Experienced Appellate Counsel
We focus on the aspects of your case that matter most on appeal by anticipating and meeting the particularized concerns of appellate jurists. For cases that require every advantage in this specialized court system, we provide targeted advocacy guided by experienced counsel.
When Insight Matters
Winning on appeal involves presenting the case differently to the appellate courts than it was presented in the lower court. We bring sustained attention to the concepts of the case that are decisive on appeal. This often involves particular briefing strategies, extensive research, and procedural maneuvering under the appellate rules. In some matters, we handle the appeal from start to finish. In others, we work alongside trial counsel on specific aspects of the case.
The goal is to anticipate and directly engage the concerns of appellate jurists and position the case for success in this specialized court system.
Jonathan Dunlap
Jonathan has personal knowledge of how cases are built at the trial level, having spent 20 years as a civil litigator and trying numerous cases to verdict. He built an early reputation among his colleagues as the lawyer who other lawyers turned to with their problems. Since focusing on appellate work, he has briefed and argued before the Fourth Circuit, the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He has also been retained to serve as an appellate consultant in jury trials, providing real time guidance and briefing to preserve appellate issues in high stakes cases.
Jonathan is a member of the North Carolina Appellate Rules Committee, a forum where appellate judges, professors, and other appellate attorneys discuss the rules of appellate procedure, where they can fail, and the unanticipated ways they sometimes work in order to recommend changes to the North Carolina Supreme Court. He has taught CLEs to trial lawyers on the preservation of appellate issues during trial. He is a member of both the North Carolina Bar Association's Appellate Practice Section and a member of the Land Use section. He is the President of the Buncombe County Bar and a former partner in one of Asheville’s oldest and largest firms. Also, Jonathan was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for Appellate Law in 2027.
Jonathan is licensed to practice in all of the state and federal courts of North and South Carolina, the courts of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the Fourth Circuit.
Jonathan is originally from Florence, South Carolina. He was active in scouting, is an Eagle Scout, and a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow. He is a graduate of Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. At Kenyon College, he double majored in Philosophy and Modern Foreign Languages, studying French and German and graduating with honors on his French senior thesis. He received his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2006, where he served as the Chief Justice of the Moot Court Bar and received the Robert T. Bockman Award for Appellate Advocacy.
Jonathan lived in Rennes, France, for his senior year of high school and in Montpellier, France during his junior year of college. After college, he lived in Denmark for a year and a half, studying business and working for a startup that built autonomous submarines.
The creative passions that drive his interest in legal writing also fuel his interest in composing and producing music. He also enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and just generally being outdoors.
Dunlap Law, PLLC
Appellate Services
Appellate Representation
We handle appeals at every stage or assist trial counsel on any discrete aspect of the appeal: procedural strategy, research, briefing, oral argument, or petitions for extraordinary relief. Appellate courts have their own rules, culture, and expectations. We understand how to present a clear and compelling case within that framework, whether we are handling the matter independently or working alongside trial counsel.
Appellate Strategy & Issue Preservation
The outcome on appeal is often shaped by decisions made long before the notice of appeal is filed. We work alongside trial counsel during litigation to identify, frame, and preserve the legal issues that will matter most if the case proceeds to appeal. Early involvement allows issues to be developed in the record with the appellate the standards in mind, positioning the case for the strongest possible argument on review.
Dispositive Motions & Critical Briefing
How a case is framed at the trial court level shapes how it is received on appeal. We draft motions and briefs on the issues that are likely to be decisive on review. We offer this service as a standalone arrangement or as part of a broader appellate engagement. This work is available as a standalone service or as part of a broader appellate engagement.
Amicus Curiae Briefs
Organizations with an stake in the outcome of significant legal questions have an opportunity to shape how those questions are resolved. We prepare amicus curiae briefs that present the broader implications of a case with precision and rigorous advocacy. The goal is to clearly present what the court needs to understand that the parties alone may not fully address.
Discuss an Appeal or Legal Issue
If you are preparing for an appeal or dealing with a legal issue that requires closer attention, we can step in and work through it with you. Whether you need full appellate representation or focused support on a specific issue, the conversation starts with the case.
Contact Us
If you are preparing for an appeal or working through a difficult legal issue, we are available to step in and assist where needed.