Perhaps the best known example of this is Alan Dershowitz. He doesn’t often represent cases at trails. He specializes in appeals.
This is very, very common. Anyone making it out to be more than that doesn’t understand how stuff happens.
Often, the trial lawyer is burned out on the case…and just wants to get back to their daily grind. Not saying this is the situation…but it is common.
Miss Kraken handles appeals work. Ask Gen. Flynn and, bonus, Trump already knows her! In the real world, Trump better hold on to his lawyer, John Lauro - he is the real deal and not the usual Trump flunky lawyer
Is Alan Dershowitz still active, maybe Trump should hire him.