Christian Rice focuses on high-stakes appellate litigation in federal and state forums. As an ex-trial attorney, clients now frequently call on him to assist trial teams as embedded appellate counsel and to draft critical motions. Christian’s approach to record-development is informed by his experience as lead or co-counsel in nearly 30 hearings before administrative law judges, where he conducted dozens of cross-examinations prior to focusing on appellate law.
Since late 2025, Christian has served in the following roles:
Embedded Appellate Counsel
•Lead appellate counsel through a three-week California jury trial, providing real-time strategic guidance and error preservation;
•Lead appellate counsel on a team that vacated a nuclear verdict via a motion for new trial; and
•Appellate counsel during a three-week trial in Texas.
Appeals
•Secured a 99.9% reduction of a criminal contempt fine by petitioning a court of appeals for a writ of mandamus; and
•Maintained a national appellate practice, advocating for clients in high-stakes appeals before SCOTUS, the Fifth Circuit, the Texas Supreme Court, and intermediate state courts of appeals from California to New York.
Motions
•Preserved a multimillion-dollar judgment by drafting the opposition to a motion for new trial in Texas state court.
Christian previously served as a law clerk for Judge Patrick E. Higginbotham of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. During his clerkship, he earned the rare distinction of being awarded the Fifth Circuit Clerk of Court’s Challenge Coin-the only clerk in Judge Higginbotham’s five-decade career to receive the honor. The award recognized Christian’s identification of a Fifth Circuit Internal Operating Procedure that failed to comply with the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, as well as his proposed amendment, which the Court adopted. Chief Judge Elrod recognized him as “an eagle-eyed law clerk” and thanked him for “his excellent help to the court.”
Prior to his legal career, Christian honed his advocacy skills in the policy arena by advising a congressional committee and then advocating for members of a national trade association. In these capacities, he focused on FAA and EPA regulations, as well as federal research and development appropriations.
Judicial Clerkships
•Hon. Patrick E. Higginbotham, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
