Before joining the firm, Sam served as a judge on Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal. A successful complex-case litigator before taking the bench, he became known around the state for his thoughtful and scholarly opinions. Sam also has significant finance and investment management experience from his work as a managing director at a litigation-finance fund focused on complex commercial and regulatory matters.

Sam focuses his practice on appeals and mediations, and also select trial court representations and issue-based advocacy work. Before joining Lawson, Sam was a shareholder in a leading Florida-based appellate boutique. He has handled and advised on appeals across diverse subject areas, including antitrust, business disputes, class actions, elections disputes, government disputes, estates and trusts, professional discipline, and securities. His judicial experience lets him add value to trial teams in identifying, developing, preserving issues for a successful appeal. And he is frequently asked to serve as a mediator in complex business cases, including class actions, corporate governance disputes, and insolvency matters.

Before taking the bench, Sam was a partner at a national law firm, where he served as head of its Securities and Derivative Litigation Practice Group. In addition to handling securities and corporate governance litigation, Sam developed substantial experience leading internal investigations for public and private company audit committees, special investigation committees, and special litigation committees. Early in his career, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Wm. Terrell Hodges of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.