Hogan Lovells senior associate Sean Marotta had just arrived at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for his 10 a.m. oral argument on Monday when he had a sinking realization: He left his outline and cheat sheet in the office printer.

But partner Jessica Ellsworth had his back, speed-walking the half-mile back to Hogan's downtown D.C. office to retrieve his notes—a literal example of the firm's appellate partners going out of their way to support their associates.

As for Marotta, he cruised to victory on behalf of Ford Global Technologies in a preclusion and personal jurisdiction case when the court on Tuesday affirmed judgment for his client without issuing an opinion.