Unlike other trial practice firms, DBMS maintains an active and diverse appellate practice, representing clients in federal and state appellate courts. DBMS not only handles its own appeals, but also is frequently retained by clients to prosecute appeals from cases tried by other firms.

The firm’s lawyers have briefed and argued appeals in state appellate and supreme courts throughout the Midwest and in a number of federal circuit courts of appeal. The firm has obtained successful results for its clients not only in substantive areas such as products and professional liability and securities law cases, but also in procedural and evidentiary matters.

This aspect of the firm’s practice is led by Karen Kies DeGrand, a 1982 graduate of the University of Illinois with highest University honors. Ms. DeGrand also obtained her law degree from the University of Illinois, where she was an editor of the Law Review. Ms. DeGrand began her legal career at Baker & McKenzie’s Chicago office and was among the eight attorneys who departed Baker & McKenzie’s litigation department and opened the doors of Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth LLC in 1995.