Florida Appeal Lawyers for Civil, Criminal & Federal Appeals

When a Florida trial court ruling puts your freedom, business, or family at risk, the next step is not another trial—it is a focused appeal. Brownstone Law is an appeals-only firm that represents clients statewide in Florida’s District Courts of Appeal, the Florida Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Led by appellate attorney Robert L. Sirianni Jr., our team reviews the trial record, identifies preserved legal error, and builds briefs written for appellate judges—not juries. If you need a Florida appeal lawyer after conviction, judgment, or an adverse order.

Call Us At (888) 233-8895

Get Appeal Evaluation

Our experienced attorneys will review your case and provide feedback on your appeal options at no cost.

All consultations are protected by attorney-client privilege. We respect your privacy and will not share your information.

Years of Experience
0 +
Appeals Nationwide
0 +
Handles State & Federal Appeals
0

Trusted Florida Appellate Lawyers for Civil & Criminal Appeals

Appeals are a specialized practice. Florida appellate courts do not retry facts, hear new witnesses, or accept new evidence in most cases. They review whether the trial court misapplied the law, abused its discretion, or allowed error that affected the outcome.
That is why hiring a trial lawyer to “handle the appeal” can leave critical issues undeveloped. Brownstone Law focuses exclusively on appellate work: record review, issue selection, brief writing, and oral argument.

Florida Criminal Appeals Lawyers

Our Florida criminal appeal lawyers represent clients challenging convictions, sentences, and critical trial rulings in state and federal court. Common grounds include:

  • Erroneous jury instructions or improper closing argument
  • Wrongful admission or exclusion of evidence
  • Insufficient evidence as a matter of law
  • Sentencing guideline or scoresheet errors
  • Ineffective assistance of counsel (often raised in post-conviction proceedings)
  • Prosecutorial misconduct that prejudiced the defense

We handle appeals arising from white-collar prosecutions, drug trafficking, fraud, violent felonies, and other serious state and federal charges. Where direct appeal rights are limited or exhausted, we evaluate post-conviction and habeas options.

Florida Civil Appeals Attorneys

Our Florida civil appeals attorneys represent appellants and appellees in business, commercial, property, insurance, probate, family-law, and professional disputes. We appear in:

  • Florida’s six District Courts of Appeal
  • The Florida Supreme Court (when jurisdiction exists)
  • The Eleventh Circuit for federal civil appeals

Whether you are defending a hard-won judgment or seeking to reverse an unfair ruling, we develop a precise issue list and a brief strategy grounded in Florida appellate procedure.

Florida Federal Appeals We Handle

Representative federal appellate matters include:

  • Federal criminal convictions and sentencing appeals
  • White-collar, securities, healthcare, and fraud prosecutions
  • Commercial and contract disputes
  • Employment and regulatory matters
  • Government and administrative appeals

Federal appellate practice demands strict compliance with the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and circuit-specific briefing rules. Our team is built for that discipline.

Navigating the Florida Appellate Court System

Florida’s appellate map changed in 2023 with the creation of the Sixth District Court of Appeal. Which District Court of Appeal hears your case depends on the judicial circuit where it originated. Your Florida appellate lawyer must file in the correct DCA and comply with all deadlines under the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure

Court
Headquarters
Circuits Served
1st DCA
Tallahassee, Leon County - Second Judicial Circuit
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 8th and 14th
2nd DCA
Pinellas County - Sixth Judicial Circuit
6th, 12th and 13th
3rd DCA
Miami-Dade County - Eleventh Judicial Circuit
11th and 16th
4th DCA
Palm Beach County - Fifteenth Judicial Circuit
15th, 17th and 19th
5th DCA
Daytona Beach, Volusia County - Seventh Judicial Circuit
4th, 5th, 7th and 18th
6th DCA
Lakeland, Polk County - Tenth Judicial Circuit
9th, 10th and 20th

IMPORTANT NOTE – The above headquarters column follows the official designations used in section 35.05 of the Florida Statutes and the 2024 HB 353 staff analysis. For the Second DCA, the statutory headquarters designation is Pinellas County. The court’s December 1, 2025 Internal Operating Procedures list its physical location as 525 Mirror Lake Drive North in St. Petersburg. References to Tampa in some earlier sources relate to the court’s temporary location while the St. Petersburg courthouse was being completed. These location descriptions do not affect the Second DCA’s territorial jurisdiction, which covers the 6th, 12th and 13th Judicial Circuits.

How Florida Appeals Differ from Trials

An appeal is a written legal argument based on the existing record. There is no jury and, in most cases, no new testimony. Appellate judges ask: Did reversible legal error occur?

Issues that commonly support appellate relief include:

  • Misinterpretation or misapplication of controlling law
  • Abuse of discretion in evidentiary or procedural rulings
  • Structural or prejudicial error that undermined a fair trial
If the appellate court finds reversible error, it may affirm in part, reverse, remand for a new trial or resentencing, or modify the judgment.

Our Florida Appeals Process

Our Florida appellate attorneys support clients at all stages of the case—before, during, and after trial. We focus exclusively on appeals and can assist in a range of ways:

Before or During Trial

  • Consult with trial counsel on preservation of error
  • Assist with motions, jury instructions, and verdict forms that protect appellate issues
  • Advise on strategy when an interlocutory appeal may be available

After Trial or Judgment

  • Evaluate the notice-of-appeal deadline and jurisdiction
  • Order and study the full record and transcripts
  • Select the strongest preserved issues—not every disagreement with the trial court
  • Draft the initial brief, answer brief, and reply as needed
  • Prepare and present oral argument
  • Advise on rehearing, Florida Supreme Court review, or U.S. Supreme Court certiorari when appropriate

Why Choose Brownstone Law for a Florida Appeal

  • Appeals-only focus — we do not dilute strategy with trial-volume work
  • Statewide Florida coverage across all six DCAs and federal venues
  • Deep familiarity with Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure
  • Clear communication about risks, timelines, and realistic outcomes
  • Nationwide appellate experience led by Robert L. Sirianni Jr.
  • Free initial consultation for qualified appeal matters

Serving Clients Across Florida

We represent clients throughout Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Naples, Fort Myers, St. Petersburg, and surrounding communities.

Cities We Serve Across Florida

Our Florida appellate lawyers proudly serve clients in cities across the state, including:

News and Publications: Florida Appeals

Suzanne Harvey, etc. v. Geico General Insurance Company
Florida Civil Appeal (Florida Supreme Court) (2018)
This case involves the application of the law of bad faith, which imposes a fiduciary obligation on an insurer to protect its insured from a judgment that exceeds the limits of the insured’s policy.  The specific issue, in this case, is whether the Fourth District Court of Appeal misapplied this Court’s bad faith precedent and relied on inapplicable federal precedent when it reversed the judgment entered in favor of the insured after a jury found that the insurer acted in bad faith in failing to settle the claim.  GEICO Gen. Ins. Co. v. Harvey, 208 So. 3d 810, 812 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017).  The Fourth District concluded that “the evidence was insufficient as a matter of law to show that the insurer acted in bad faith,” and, “even if the insurer’s conduct were deficient, the insurer’s actions did not cause the excess judgment.”  Id.  Read more about civil appellate attorneys Florida: Florida Civil Appeals
Jermaine Foster v. State of Florida (Florida Supreme Court)
Criminal Appeal in Florida (2018)
This case is before the Court on appeal from an order denying a successive motion to vacate two sentences of death under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.851. We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 3(b)(1), Fla. Const. Foster contends that the 3.850 post-conviction courts erred in summarily denying the three claims raised in his motion. The first claim is one of intellectual disability, raised pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Hall v. Florida, 572 U.S. 701 (2014), and the second and third claims seek relief pursuant to Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016), and this Court’s decision on remand in Hurst v. State, 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 2161 (2017).  Read more about this Florida criminal appeals: Florida Criminal Appeals
Rashia Wilson. v. United States of America
December 4, 2014; Case No. 13-13468

Brownstone overturns verdict in Rashia Wilson appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. In Appeal No. 13-13468, Rashia Wilson, pursuant to a plea agreement, pleaded guilty to two counts of a 57-count indictment returned against her and Maurice J. Larry: Count Three, wire fraud committed on April 21, 2012, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343; and Count Forty-Seven, aggravated identity theft committed the same day in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A.

Read the opinion vacating the case and charges for tax fraud. Rashia Wilson

Jeffrey Michael Smith Jr. v. State of Florida
May 12th 2014 Case No. 2D13-4299

Following a jury trial, Mr. Smith explained to the Trial Court that a seated juror may have failed to disclose that she knew details about his case during jury selection. Mr. Smith requested to interview the juror. The Trial Court denied Mr.Smith’s request. Download Appellant’s Complete Initial Brief

Patrick James Clark v. State of Florida
May 15th 2014 Case No. 5D14-320

The Appellant, Patrick James Clark, by and through the undersigned counsel and pursuant to Rule 9.141(b)(3) of the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure, hereby appeals the denial of his Amended Motion for Post-Conviction Relief. This Court has jurisdiction over the instant appeal pursuant to Rule 9.110(b) of the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure. Download Appellant’s Complete Initial Brief

Michael Boyington v. State of Florida
March 21st, 2013 Case No. 06-514-CF

This case arises from allegations that Petitioner shot Mr. Aprid Balint (“Mr. Balint”) with a .44 caliber rifle on October 20, 2006 as Mr. Balint menacingly waived a bush axe and advanced towards Petitioner. Read more about this Florida appeal here: Boyington v. Florida – Supreme Court of Florida – First District Court of Appeal

License Acquisitions v. Debary Real Estate Holdings
Case No. SC-13-968

Appellants, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering (DBPR), License Acquisitions, LLC, and West Volusia Racing, Inc., f/k/a Volusia Jai-Alai, Inc., appeal the First District’s per curiam decision declaring section 550.054(14)(a) to be invalid as a special law enacted without either providing advance notice of intent to enact the law or conditioning the law’s effectiveness upon a referendum of the electors of the areas affected in violation of article III, section 10, of the Florida Constitution. Based on this ruling, the district court concluded that the trial court should have granted the appellees’ motion for summary judgment.

Read more about this Florida appeal here: License Acquisitions v. Debary Real Estate Holdings

Alan Wade v. State of Florida
Case No. SC-13-1003

Appellant, Alan Lyndell Wade appeals an order of the circuit court denying his motion to vacate his convictions and sentences—including two convictions for first-degree murder and two sentences of death—filed under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.851. Wade was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, and two counts of robbery in connection with the murders of Carol and Reggie Sumner in July 2005. Wade v. State, 41 So. 3d 857, 862 (Fla. 2010). Wade and his codefendants, Michael Jackson and Tiffany Cole, were tried separately for the crimes. Bruce Nixon was also involved in the crimes but pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and received concurrent sentences of forty-five years in prison.

Read more about this Florida Supreme Court Criminal appeal here: Florida Criminal Appeal – Alan Wade v. State of Florida

Consult Our Florida Appeals Lawyers Today!

If you’re considering an appeal, don’t wait. Our team offers free consultations to review your case, explain your legal options, and guide you through the appellate process.

Schedule Your Free Consultation Today.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Florida Court of Appeals System

1. How long do I have to file a Florida appeal?

Deadlines are short and unforgiving. In many civil and criminal cases, a notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days of the appealable order or judgment. Some post-judgment motions can toll the deadline; others do not. Contact counsel immediately so the correct deadline is calculated under the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure.

2. What is the difference between a Florida DCA appeal and a Florida Supreme Court appeal?

Most appeals from Florida trial courts are heard by one of the state’s six District Courts of Appeal. A DCA generally reviews whether the trial court made a legal or procedural error, and qualifying appeals may be taken as a matter of right.

The Florida Supreme Court, by contrast, does not provide another automatic level of appeal merely because a party disagrees with a DCA’s decision. Its jurisdiction is limited to specific categories established by the Florida Constitution and other applicable law. These include certain death-penalty judgments, DCA decisions declaring a state statute or constitutional provision invalid, decisions involving express and direct conflict, questions certified as being of great public importance, and certain decisions expressly construing constitutional provisions or affecting classes of public officers.

Therefore, a party seeking Florida Supreme Court review must establish a recognized basis for the Court’s jurisdiction; dissatisfaction with the DCA’s ruling alone is not sufficient.

3. Can new evidence be presented on appeal in Florida?

Generally no. Appellate courts review the existing trial-court record for legal error. Claims that depend on facts outside the record—such as newly discovered evidence or ineffective assistance—are often raised through post-conviction or other collateral proceedings rather than on direct appeal.

4. Do I need a Florida appellate lawyer if my trial lawyer is willing to handle the appeal?

A trial lawyer may handle an appeal if they have substantial experience with Florida appellate procedure. However, appellate advocacy requires a different strategy from trial work.

Appellate lawyers focus on the existing record, preserved legal errors, standards of review and persuasive written briefs. In complex cases, appellate counsel may also provide an independent assessment of the record and help identify the strongest issues for review.

Brownstone Law focuses on state and federal appeals and can evaluate whether a case presents viable appellate grounds. Although no lawyer can guarantee a reversal, appellate-focused representation can help ensure that the case is presented through a clear, disciplined and record-based strategy.

5. What outcomes are possible if we win a Florida appeal?

Possible results include reversal, remand for a new trial or further proceedings, resentencing, or modification of the judgment. The government or opposing party may seek rehearing or further review. Your lawyer should explain the realistic range of outcomes for your specific issues.

6. Does Brownstone Law handle both state and federal appeals from Florida cases?

Yes. We handle Florida state appellate matters and federal appeals, including cases proceeding to the Eleventh Circuit and, when appropriate, petitions for writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Read What Our Clients Says

Jerome Brown

Jerome Brown

I recently engaged Brownstone PA for legal assistance, and I couldn't be happier with the service I received. The lawyers were thorough, attentive, and always had my best interests in mind. They guided me through the legal process, explaining everything in a clear and concise manner. I felt confident in their abilities and trusted their expertise. I highly recommend Brownstone PA for their exceptional legal services.

Alyssa Lin

Alyssa Lin

Brownstone PA is a highly professional and reliable law firm. The lawyers I worked with were knowledgeable, approachable, and provided me with excellent legal representation. They were responsive to my concerns and kept me informed throughout the entire process. The attention to detail and dedication to achieving the best possible outcome were evident in their work. I highly recommend Brownstone PA for anyone in need of legal assistance.

Amily Moalin

Amily Moalin

I had a positive experience with Brownstone PA and their team of lawyers. They handled my case with utmost professionalism and achieved a favorable outcome. The lawyers at Brownstone PA were thorough in their approach, conducting in-depth research and providing well-crafted legal arguments. They were also compassionate and supportive throughout the process. I am grateful for their expertise and highly recommend their services.

Read More Reviews
DMCA Protection Status