With appellate dockets continuing to grow and appeals increasingly shaping litigation strategy from the outset, Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine has launched a new Appellate Practice led by veteran advocate Jonathan Colan alongside founding shareholder Steve Silverman.

Miami, FL,  February 17, 2026 – Amid rising appellate caseloads, increasingly complex legal issues, and growing demand for specialized post-trial advocacy, Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine, P.L., one of South Florida’s preeminent litigation firms, has launched a dedicated Appellate Practice to further strengthen its ability to support high-stakes matters at every stage of litigation. The new group will be chaired by Jonathan Colan, a highly respected appellate advocate with more than 30 years of experience, and co-chaired by Shareholder Steve Silverman, a founding member of the firm with four decades of trial and appellate experience.

The launch of a new Appellate Practice reflects a growing market need for specialized appellate counsel as courts face increasingly congested dockets and legal issues become more nuanced. As Kluger Kaplan consistently handles multiple trials at any given time, the firm has seen heightened demand for appellate advocacy that combines rigorous legal analysis with practical trial insight. The Appellate Practice will serve both the firm’s clients and other law firms seeking appellate support, without competing for underlying clients or trial work.

“Appellate advocacy is no longer confined to post-verdict briefing, it is an integral part of modern litigation strategy from day one,” said Alan Kluger, Founding Partner of Kluger Kaplan. “Jonathan’s exceptional appellate judgment, combined with Steve’s decades of trial and appellate experience and his deep understanding of complex multi-party litigation, positions this practice to meet a critical and growing need in the market.”

Colan joins Kluger Kaplan after a distinguished career of nearly three decades with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, where he served as both an Assistant United States Attorney and Senior Appellate Attorney in the Appellate Division. He has drafted and argued complex criminal, civil, and immigration appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Eleventh and Second Circuits and has played a leadership role in shaping appellate strategy on emerging legal issues. In his previous private practice, Colan handled civil and commercial litigation appeals throughout Florida’s appellate court system.

Colan has also trained attorneys nationwide through the Department of Justice’s National Advocacy Center and served as an adjunct professor of appellate law at the University of Miami School of Law.

“Kluger Kaplan’s reputation as a trial powerhouse makes it a natural platform for an appellate practice grounded in real courtroom experience,” said Colan. “We approach appeals as an extension of trial strategy, ensuring continuity and efficiency at all critical stages of a case.”

Before co-founding Kluger Kaplan, Silverman served as Chair of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department and as co-founder of the Distressed Asset Group as part of the firm’s earlier evolution. Over his career he has represented individuals and businesses in intricate disputes in federal and state courts nationwide, including cases involving all manner of contract disputes and complex commercial and business litigation, lender liability, corporate governance and membership interests, condominium association and commercial real estate litigation, complex class actions, receiverships, and appellate matters.

Silverman added, “Having spent decades in the courtroom across both trial and appellate arenas confirms that appellate issues are often shaped well before a trial is over. Our new Appellate Practice department meets that need by allowing us to provide trusted appellate support both internally and to other firms seeking experienced, conflict-free counsel.”

The Appellate Practice will handle a broad range of civil and criminal appeals and trial support, including complex commercial litigation, business torts, real estate disputes, white-collar matters, and constitutional issues in state and federal courts.

The launch of the Appellate Practice builds on Kluger Kaplan’s continued strategic growth in response to evolving client needs. In recent years, the firm has expanded beyond its core trial platform to formally launch an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practice comprised of veteran litigators who collectively have handled hundreds of mediations and arbitrations across a wide range of industries. Together, these practice expansions reflect the firm’s commitment to offering sophisticated, efficient, and flexible dispute-resolution solutions while maintaining its focus on complex, high-stakes litigation.

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About Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine, P.L.
Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine, P.L. is a renowned litigation firm specializing in complex, high-stakes disputes across various industries, including business and corporate litigation, real estate and construction litigation, intellectual property disputes, employment litigation, securities and financial fraud, corporate governance, bankruptcy-related litigation, professional liability, class actions, and complex matrimonial, probate, and trust litigation. With offices in Miami and Boca Raton, the firm’s seasoned litigators have served as lead counsel in federal multi-district litigation and trials in state and federal courts nationwide. For more information, please visit www.klugerkaplan.com.