Biography
Sam joined Ryley Carlock & Applewhite as an associate in 2008. He graduated from the Sandra Day O' Connor College of Law at Arizona State University where he received his J.D. and an Indian Legal Certificate. His practice currently involves work in Water, Energy, Resources and Environmental Law; Public Policy; and the Litigation practice groups.
Sam works on water rights litigation, including stream adjudications, water rights acquisition, and work with special taxation districts; permitting and compliance issues under the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act; as well as NEPA compliance, including electric transmission lines and water projects.
His work in the Litigation practice group involves general commercial litigation, representation of lending and servicing institutions in consumer actions, surety defense, and litigation associated with his work in the Water, energy, Resources and Environmental Law practice group. He regularly appears before administrative agencies and in both federal and state courts and handles client needs at all stages of litigation including pre-litigation assessment and investigation, preparation of pleadings, discovery, motion practice, preliminary injunctive hearings, evidentiary hearings, trials, and appeals.
Before going to law school Sam spent a year working at Villanova Preparatory School as a residential life supervisor and substitute teacher. He attended Stanford University where he was a Division One wrestler and earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology with Departmental Honors. Sam is originally from Scappoose, a small town in Oregon. He enjoys martial arts, rock climbing, paintballing, wrestling and spending time with his family.