Sam Williamson is co-managing partner of the firm’s Miami office and a co-chair of the firm’s White Collar Defence and Investigations Practice.
In the U.S., Asia, and around the world, Sam regularly counsels both corporations and individuals on sensitive litigation and enforcement matters involving the healthcare industry, government regulation, securities law, accounting and book-keeping standards, and other internal financial controls, complex financial transactions, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), the U.K. Bribery Act, other corruption enforcement regimes, the Economic Espionage Act (“EEA”), antitrust and competition issues, and government sanctions and trade policies, among others. Sam also frequently speaks to businesspeople and lawyers regarding enforcement and corruption risks, and on how best to deal with government investigations. Sam has represented clients in a wide variety of industries, including insurance, private equity, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food and beverage, management consulting, information technology, industrial engineering, consumer products, aviation, and sporting goods. He is also an experienced trial lawyer, having tried many cases to verdict in U.S. federal court, and regularly represents large companies in connection with significant civil disputes arising in the course of their business activities around the world.
According to Chambers Asia-Pacific, Sam is “the kind of lawyer you can put in front of your business people - an engaging, credible speaker with a sense of humour” with “ability to synthesise and clarify inherently ambiguous circumstances” and “formidable US Department of Justice experience.” Chambers also reported client comments that Sam “stands out in terms of preparation, focus, comprehensive, analysis, presentation, management and strategy planning.” In 2013, Main Justice recognized Sam with a Distinguished Service Award in the FCPA category.
- Currently representing Transpire Bio Inc. in defending against allegations related to theft of trade secrets; this case is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- Currently advising Immunity Bio/ NantCell/ Altor in prosecuting claims relating to the theft of biotech trade secrets; this case was proceeding in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, but by consent of the parties is now being heard in arbitration
- Currently advising Black Rifle Coffee in connection with litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York related to securities claims arising from the exercise of BRC warrants following a “de-SPAC” transaction
- Has advised numerous companies, including Florida’s largest company and its subsidiaries on litigation in Florida federal and state courts
- Represented I-Mab in litigation regarding ownership of biotech intellectual property; this case proceeded in both arbitration and before the Delaware Court of Chancery
- Advised numerous companies of varying size, both publicly traded and privately held, in connection with FCPA-related internal investigations and government enforcement actions involving the U.S. Department of Justice, the SEC, and multiple foreign enforcement agencies. These matters have involved issues in a variety of countries in Asia, West Africa, South and Central America, and Europe. In particular, Sam has advised numerous companies on resolving investigations by the DOJ and SEC and has obtained full declination of prosecution decisions from both agencies for multiple clients.
- Advised numerous publicly traded companies’ boards of directors, audit committees, and special committees of the board, with regard to the conduct of internal reviews of securities disclosure and accounting concerns and other compliance, enforcement or regulatory matters
- Represented U.S.-listed entities and their Audit/ Special Committees in private plaintiff securities litigation in U.S. federal courts
- Represented U.S. and Chinese companies in connection with private plaintiff and U.S. government antitrust litigation and investigations and provided advice on dealing with Chinese government antitrust investigations and enforcement actions
- Represented senior executives of financial institutions with regard to investigations by the U.S. SEC and DOJ, with particular focus on issues concerning compliance with accounting and disclosure obligations under the U.S. securities laws
- Advised leading Multi-National Corporations regarding Economic Espionage investigations and allegations
- Represented a leading Chinese sporting goods conglomerate in intellectual property rights-related litigation against a U.S. competitor in both US Federal Court and in connection with PRC Court litigation
- Led an internal investigation into allegations of bribery regarding a U.S. company’s operations in West Africa; following the investigation, the allegations were retracted by the parties who had initially raised them
- Advised numerous senior executives and independent directors in connection with U.S. and foreign corruption inquiries and corporate internal investigations
- Represented multiple executives in connection with DOJ criminal price-fixing inquiries
- Represented companies and individuals in connection with internal investigations and U.S. government criminal and civil procurement fraud enforcement actions
- Represented senior executives in connection with civil and criminal health care fraud investigations
- Leading an internal investigation and providing advice in connection with criminal trade secrets and economic espionage issues.
- Advised other senior executives or officials in connection with sensitive issues involving government investigations or enforcement actions
- Harvard Law School
(J.D., 2000, cum laude) - National University of Singapore
(1993-1994, Fulbright Scholar in Military History) - Duke University
(A.B., History, 1993, magna cum laude)- Phi Beta Kappa
- The State Bar of Florida
- The State Bar of New York
- The State Bar of Tennessee (inactive)
- The District of Columbia Bar
- United States District Courts
- District of Columbia
- Southern District of New York
- Southern District of Florida
- Mandarin
- Japanese
- Kirkland & Ellis:
- Partner, 2008-2015
- Partner, 2008-2015
- U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (Manhattan) and the Middle District of Tennessee (Nashville):
- Assistant United States Attorney, 2002-2008
- Assistant United States Attorney, 2002-2008
- Law Clerk to the Hon. Judge Gilbert S. Merritt:
- United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2000-2001
- United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2000-2001
- United States Marine Corps, Infantry Officer:
- Active Duty (highest rank, Captain), 1993-1997
- Reserve Duty (highest rank, Major), 1997-2008
- Ranked by Legal 500 USA, Dispute Resolution: Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Corporates, Advice to Individuals “Recommended Lawyers”, 2023-2024
- Ranked by Who's Who Legal for Investigations, 2018-2019
- Distinguished Service Award – FCPA Category
– Main Justice, 2013
- “Feds to Corporate America: ‘The Cops are Coming’”, Business Crimes Bulletin, 2010.
- “New Bumps and Tolls Along the Road to FCPA Settlements,” Business Crimes Bulletin, 2009.