Sam is a highly experienced commercial litigator and seasoned trial lawyer who thrives in high-stakes business disputes. Blending courtroom toughness with sharp financial insight, he helps companies and individuals navigate conflict, protect what they’ve built, and win when it matters most.
He routinely represents clients in a wide range of complex commercial litigation matters, including breach of contract matters, terminations of business relationships, corporate governance disputes, restrictive covenants, IP infringement, securities litigation, corporate misappropriation, bankruptcy claims and civil RICO cases. He has represented both defendants and plaintiffs in state and federal courts across the country and has extensive experience in arbitration and other forums for alternative dispute resolution.
Sam’s distinguished career as a litigator includes tenures at Cravath Swaine & Moore, LLP and Kirkland and Ellis LLP, where he practiced for 10 years as a senior attorney and partner.
He has served as lead — and often sole — trial counsel in multi-week jury trials, securing wins in bet-the-company cases. His achievements include: complete defense verdicts for Iowa Plains Farms and its principals following a five-week jury trial on ten-figure claims of commercial bribery and racketeering, a result later affirmed by the Iowa Supreme Court; a directed verdict following a seven-week jury trial in favor of directors of Venrock Associates facing claims of breaches of fiduciary duties on; and a directed verdict for private equity-appointed directors facing claims exceeding $350 million for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty.
Prior to entering private practice, Sam worked as a tax consultant for EY (f.k.. Ernst & Young), where he learned how to examine financial information to assess events and quantify risk. He received an Excel award from the Illinois CPA Society for finishing in the top 3% of all candidates nationally on the CPA exam.
A former NCAA Division One athlete (cross-country and track & field), Sam enjoys the challenges of competition and loves to win. Whether he is defending a board of directors or pursuing claims on behalf of an injured business, he is privileged and humbled to bring that same competitive drive and discipline to the courtroom on behalf of his clients.
His time is split equally practicing law between Kansas City and New York.
Honors
- Excel Award (CPA exam) - Illinois CPA Society awarded for finishing in the top 3% of all candidates nationally on the CPA exam
- Agronomy v. Wollesen, et al. (Nevada County, IA) Served as lead counsel for a large farming operation in their defense of civil RICO claims for allegedly bribing a representative of Iowa’s largest cooperative over a five-year period. Complete defense verdict achieved on plaintiffs’ claims for approximately $39 million after a five-week injury trial, which was then affirmed by affirmed by the Iowa Supreme Court.
- Iowa Plains Farms v. Westco Agronomy, et al (N.D. IA) After successfully clients from civil and criminal allegations of bribery and other illegal conduct on an ongoing basis, brought extensive claims against the cooperative and 28 other parties for RICO, breaches of fiduciary duties, and related claims for their respective roles in allowing the employee to victimize clients and others. Matter resolved to the collective satisfaction of the respective parties. CDX Liquidating Trustee v. Venrock, et at (N.D. IL) Trial Counsel for defendants in defense of claims of breach of fiduciary duty brought against individual directors and their employers, seeking $350 million. Obtained a complete defense erdict in favor of all defendants following seven-week jury trial.
- Doe 1 & 2 v. Quantum Computing, Inc, (AAA) Represented a quantum computing company in 2 one-week arbitrations over a three-week period, where in the claimants were seeking tens of millions of dollars in stock options. Awaiting decisions.
- Res Az. One, LLC v. McAdams (D. Ariz.) Served as lead counsel in a civil RICO matter in the United States District Court for Arizona against an individual in his cohorts who borrowed approximately $10 million and then funneled the money through ancillary entities and persons, eventually transferring the funds to Malaysia. Matter resolved after successfully defeating Defendants’ motion to dismiss.
- HPC Metcalf v. Schlup, et al (Johnson County, KS) Lead counsel for purchaser of shopping center in three-week jury-trial against the seller and others for fraud and related claims. Obtained $2.5 million verdict, as well as punitive damages and attorneys’ fees and costs.
- Wiederin v. Landus Cooperative (Greene County, IA) Represented integrated livestock and feed operation in claims against cooperative following the destruction of its crop following the misapplication of expired herbicides. Matter resolved to the collective satisfaction of the parties.
- Oxyfresh, Inc. v. CMC (S.D. IA) Represented plaintiff in its claims against a contract manufacturer following the failure of fourteen batches of plaintiff’s pet water additive product. Matter resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties
- (Confidential) Lead counsel in representation of international meat processing operation, following discovery of ongoing theft, inclusion by a former management level employee and outside vendor.
- NavWorx, Inc. v. Aspen Avionics, LLC (N.D. TX) Lead attorney for Aspen Avionics and its defensive claims that it made fraudulent representations concerning GPS components; matter resolved to mutual satisfaction of the parties.
- Eddy-Walker Equipment Co. v. Henderson Products, Inc. (Polk County, IA) Lead council for wrong fully terminated equipment distributor. Matter resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties.
- ERC v. Luxury Travel Brokers (D. KS) Second-chair trial counsel for plaintiff in multi-day damages trial. Sought and successfully obtained more than $500,000 in damages.
- Energy Northwest v. SPX Heat Transfer (E.D. WA) Represented SPX in its defense of claims exceeding $30 million for allegedly defective nuclear condenser modules; resolved the mutual satisfaction of the parties.