Oral argument is a critical part of appellate success. Knowing your case and preparing for the Court’s questions and concerns can be a time-consuming and stressful endeavor. Come as we demystify oral argument and offer tips for how to prepare efficiently and thoroughly using AI.

John P. O’Herron
Vice President and Partner
Thompson McMullan, P.C.

John concentrates his practice in appellate litigation and motions practice in both federal and state courts.

“I love the craft of legal writing, and the challenge of persuading through effective written and oral advocacy is immensely fun and rewarding”, says John, a former Supreme Court of Virginia clerk for Chief Justice Kinser. Driven by that experience and embracing the challenge of effective advocacy, John offers a variety of appellate services to individuals, business, and government clients. His services include consulting and representation related to perfecting or resisting an appeal, briefing and argument, amicus curiae, and rule compliance in the appellate courts.

John has represented businesses, individuals, and government officers and agencies in numerous appeals, tapping into his familiarity with appellate law and procedure and his proven track record of crafting successful appellate arguments. His unique expertise enables him to provide high-quality representation for written or oral advocacy to maximize the chance of success at all stages of an appeal.

John also excels in non-appellate matters and regularly appears in state and federal court in various civil litigation matters, where he similarly focuses on effective written and oral advocacy in dispositive motions. He represents a wide variety of clients, including constitutional officers such as sheriffs and their deputies, clerks of court, commonwealth’s attorneys, and businesses both large and small, as well as insurance companies and their insureds in both coverage and liability disputes.