Susan M. Freeman

Appellate Experience Ms. Freeman has practiced appellate law for more than 40 years. She has briefed over 300 appeals and argued over 100 of them, primarily in Arizona appellate courts and the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, but also in other jurisdictions across the country. She has briefed and argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, as counsel for parties and as counsel for amici curiae. She has been counsel of record in over 150 reported appellate decisions on legal topics ranging from commercial and tort law to ERISA, employment, tax and bankruptcy. She has served as a judge pro tem at the Arizona Court of Appeals, taught Appellate Advocacy as an adjunct faculty member at Arizona State University School of Law, and served as a faculty member at Appellate Practice Institutes in Arizona and nationally.

Areas of Substantive Expertise and Consultation. Ms. Freeman regularly assists trial counsel with appellate procedural issues, and consults with them on presenting and preserving arguments for appeal. She analyzes trial records and advises clients and trial lawyers on the viability of prospective appeals. Ms. Freeman works with trial counsel to prepare and edit briefs, appellate motions, and to present oral arguments – either by assisting trial counsel with moot courts and practice pointers, or by arguing herself with their preparation assistance.

In addition to her membership (and leadership) in AAAL, Ms. Freeman is a fellow, former director and current officer of the American College of Bankruptcy, and is the only member of both organizations. Ms. Freeman’s unusual combination of appellate and bankruptcy expertise has led her to represent parties in numerous appeals on bankruptcy issues. Her bankruptcy practice focuses on representing all parties in interest in business bankruptcy cases, including debtors-in-possession, secured and unsecured creditors, trustees and committees. She has a sub-specialty in bankruptcy ethics, frequently publishing, speaking, consulting with lawyers and serving as an expert witness on bankruptcy ethics issues.