In our cover package, we salute 22 lawyers and law firms for their success in appellate practice over the past year. This year, we once again asked the winners to share insight on their biggest wins, how their firms approached appellate success and what advice they would give younger versions of themselves.

A sampling of the gems from the last question follow: Latham & Watkins' Gregory Garre said to get comfortable being uncomfortable. "Put yourself in positions that make you uncomfortable—whether it's getting up before a group of strangers to speak, appearing before a hostile judge, or briefing an unfamiliar area of law."

Jenner & Block's Jessica Ring Amunson said it's all about perspective: "It is important to be open to new things. Diverse perspectives help us evolve and better serve the growing and varied needs of our clients."

And Sidley Austin's Robert Hochman said to go beyond the head to reach the heart: "Legal knowledge and careful reasoning matter, but they are not everything. Learn how to tell compelling stories and win the battle for a judge's moral intuitions."

Check out these and other kernels of wisdom, along with stories of success, from the stars of the appellate bar.

Next, as of press time in mid-October, President Donald Trump has confirmed more than 80 judges to the federal bench. And the confirmation of the high court's newest justice, Brett Kavanaugh—Trump's second nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court in his first two years—is evidence that his judicial machine shows no signs of slowing down. In our second feature, Washington-based reporter Ellis Kim takes a look back at key moments in the Kavanaugh confirmation fight.

And this month, we feature a double-scoop of columns covering the practice of law. In our first column, lawyers from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom delve into the latest in data scraping, copyright law and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. And in our second piece, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan's Debbie Shon and Mayur Patel explain the impact the escalating trade war has on litigation.

Lastly, take a gander at the latest legal moves from around the globe in Movers, compiled by Pearl Wu.

As always, we would love to hear from you. Email me at the address below or reach out on Twitter via @lhelemNLJ. Thanks for reading.

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