Novus Appellate connects trial counsel with elite federal criminal appellate specialists across California's four federal districts — quickly, transparently, and at no cost to you.
Why Novus
We work exclusively with California federal criminal appellate specialists — attorneys who do this every day, not as a sideline.
We identify strong appellate issues quickly after verdict, giving your client the best chance to preserve rights and build a record for appeal.
Trial counsel pays nothing. If a referral results in fees, Novus earns a portion of appellate counsel's fee — standard California referral arrangements, fully disclosed.
Every referral is documented, every fee arrangement is disclosed in writing, and your client's interests come first throughout.
The Process
Federal criminal appeals move on strict deadlines — the notice of appeal must be filed within 14 days of judgment in most cases. Here's how we make the handoff smooth.
Contact us by phone or the form below after verdict — or even during trial if appellate issues are developing. Tell us the district, the charges, and any issues you've already flagged. A brief conversation is all it takes.
We identify the right appellate specialist for your client's district and issue profile — someone with a strong record in CDCA, NDCA, EDCA, or SDCA federal courts. We handle the introduction.
We step back. The relationship is yours. Appellate counsel speaks directly with you and your client. There's no middleman on the case itself — we're just the connection.
Any referral fee arrangement is documented in writing before the case proceeds, consistent with applicable bar rules. Both counsel and the client are informed. No surprises, no hidden arrangements.
Referral fees are paid by appellate counsel from their own fee — your client's representation costs are not increased. All arrangements are disclosed in writing to the client and both attorneys, consistent with California and applicable bar rules.
Get in Touch
Time matters in federal criminal appeals. If you've had a verdict — or can see one coming — reach out now. We'll respond within one business day.
We serve trial counsel across all four California federal districts: Central (CDCA), Northern (NDCA), Eastern (EDCA), and Southern (SDCA).
Novus Appellate is a referral coordination service, not a law firm. No attorney-client relationship is formed by contacting us. Information submitted here is confidential.