E148: Launching an Appellate Team Inside a Plaintiff-Oriented Firm | Andrew Gould

By D. Todd Smith on April 17, 2025

“I give trial lawyers a menu of options,” Andrew Gould explains to hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders about his strategic approach as head of appellate at plaintiffs’ firm Arnold & Itkin. After building their appellate practice from scratch following his years as a federal prosecutor, Andrew shares battle-tested techniques for navigating the trial lawyer relationship. His “eyes-wide-open” philosophy ensures transparent communication about strategic decisions and potential appellate consequences. When asked about electoral changes affecting appellate courts, Andrew replies: “What matters to me as an appellate lawyer are the law and the facts, and that’s all it should be.”