Profile
Sam is a trial attorney who guides clients through complex commercial disputes. He focuses his practice on resolving financial services litigation and general business and employment matters in state, federal, and regulatory disputes. Sam’s deep trial experience includes first chair in an injunction trial for a national brokerage firm, second chair in a bench trial against an internationally recognized film and TV star, and an eight week, multi-hundred-million-dollar trade secret infringement jury case.
Concentrations
- Auditor and accountant liability
- Financial services regulation and investigations
- General business disputes and breach of contract claims
- Arbitration and internal investigations
- Employment disputes and discrimination claims
Capabilities
Experience
- Injunction Action: Obtained temporary and permanent injunctions on behalf of national brokerage firm against an individual making terroristic threats against the firm and its employees.
- Trade Secrets/Contract Litigation: Jury trial of trade secrets, contract and fraud claims involving software development project, with damages claimed in the nine figures.
- Caribbean Islands Litigation: Representing Silicon Valley investor in dispute over ownership of two Caribbean islands; opposing party claimed damages of over US$44 million.
- Bankruptcy Trust Litigation: Defended“Big 4” accounting firm in dispute related to audited financial statements of a company that filed for bankruptcy. Settled.
- Breach of Contract: Obtained a judgment against an internationally known film and television star for breach of contract relating to convention appearance obligations.
- SEC Investigations of Accounting Restatements: Defending “Big 4” accounting firm in SEC investigations related to audited financial statements of a public health care company and an oil and gas company.
- Fair Credit Reporting Act Litigation: Obtained multiple summary judgments for a national bank relating to consumer credit reporting practices.
- False Claims Act Litigation: Defended national bank against an FCA claim relating to benefit payments made on behalf of governmental agencies. Motion to Dismiss granted.
- Trust Litigation: Defending a national bank against claims of trust mismanagement and breach of fiduciary duty.
- International Arbitration: Defended a multinational corporation and one of its directors against breach of employment agreement and tort claims made by former executive officer.
- Employment Discrimination Litigations: Defending multiple employers against discrimination claims brought under both state and federal regulations.
- Bankruptcy: Representing the committee of unsecured creditors in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding of one of the largest skilled nursing operators in Texas.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch," Commercial Litigation, 2023-2025
- Listed, Super Lawyers Magazine, Texas Super Lawyers, "Rising Stars," 2024
Credentials
Education
- J.D., cum laude, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
- B.A., Vanderbilt University
Admissions
- Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit