What Happens Next

How an appeal proceeds.

Appeals move through defined stages, with important filing and briefing deadlines throughout the process.

Step One

Deadline check and intake

The first conversation establishes what was entered, when notice went out, and how much time is left.

IMMEDIATELY
Step Two

Record review and assessment

We read the record and the order, identify the strongest issues, and tell you candidly what the odds look like.

FIRST WEEKS
Step Three

Briefing

Opening brief, answering brief, reply. This is where appeals are won and lost.

SEVERAL MONTHS
Step Four

Argument and decision

Oral argument if the court orders it, then the wait for a written decision.

MONTHS MORE
Straight Answers

How long it takes, and what it costs.

The two questions everyone asks on the first call.

What to expect on timing

General ranges. Court workload, extensions, and the size of the record all move these.

Notice of appeal deadline

Short — confirm immediately

Record and briefing

Several months

Decision after briefing

Months to over a year

Full appeal, start to finish

12–24+ months

Appeal deadlines are strict, so confirming the applicable filing date should be the first step. In Nevada and in federal court, the window to file a notice of appeal after entry of judgment is measured in days, not months, and it is generally not extendable. If you think you might appeal, call before anything else — even if you haven’t decided.

How appellate fees work

Appeals are defined work with a defined record, so they price more predictably than trials.

Assessment first

We discuss the details of the situation with you to better understand how and if we can assist you.

Easy To Understand Retainers

Once we've seen the record, the briefing phase can usually be quoted as a defined engagement.

We'll tell you when not to appeal

Appellate courts affirm far more often than they reverse. If the issues aren't there, you'll hear it from us.

Costs explained

Filing fees, transcript preparation, and record costs are itemized in advance.

Coming from another firm? That’s routine. We regularly handle appeals from trials we didn’t try, and we work alongside trial counsel rather than against them.

Still not sure where you stand?

One short call is usually enough to know. Free, and no obligation to hire us.

Who You'll Work With

Timothy leads this work.

Timothy A. Wiseman · Attorney · Partner

Tim has handled appeals before the Nevada Supreme Court, the Nevada Court of Appeals, and the Ninth Circuit, and has published academic work on copyright, the First Amendment, and encryption law.

In Their Words

Families and owners who've been where you are.

5.0

★★★★★

From 201+ verified Google reviews

Common Questions

Appeals, answered plainly

The questions we get on almost every first call.

Not long. In Nevada state court and in federal court, the notice of appeal is generally due within a short, fixed window after written notice of entry of the judgment or order, and that deadline is jurisdictional — miss it and the court cannot hear the appeal regardless of the merits.

Call us with the date on your order before you do anything else. Confirming the exact deadline in your case takes one conversation.

No. Appeals generally lie from final judgments, plus a specific list of orders the rules make separately appealable. For everything else, the remedy is a writ petition, which is discretionary and much harder to obtain.

Determining whether your order is appealable is the first thing we look at.

Almost never. An appeal reviews the record made in the trial court — it is not a second trial. Arguments not raised below are usually treated as waived, which is exactly why consulting appellate counsel before trial ends is valuable.

Statistically, appellate courts affirm far more often than they reverse. Strong appeals turn on identifiable legal error, properly preserved, that plausibly affected the outcome — not on the judge having been unfair.

We’ll give you a candid assessment after reading the record, including when that assessment is that you shouldn’t appeal.

Commonly twelve to twenty-four months from the notice of appeal to a decision, sometimes longer. Briefing takes months, and the court’s decision can take many more.

Yes, and it’s common. Appellate work is a distinct skill set. We can substitute in entirely or work alongside your trial counsel, whichever fits.

A request that a higher court intervene before a final judgment exists, usually where waiting would cause irreparable harm. It is discretionary — the court can simply decline — so it’s reserved for situations where the ordinary appeal route won’t work.

Yes. Probate orders are frequently appealable, and having the same firm that understands both the probate record and appellate procedure is a real advantage.

Question not covered here? Ask an attorney directly.

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5.0 average from 201+ Google reviews

Let's take this off your plate.

Tell us what’s happening and we’ll tell you where you stand — on the phone, free, with no obligation to hire us.