The appellate practice at Goodwin finds favor for its ‘ability to synthesize complex and nuanced legal issues’. Historically best known for its record in life sciences and technology-related appeals, where it can lean on the wider firm’s dominant industry offerings, the group additionally handles a steady stream of class actions, financial services and transport-related cases. In Washington DC, high-profile appellate specialist William Jay contributes experience in arguing seventeen cases before SCOTUS; he recently scored a win for Boeing—and co-defendant Southwest Airlines—at the Fifth Circuit in a case concerning Boeing’s 737 MAX aircraft. The DC team also draws on Brian Burgess, who co-chairs the FDA litigation practice, and up-and-coming appellate partner Jaime Santos, who has a focus on ERISA litigation, patent litigation, constitutional law and product litigation. Recommended in Boston are experienced department head Kevin Martin; David Zimmer, who specializes in IP, administrative law and consumer financial services; and newly promoted partner Gerard Cedrone.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘William Jay, Brian Burgess, Jaime Santos and the rest of the team are extremely smart, strategic and client-centric. In addition to their ability to synthesize complex and nuanced legal issues, they are some of the best brief writers in the profession.’
‘Jaime Santos has a wonderful blend of intellect, thoughtfulness, and pragmatism that suits clients very well. She has an easy, relatable manner at oral argument that serves her and her clients very well.’
‘The most unique aspect of the Goodwin Procter appellate practice is its extensive bench of highly talented and experienced appellate practitioners. Most of the attorneys in the practice have clerked for Supreme Court justices and have appeared more than once or twice in the Supreme Court.’
‘The leaders of the practice, William Jay and Kevin Martin, are ex-Supreme Court clerks who have extensive appellate experience. Junior lawyers, David Zimmer and Gerard Cedrone, are equally as talented.’
‘The team is very knowledgeable and effective both in litigating and settling complex insurance coverage disputes.’
‘Brian Burgess is an excellent and effective advocate both in writing and oral argument. I've worked with a lot of attorneys in the insurance coverage and appellate realms and he is a cut above.’
‘The appellate team’s great advantage in relation to patent appeals to the Federal Circuit is the depth of technical experience it can marshal from the firm to support it in patent appeals. Also, the appellate lawyers who brief and argue patent appeals in the Federal Circuit have extensive experience in that forum.’
‘The individual lawyers who stand out as exceptionally capable appellate advocates in the Federal Circuit are William Jay, Kevin Martin and Douglas Kline. Each of these lawyers brings a unique skill set to appellate advocacy. Both Kevin and William have extensive appellate experience.’

Key clients

New Balance Athletics
Novartis
Ocwen Financial Corporation
Rocket Mortgage and its affiliate, Amrock LLC
Sandoz
Sophos and Invincea
Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA)
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA
The Boeing Company
United Therapeutics Corporation

Work highlights

Won a reversal in the First Circuit on behalf of New Balance Athletics.
Secured a victory at the Second Circuit on behalf of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America in a decision that vacated the district court's certification of a nationwide class of 8,000 retirement plans.
Obtained a complete victory at the Fifth Circuit for The Boeing Company, and its co-defendant Southwest Airlines, in a decision reversing the district court’s certification of four national classes in a RICO class action.

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