Practice area
Appellate Litigation
Appeals in the New York State Appellate Divisions and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Appeals run on their own rules
A trial court and an appeals court do not work the same way. An appeal is argued on paper first, under its own rules of procedure, in front of a panel of judges who decide whether the lower court got it right. Losing at trial does not end the story, and winning at trial does not always either.
Kareem Abdo is an appellate attorney who understands the rules of procedure for appeals in the New York State Appellate Divisions and in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. In his words: "While appellate practice is a daunting proposition for any litigant, I have the experience and skill necessary to present your position to an appellate panel, as I have done it before."
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Being appealed, or asking for an appeal
There are two sides to every appeal. You may be the one asking a higher court to look again at a decision, or you may be the one who won below and now has to defend that result. Kareem has worked on both: for his clients he has handled being appealed and asking for an appeal.
The same skills carry across. He was an editor on the Fordham Moot Court Board, where he learned many of the skills he has used for clients, and he has been lead counsel in trial courts as well, so he reads an appeal with the whole case in mind.
The brief and the panel
On appeal the brief does most of the talking. It has to be accurate, organized and written for judges who were not in the room. Kareem has contacts in the appellate industry to help present your briefing in the best form to the courts he is admitted to.
Those courts include the First and Second Department in the New York State court system and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in the federal system. He also handles trial work, as lead counsel, in the same courts.
What it costs, and how to reach him
Kareem's description is short: "My rates are very good." He runs a no frills office, and he is glad to talk through your situation before you decide anything.
The phone number at the top of this page is his cellular phone, (212) 439-4723. Call or text, and tell him what court and what decision you are looking at.
Kareem Abdo answers his own cellular phone: (212) 439-4723, call or text.
What to bring to the first call
Appeals are governed by time limits set in the court rules, so it is worth reaching out sooner rather than later. This is general information, not advice about your case.
- The decision or judgment
- The court that issued it
- Dates on the papers
- Opposing counsel, if named
Still at the trial stage? Read about litigation services, or learn more about Kareem.