In an interview with West Virginia Lawyer, partner Marc Williams discusses the skill sets needed for an appellate attorney. “Written advocacy is more than half the battle in any appeal, and the ability to write persuasively, while making the brief readable, is key,” he notes. “The other component is oral advocacy, which means the ability to engage in a persuasive discussion with the court about the issues on appeal. You have to be comfortable answering direct and often difficult questions from the court.”

Williams is the managing partner of the West Virginia office and is a team leader. He handles complex cases nationally in an array of litigation areas and has had first-chair responsibility for more than 100 jury trials and appeals in his career.