Rachel Lynsie Yates

Virginia Appellate Attorney — Civil & Criminal Appeals Statewide

I am a Virginia appellate lawyer exclusively dedicated to civil and criminal appeals. Unlike most attorneys, I focus solely on appellate work. That exclusive focus translates into deeper expertise for every client I serve.

My team brings a rare combination of perspectives: former public defenders, prosecutors, law clerks, and in-house counsel experience with organizations generating over a billion dollars in revenue. We understand appellate work from every angle — giving clients the best possible chance of success on appeal.

I handle appeals in:

• Court of Appeals of Virginia
• Supreme Court of Virginia
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Civil appeals I handle include personal injury, family law, real estate, trusts and estates, insurance law, and administrative matters. Criminal appeals are a core focus, and I work with both individual clients and trial counsel.

Beyond serving as lead appellate counsel, I also offer consulting (brief writing, research, moot courts) and embedded appellate counsel services — working alongside trial lawyers before, during, and after trial to ensure all issues are preserved for appeal.

I serve clients and trial counsel throughout Virginia, including Northern Virginia, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Roanoke, Charlottesville, Hampton Roads, and the Shenandoah Valley.