LexData-driven Federal Circuit rankings — coming 2026.
Appellate practice rankings at the Federal Circuit covering appellant and appellee representation. Built on CAFC PACER docket data with affirmance/reversal outcomes, Rule 36 patterns, and oral argument tracking. The first edition publishes in 2026.
Methodology in draft. First edition: 2026.
Built on CAFC PACER data.
Every signal is computed from CAFC PACER records across all patent appeals. Appellant and appellee representation are tracked separately, with affirmance/reversal outcomes, Rule 36 issuances, oral argument records, and cert petitions all captured.
Ranked on activity. Measured on performance.
Six performance signals covering appellate practice at the Federal Circuit. Affirmance and reversal rates are normalized for the type of appeal (DC, PTAB, ITC) and the standard of review.
Appeal volume
Weighted participation across all CAFC patent appeals — from district court, PTAB, ITC, and the Federal Circuit's other patent dockets.
Affirmance vs. reversal
Win rates for appellants and appellees, normalized for the source court and the standard of review.
Rule 36 patterns
Rate of Rule 36 affirmances on cases handled — both as a litigant outcome and as a docket signal.
Oral argument outcomes
Cases argued versus submitted on briefs — and outcome differential.
Cert petition activity
Petitions filed to the Supreme Court and grant rate.
Topic specialization
Substantive depth across §101, §103, §112, claim construction, and remedies.
Rankings backed by the public record.
Most rankings ask you to make a case for yourself. We already have the evidence.
The appellate credential, by the bench.
When the first edition launches in 2026, firms and attorneys appearing in the Top 100 of any official CAFC category will be eligible to license the LexDana Federal Circuit Intelligence Badge.
- Display the badge on your firm site, attorney bios, and practice pages
- Use it in RFP responses, pitch decks, and partner profiles
- Each badge links to your spotlight page with rank, score, and trend
- Annual recognition asset, updated when the next year’s rankings drop
Read the full Federal Circuit methodology.
Signal definitions, cohort normalization, weighting, and the exact data window — all published.
Methodology →