Rex S. Heinke

Rex S. Heinke

Appellate Practice

4.0 (1 reviews)
Los Angeles, California
50+ years experience
Complex Appellate Litigation Group LLP
Updated:

Contact Information

355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 2450, Los Angeles, CA 90017
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Bio

Rex Heinke is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished and experienced appellate practitioners in California, and among the best in the nation. He has argued more than 150 appeals in federal and state courts across the country. Between 2001 and 2020, Rex was co-head of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld’s nationally renowned Supreme Court and Appellate practice.He is regularly called on to defend major corporations and high-profile individuals in some of their most hotly contested appellate matters. Rex has extensive experience before the California Supreme Court, the California Court of Appeal, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as other federal and state appellate courts. Rex’s victories have led to reversals of individual judgments worth more than $1 billion and dramatic changes in law to the benefit of his clients.Rex is also a respected leader in First Amendment, intellectual property, entertainment, media, and Internet-related appellate litigation. He has frequently represented newspapers, magazines, television networks, motion picture studios, websites, and entertainment production and distribution companies in their litigation and appellate work. He is the author of BNA’s treatise on Media Law.He has received many awards for his accomplishments. Chambers USA has named Rex one of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the “Litigation: Appellate” section every year since 2012. He has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America guide for nearly 30 years, and in 2018 was named to both the Daily Journal‘s list of the Top 100 Lawyers in California and the National Law Journal‘s Appellate Hot List. The Legal 500 business litigation guide has included him as one of the nation’s top appellate lawyers for state and federal Supreme Courts since 2019. And he was twice named California Lawyer of the Year by California Lawyer Magazine. In 2019, the Friends of the Los Angeles County Law Library awarded Rex with the prestigious Beacon of Justice Award, in honor of his “vision, advocacy and passion for justice.” In 2020, Public Counsel Law Center awarded him its Pro Bono Award for “providing outstanding and impactful service to those in need.”Rex is a past president of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and member of the California Judicial Council and State Bar Board of Governors. He serves on the boards of directors of the Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles, Bet Tzedek Legal Services, and the Topsy Foundation, a children’s charitable organization in South Africa. Rex Heinke is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished and experienced appellate practitioners in California, and among the best in the nation. He has argued more than 150 appeals in federal and state courts across the country. Between 2001 and 2020, Rex was co-head of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld’s nationally renowned Supreme Court and Appellate practice.He is regularly called on to defend major corporations and high-profile individuals in some of their most hotly contested appellate matters. Rex has extensive experience before the California Supreme Court, the California Court of Appeal, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as other federal and state appellate courts. Rex’s victories have led to reversals of individual judgments worth more than $1 billion and dramatic changes in law to the benefit of his clients.Rex is also a respected leader in First Amendment, intellectual property, entertainment, media, and Internet-related appellate litigation. He has frequently represented newspapers, magazines, television networks, motion picture studios, websites, and entertainment production and distribution companies in their litigation and appellate work. He is the author of BNA’s treatise on Media Law.He has received many awards for his accomplishments. Chambers USA has named Rex one of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the “Litigation: Appellate” section every year since 2012. He has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America guide for nearly 30 years, and in 2018 was named to both the Daily Journal‘s list of the Top 100 Lawyers in California and the National Law Journal‘s Appellate Hot List. The Legal 500 business litigation guide has included him as one of the nation’s top appellate lawyers for state and federal Supreme Courts since 2019. And he was twice named California Lawyer of the Year by California Lawyer Magazine. In 2019, the Friends of the Los Angeles County Law Library awarded Rex with the prestigious Beacon of Justice Award, in honor of his “vision, advocacy and passion for justice.” In 2020, Public Counsel Law Center awarded him its Pro Bono Award for “providing outstanding and impactful service to those in need.”Rex is a past president of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and member of the California Judicial Council and State Bar Board of Governors. He serves on the boards of directors of the Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles, Bet Tzedek Legal Services, and the Topsy Foundation, a children’s charitable organization in South Africa. Rex Heinke is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished and experienced appellate practitioners in California, and among the best in the nation. He has argued more than 150 appeals in federal and state courts across the country. Between 2001 and 2020, Rex was co-head of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld’s nationally renowned Supreme Court and Appellate practice. He is regularly called on to defend major corporations and high-profile individuals in some of their most hotly contested appellate matters. Rex has extensive experience before the California Supreme Court, the California Court of Appeal, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as other federal and state appellate courts. Rex’s victories have led to reversals of individual judgments worth more than $1 billion and dramatic changes in law to the benefit of his clients. Rex is also a respected leader in First Amendment, intellectual property, entertainment, media, and Internet-related appellate litigation. He has frequently represented newspapers, magazines, television networks, motion picture studios, websites, and entertainment production and distribution companies in their litigation and appellate work. He is the author of BNA’s treatise on Media Law. He has received many awards for his accomplishments. Chambers USA has named Rex one of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the “Litigation: Appellate” section every year since 2012. He has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America guide for nearly 30 years, and in 2018 was named to both the Daily Journal‘s list of the Top 100 Lawyers in California and the National Law Journal‘s Appellate Hot List. The Legal 500 business litigation guide has included him as one of the nation’s top appellate lawyers for state and federal Supreme Courts since 2019. And he was twice named California Lawyer of the Year by California Lawyer Magazine. In 2019, the Friends of the Los Angeles County Law Library awarded Rex with the prestigious Beacon of Justice Award, in honor of his “vision, advocacy and passion for justice.” In 2020, Public Counsel Law Center awarded him its Pro Bono Award for “providing outstanding and impactful service to those in need.” Rex is a past president of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and member of the California Judicial Council and State Bar Board of Governors. He serves on the boards of directors of the Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles, Bet Tzedek Legal Services, and the Topsy Foundation, a children’s charitable organization in South Africa.

Practice Areas

Appellate Practice

Awards & Recognition

  • Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - First Amendment, Los Angeles (2013)
  • Lawyer of the Year: Appellate Practice, Los Angeles (2010)
  • Recognized: Appellate Practice
  • Recognized: First Amendment Law
  • Recognized: Litigation - First Amendment
  • Recognized: Media Law

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 1991

Education

  • Columbia University, J.D., graduated 1975

Reviews

J

Jennifer Gomez

2 weeks ago

A master strategist for complex appellate matters

Our company retained Mr. Heinke after a devastating trial court loss in a high-stakes commercial dispute with significant First Amendment implications. With fifty years of experience and over 150 federal appeals under his belt, his reputation is well-earned. He immediately identified core weaknesses in the lower court's reasoning that others had missed, framing a brilliant strategy for the Ninth Circuit. His deep knowledge of appellate procedure and his recognition as a former 'Lawyer of the Year' in both Appellate Practice and First Amendment litigation were evident at every stage. The result was a complete reversal. While his expertise commands a premium, and communication from his support team could sometimes lag during non-critical phases, the outcome was worth it. For the most complex appeals, he is simply unparalleled.

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