Edmund Sauer is a trusted appellate lawyer who has successfully handled hundreds of appeals for clients throughout the country. Edmund has represented clients in every federal circuit court of appeals and in many state appellate courts. He appears most often in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, where he clerked for two judges, and in Tennessee and Kentucky state appellate courts. Over the course of his career, he has handled appeals involving nearly every type of legal issue.
Edmund also frequently collaborates with co-counsel in federal and state trial courts to develop litigation strategy, prepare compelling dispositive and post-judgment motions, and preserve errors for appeal. He has particular experience serving as the appellate lawyer embedded with trial teams in complex litigation.
In the last three years alone, Edmund has obtained more than 20 victories for clients in federal and state appellate courts. In one instance he obtained a post-judgment reversal of a $22 million jury verdict against a national healthcare company and successfully defended the reversal in the Sixth Circuit. Edmund won three cases in the Tennessee Supreme Court, including a seminal case establishing the proper method of contractual interpretation in Tennessee. He also obtained a reversal for an international automobile manufacturer in a tax dispute in the Tennessee Court of Appeals, and numerous other appellate victories for clients in high-stakes commercial, product-liability, and labor/employment actions.
In addition to practicing law, Edmund teaches Appellate Practice and Procedure at Vanderbilt Law School and is a frequent speaker on appellate and brief-writing issues. Edmund has served as chair of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section. He also proudly devotes a significant amount of time each year to representing indigent clients in appellate matters on a pro bono basis.
Prior to joining Bradley, Edmund worked as an appellate lawyer at Mayer Brown in Washington, D.C. He also served as deputy general counsel to Gov. Steven L. Beshear, representing the Kentucky governor in federal and state courts and helping coordinate executive branch litigation.
A Fulbright and Truman Scholar, Edmund clerked for two judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit: Judges Jane B. Stranch and Boyce F. Martin, Jr.
American Bar Foundation, Fellow Listed in Benchmark Litigation "Under 40 Hot List," 2016, 2018 "Future Star," Tennessee, 2015-2016, 2018-2021, 2023 Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers, "Rising Stars," Appellate, 2014-2018 Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rated Honored as an "Attorney for Justice" by the Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission, 2018-2020 Lowe v. Lincoln Nat’l Life Ins. Co., 821 F. App’x 489 (6th Cir. 2020) Successfully represented client on appeal in case involving scope of ERISA preemption. Hamade v. Valiant Gov’t Servs., LLC, 807 F. App’x 546 (6th Cir. 2020) Successfully defended favorable judgment on appeal for international government contractor in Title VII dispute. AMG Trade & Distrib., LLC v. Nissan N. Am., 813 F. App’x 403 (11th Cir. 2020) Successfully represented automobile manufacturer on appeal in case involving tort and unfair trade practice act claims. Snodgrass-King Pediatric Dental Assocs. v. DentaQuest USA Ins. Co., 780 F. App’x 197 (6th Cir. 2019). Obtained post-judgment reversal of $22 million jury verdict in First Amendment action and successfully defended reversal before divided appeals court. D.T. v. Sumner Cnty. Sch., 942 F.3d 324 (6th Cir. 2019) Successfully handled appeal for school board involving federal constitutional claims and statutory challenges under Individuals with Disability Education Act. Keen v. Helson, 930 F.3d 799 (6th Cir. 2019) Obtained win on appeal for client in case involving issues of first impression under the federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. Hosse v. Sumner Cty. Bd. of Educ., 776 F. App’x 902 (6th Cir. 2019) Successfully represented client on appeal from favorable jury verdict in action under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Hannon v. Louisiana-Pac. Corp., 784 F. App’x 444 (6th Cir. 2019) Represented employer in action under Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Segrist v. Bank of New York Mellon for Certificateholders of CWABS, Inc. Asset-Backed Certificates Series 2003-2, 744 F. App’x 932 (6th Cir. 2018) Successfully represented financial services companies in appeal involving Truth in Lending Act, fraud, and contract claims. Duncan v. Muzyn, 885 F.3d 422 (6th Cir. 2018) Persuaded divided appeals court to hold as matter of first impression that defined-benefit participants lacked standing to challenge cost-of-living adjustments. Barber v. Lincoln Nat’l Life Ins. Co., 722 F. App’x 470 (6th Cir. 2018) Obtained appellate win for insurer in action alleging breach of benefit plan. In re Haffey, 576 B.R. 540 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. 2017). Successfully represented creditor in bankruptcy appeal involving due-process issues of first impression. Direct Gen. Ins. Co. v. Indian Harbor Ins. Co., 661 F. App’x 980 (11th Cir. 2016) Represented insurer on appeal in coverage dispute with excess insurers. Duncan v. Muzyn, 833 F.3d 567 (6th Cir. 2016) Successfully represented pension plan in dispute over governing rules and regulations, Takings Clause claim, and applicability of Administrative Procedures Act. State Auto Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Hargis, 785 F.3d 189 (6th Cir. 2015) Successfully represented insured in dispute with insurer regarding viability of reverse-bad-faith claim under Kentucky law. A.O. Smith Corp. & Gaylord Entm’t v. U.S., 774 F.3d 359 (6th Cir. 2014) Represented corporations suing United States government under Federal Tort Claims Act for over $250 million in damages relating to flood. Thompson v. Bank of America, N.A., 773 F.3d 741 (6th Cir. 2014) Successfully handled appeal involving federal and state legal challenges to securitization of mortgage loans. Menkes v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 762 F.3d 285 (3d Cir. 2014) Successfully defended employer in appeal involving scope of ERISA preemption. Helmer v. Pogue, 567 F. App’x 894 (11th Cir. 2014) Successfully represented claimants in bankruptcy appeal. United Pet Supply, Inc. v. City of Chattanooga, 768 F.3d 464 (6th Cir. 2013) Obtained partial reversal for clients in interlocutory appeal challenging denial of summary judgment in section 1983 case. Brim v. Midland Credit Mgmt., Inc., No. 11-12537 (11th Cir. 2011) Challenged adverse jury verdict in Fair Credit Reporting Act appeal. Cooper v. CSX Transp., Inc., 560 F.3d 426 (6th Cir. 2009) Persuaded Sixth Circuit to hold that Federal Railway Safety Act precluded an action under Federal Employers’ Liability Act relating to the use of track ballast. In re Teleglobe Commc’ns Corp., 493 F.3d 345 (3d Cir. 2007) Represented client in appeal involving the applicability of attorney-client privilege to communications between a corporation and its former subsidiary. Galarneau v. Merrill Lynch, 504 F.3d 189 (1st Cir. 2007) Persuaded the First Circuit to vacate punitive-damage award in defamation action.
