Samuel D. Cowin

A member of Gallagher’s Litigation Group with first-chair trial experience, Sam focuses on trial and appellate litigation, successfully representing clients in a wide array of high-stakes commercial litigation in federal and state courts.

Sam has experience litigating to judgment a diverse range of issues, including complex contract disputes, constitutional cases, and construction-related disputes. Additionally, Sam maintains a national antitrust practice, focused on antitrust and competition litigation brought by private plaintiffs and enforcement agencies.  He also regularly represents clients in commercial and international arbitration proceedings.

Sam maintains an active appellate practice and has successfully briefed and argued cases dealing with issues of first impression before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Maryland appellate courts, and the D.C. Court of Appeals. A skilled legal writer, Sam has also drafted amicus briefs filed in the United States Supreme Court and federal appellate courts.

Pro bono service is important to Sam. Among other pro bono matters, Sam has partnered with the Maryland Public Defender’s Appellate Division to represent clients in criminal appeals.

After graduating from law school, Sam worked as a law clerk for the Honorable Anthony Epstein, District of Columbia Superior Court, Civil Division (2012 – 2013), and the Honorable Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera, Maryland Court of Appeals (2013 – 2014).

Representative Matters

• Obtained complete victory, including attorneys’ fees, for developer in multi-million-dollar contract and construction dispute, after two-week arbitration.
• First-chair trial counsel for client in complex real estate contract dispute.
• Represent two property managers in national antitrust class actions, and related state enforcement action, arising out of use of revenue management software.
• Represented large broadcast television company in connection with merger investigation.
• Represented class of lead paint victims in declaratory judgment action involving insurance and contract issues of first impression in Maryland.
• Obtained summary judgment for developer in complex contract dispute with neighboring commercial owner. Successfully represented developer on appeal, arguing on behalf of all defendants at oral argument.
• Successfully briefed and argued attorneys’ fees dispute in the Fourth Circuit.
• Represented the Maryland General Assembly in investigation of personnel issues at State agency.