Practice Expertise

  • Business Litigation
  • Advertising and Marketing Litigation
  • Advertising and Marketing
  • Advertising Litigation

Areas of Practice

  • Advertising and Marketing
  • Advertising and Marketing Litigation
  • Advertising Litigation
  • Business Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Consumer Products
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Intellectual Property
  • Latin America
  • Litigation
  • Retail and Consumer Products Litigation
  • White Collar Defense and Internal ...
  • White Collar, Regulatory Defense and ...
  • View More

Profile

Sam’s practice focuses on business litigation, arbitration, regulatory advice and corporate compliance.

Sam is the managing partner of Hunton Andrews Kurth. He has been elected to the firm's executive committee multiple times, serving for more than 12 years, and has most recently served as co-head of the litigation team for over a decade.

Sam's practice focuses on litigation, with an emphasis on commercial disputes, consumer class actions, government regulatory advice and corporate compliance. He has particular experience advising manufacturers in advertising claims, as well as financial institutions and multinational corporations through multijurisdictional disputes and in connection with matters related to operations in the Americas and the Caribbean. Sam has also advised individuals and companies investigated by the government on criminal matters.

Sam has trial experience in federal and state courts and domestic and international arbitration before the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the AAA's International Center for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), as well as multijurisdictional disputes. Sam has also assisted multinational companies with the creation, implementation and monitoring of global corporate compliance programs with specific guidance on issues related to Code of Conduct, Anti-Money Laundering and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. After earning his law degree, Sam served as a law clerk for the Honorable K. Michael Moore in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Relevant Experience

  • Represented a top European bank in connection with lawsuits and arbitrations filed on behalf of bank customers seeking recovery from the estate of Madoff’s brokerage firm related to an alleged international Ponzi scheme.
  • Represented a US financial institution in a securities fraud class action filed on behalf of South American individuals who invested in an alleged Ponzi scheme in Florida.
  • Defends individuals and companies in white collar criminal matters involving financial fraud and campaign contribution matters.
  • Represented a large multinational beverage distributor involved in disputes over non-payment of stock.
  • Represented leading multinational companies in connection with disputes arising from operations in South and Central America, including civil RICO claims.
  • Represented a Fortune 500 manufacturer in defense of a national product liability class action.
  • Government enforcement practice involves representing financial institutions, directors and officers in regulatory enforcement actions and actions by Department of Justice including responding to “15 day letters” on issues relating to the Bank Secrecy act, lending practices and debt instruments.
  • Represents leading consumer goods companies in disputes relating to advertising claims including state attorney general investigations and consumer class actions.
  • Conducted internal investigations and corporate compliance reviews for various Fortune 500 companies, including customer interviews and Code of Conduct review.
  • Defended a US manufacturer of fertilizer in false patent marking cases as well as general contract disputes.
  • Conducted internal investigation and defended company that employed alleged shooter at the Washington Navy Yard through investigations by law enforcement, defense agencies and Congress.

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Florida
  • New York

Education
BA, University of Pennsylvania, 1987

Areas of Practice

  • Advertising and Marketing
  • Advertising and Marketing Litigation
  • Advertising Litigation
  • Business Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Consumer Products
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Intellectual Property
  • Latin America
  • Litigation
  • Retail and Consumer Products Litigation
  • White Collar Defense and Internal Investigations
  • White Collar, Regulatory Defense and Investigations

Professional Career

Significant Accomplishments
  • Represented a top European bank in connection with lawsuits and arbitration filed on behalf of bank customers seeking recovery from the estate of Madoff’s brokerage firm related to an alleged international Ponzi scheme. 
  • Represented a US financial institution in a securities fraud class action filed on behalf of South American individuals who invested in an alleged Ponzi scheme in Florida. 
  • Represented a large multinational beverage distributor involved in disputes over non-payment of stock. 
  • Represented leading multinational companies in connection with disputes arising from operations in South and Central America, including civil RICO claims. 
  • Represented a big four accounting firm in defending a claim of malpractice. 
  • Represented a Fortune 500 manufacturer in defense of a national product liability class action. 
  • Represented a Fortune 500 cosmetic company in connection with a state attorney general investigation. 
  • Represented an international corporation in connection with an advertising contract dispute. 
  • Represents various financial institutions in regulatory matters, securities litigation and litigation over distressed debt. 
  • Substantial experience representing petroleum franchisors in Petroleum Marketing Practices Act matters and petroleum pricing matters. 
  • Conducted internal investigations and corporate compliance reviews for various Fortune 500 companies. 
  • Defended a US manufacturer of fertilizer in false patent marking cases as well as general contract disputes. 
  • Represented a Fortune 500 trademark holder in numerous lawsuits against counterfeiters, including obtaining favorable settlements involving insurers.


Professional Associations
  • Former Member, Florida Bar Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure
  • Former Chair, Ad Hoc Committee on Attorney Admissions, Peer Review and Attorney Grievance for the Southern District of Florida

Professional Activities and Experience
  • Named a “Local Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation, 2012-2016
  • Named a “Client Service All-Star” by BTI, 2015
  • Named a “Rainmaker” by Diversity & the Bar, a publication of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, 2015
  • Named “AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5” by Martindale-Hubbell. A description of the selection methodology can be found on Martindale-Hubbell's webpage.
  • Named among the Best Lawyers in America, 2010-2016. A description of the selection methodology can be found on Best Lawyers’ webpage.
  • Named among “South Florida’s Top Rated Lawyers” in Legal Leaders by Martindale-Hubbell and ALM, 2008-2015. A description of the selection methodology can be found on Martindale-Hubbell's webpage.
  • Named among the “Top Lawyers” in Florida by Super Lawyers magazine, a listing of the state's “Lawyers held in the highest regard” by their peers, 2006-2015. A description of the selection methodology can be found on Super Lawyers’ webpage.
  • Named among the “Top Lawyers” by the South Florida Legal Guide, 2012-2017
  • Named among “Florida’s Legal Elite: Florida’s Legal Leaders” by Florida Trend magazine, 2005-2009 and 2014. A description of the selection methodology can be found on Florida Trend's webpage.
  • Named a “Client Service All-Star” by BTI, 2012
  • Named among the “Most Effective Lawyers” by the Daily Business Review, 2012
  • Recipient, “Key Partner” Award by the South Florida Business Journal, 2011
  • Named “Leader in the Field” in General Commercial Litigation, Florida, Chambers USA, 2006 and 2007


Articles

  • The Business Case for Diversity and Corporate Diversity Legislation, Lexology Getting the Deal Through Practice Guide – Diversity & Inclusion
  • Reports of Death of Fla. Economic Loss Rule Are Exaggerated, Law360
  • Patent Reform Stalled by Tech and Pharma/Biotech Debate, Daily Business Review
  • Immediate Response to Economic Loss Rule Holding Exaggerated, Board of Contributors, Daily Business Review
  • How to Avoid FCPA Violations in Latin America, Latin Trade

Meet our Firms and Professionals

WSG’s member firms include legal, investment banking and accounting experts across industries and on a global scale. We invite you to meet our member firms and professionals.