From Kristian’s first experience as an appellate attorney during his first week as a lawyer in front a skeptical Oregon Court of Appeals panel, Langlotz v. Noelle (argument October 8, 2001, erroneously not attributed), to some of the most significant cases in Oregon child abuse law, like Doe v. LOSD, appellate law has has been a central focus of his practice. Since 2001, Kristian has briefed and/or argued over two dozen cases in the Oregon Court of Appeals, the Oregon Supreme Court, Washington Court of Appeals, the Missouri Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court (submitting written briefs in the nation’s highest Court). See Kristian’s List of Published Cases.
Even with this extensive appellate background, Kristian’s approach to cases is not bookish or limited to esoteric legal theories. Appellate law involves more than just writing briefs and arguing before panels of extremely smart judges. Indeed, there’s probably no better way to build a case than to look at it from the standpoint of potential appeal. Kristian’s appellate background therefore continues to guide his work at the trial level, giving him better insight into strategy and legal arguments from all sides. Winning your case depends on getting the law right, right from the start.
