One of the first law firms to have a dedicated national Supreme Court, Appellate, and Litigation Strategies practice, with a team widely recognized for its leadership in addressing novel and often intricate questions of federal and state law, Sidley represents clients before the United States Supreme Court, all federal courts of appeals and state appellate and supreme courts.

“[Sidley] demonstrates outstanding credentials appearing before the Supreme Court, alongside significant abilities in state and wider federal appellate work.”
Chambers USA, Nationwide: Appellate Law 2024

We bring value to our clients in the following ways:

• Unparalleled Supreme Court experience. Since the inception of the practice in 1985, the team, including more than 20 former Supreme Court clerks, has briefed over 220 cases on the merits and argued more than 150 cases before the Court. The firm has represented clients on virtually every type of federal legal issue before the Court. Sidley’s Carter Phillips has argued 90 cases in the Supreme Court and is recognized as one of the Court’s premier practitioners.
• A resoundingly deep bench. Since 2000, eleven other Sidley lawyers have argued cases in the Court. Sidley lawyers argued six cases in the October 2013 Term, including three in what the National Law Journal called “Sidley Austin week at the Supreme Court.”
• Exceptional federal appellate experience. Members of our team have appeared in every federal court of appeals, as well as numerous state appellate courts. Our lawyers have argued more than 600 cases in federal appellate courts since 1985, with victories in each of the thirteen circuits over the past two years.

“Renowned as one of the first dedicated practices in the area, with a highly skilled and well-supported bench of litigators able to handle cases ranging from the most technical business cases to high-profile public interest matters.”
Chambers USA, Nationwide: Appellate Law 2024 

Recognition for Our Practice

Numerous industry publications and guides have commended our advocacy on behalf of our clients. Benchmark Litigation ranked the group in its top tier of nationwide Appellate practices in its 2023 directory, and in 2014 Benchmark named Sidley “Appellate Firm of the Year.” Sidley has been consistently ranked by Chambers USA as a leading appellate practice in every edition from 2006-2024, and in 2019, Law360 recognized Sidley’s Supreme Court and Appellate group as one of its “Practice Groups of the Year.” Sidley’s Supreme Court and appellate work also has been featured in USA Today, Business Week, Legal Times, and Metropolitan Corporate Counsel.

Sidley has been named to “Appellate Hot List” for a sixteenth consecutive year.
The National Law Journal, 2007 – 2023