Samuel Saks
Partner and Co-Founder
Smith Saks PLC
Contact Information
602-888-0725, sam@smithsaks.com
Website
Biography
Sam Saks focuses his practice on commercial and civil litigation, insurance and administrative law, and tort law. Before joining the firm, he clerked for Chief Judge Sheldon Weisberg of the Arizona Court of Appeals. Sam has significant experience in all phases of litigation, including discovery, complex civil motion practice, settlement negotiation, trial, and appeal. He has practiced in arbitrations, private mediations, and in state and federal trial and appellate courts, including the Maricopa County Superior Court, the Arizona Court of Appeals, the Arizona Supreme Court, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of Arizona’s Finest Lawyers, is Martindale-Hubbell A-V Preeminent Rated™, and is recognized as a Southwest Super Lawyer’s Rising Star.
Currently, Sam is one of the youngest members of the State Bar’s Board of Governors, which oversees the operation of the Bar. He has served as the chair of the State Bar's Technology Committee and has sat on various committees, including the Finance Committee and the Mentor Committee.
Learn more about Sam at www.smithsaks.com. He can be reached at (602) 888-0725 or sam@smithsaks.com.
Areas of Law and Practice
| Areas of Law | Areas of Practice |
|---|---|
| Appellate Practice | Civil Appeals, Criminal Appeals |
| Contracts | Contract Drafting, Commercial Contracts, Contract Fraud, Contract Litigation, International Commercial Contracts, International Contracts |
| Hospital Law | Emergency Medical Services Law, Hospital Administration, Hospital Collections, Hospital Liability, Hospital Liability Defense, Hospital Negligence, Hospital Peer Review, Hospital Premises Liability, Hospital Privilege, Hospital Risk Management, Hospital Security, Medical Staff Contracts, Medical Staff Credentialing |
| Insurance | Accident Insurance, Automobile Insurance, Automobile Insurance Coverage, Automobile Liability, Captive Insurance, Casualty Insurance, Casualty Insurance Subrogation, Commercial Insurance, Commercial Property Insurance, Disability Insurance, Excess and Reinsurance, Excess Coverage, Extra Contractual Insurance Claims, Fidelity and Surety, Fidelity and Surety Bonds, Fire Insurance, Fire Insurance Subrogation, Fire Loss, First and Third Party Insurance, First Party Insurance, General Liability, Indemnity, Insurance Adjuster Liability, Insurance Administration, Insurance Agents and Brokers Defense, Insurance Agents and Brokers Errors and Omissions, Insurance Agents and Brokers, Malpractice, Insurance Arbitration, Insurance Bad Faith, Insurance Collection, Insurance Company Demutualization, Insurance Company Taxation, Insurance Contracts, Insurance Coverage, Insurance Fraud, Insurance Guaranty Association Law, Insurance Insolvency, Insurance Investigations, Insurance Litigation, Insurance Mediation, Insurance Mergers and Acquisitions, Insurance Pooling Arrangements, Insurance Premium Fraud, Insurance Products, Insurance Rate Regulation, Insurance Receivership, Insurance Recovery, Insurance Regulation, Insurance Rehabilitation and Liquidation, Insurance Trusts, International Insurance, Life and Health Insurance, Life Insurance, No Fault Automobile Insurance, Personal Liability, Property Damage, Property Insurance, Property Insurance Coverage, Property Loss, Property Subrogation, Public Liability, Reinsurance, Reinsurance Arbitration, Reinsurance Mediation, Risk Management, Self Insured Law, Subrogation, Surety Bonds, Surety Law, Unfair Insurance Practices, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists, Uninsured and Underinsured, Motorists Arbitration |
| Litigation | Civil Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Complex and Multi-District Litigation, Complex Litigation, E-Discovery, Federal Civil Litigation, Federal Litigation, International Litigation, Long-Arm Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation, Trial Practice, U.S. Supreme Court Litigation |
| Personal Injury | Accidents, Animal Attacks, Aquatic Injuries, Automobile Accidents and Injuries, Automobile Negligence, Bicycle Accidents, Boating Accidents, Bodily Injury, Brain Injury, Bus Accidents, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Catastrophic Injury, Commercial Vehicle Liability, Dog Bites, Electrical Injury, Head Injury, Motor Vehicle Accidents and Injuries, Motorcycle Accidents, Neurolaw, Pedestrian Injuries, Personal Injury Appeals, Product Liability, Severe Burns, Sexual Abuse, Slip and Fall, Spinal Injury, Subway Accidents, Third Party Wrongful Death, Work Place Injury, Whiplash, Wrongful Death |
| Premises Liability | Inadequate Security, Negligent Security, Premises Liability Defense, Premises Security, Private Security Litigation |
Jurisdictions
- Federal
- Arizona
Employment History
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Partner and Co-Founder | Smith Saks PLC
2014 - 2018
Co-founded boutique litigation firm handling various areas, including personal injury, wrongful death, and insurance disputes.
Highlights:
Obtained millions of dollars in settlements of various injury, wrongful death, and negligence claims.
Negotiated over $4 million in medical liens and obtained a 99% reduction in a trucking accident case.
Activities and Recognition:
Judge Pro Tem, Maricopa County Superior Court (2017 – Present)
Board Member, State Bar of Arizona Board of Governors (2009 – Present)
Board Member, Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education (2015 – 2017)
Martindale-Hubble AV Preeminent Rated
Super Lawyers: 2018; Rising Stars, 2013-2016
Chair, Technology Committee of the State Bar of Arizona (2012 – 2014)
Member, Arizona’s Finest Lawyers
Founder, Legal Aid of Arizona
Member, Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court (2007 – 2009)
Judicial Law Clerk, Chief Judge Sheldon Weisberg, Arizona Court of Appeals (2005 – 2007)
Executive Articles Editor, Wayne Law Review (2004 – 2005)
Admitted to practice in Arizona state and federal courts, and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Represented businesses of all sizes on issues involving contract law, insurance issues, and corporate disputes.
Published Cases: Malnar v. Joice, 236 Ariz. 170 (2014); Horne v. Flores, 557 U.S. 433 (2009); Brewer v. Burns, 222 Ariz. 234, 213 P.3d 671 (2009); Dowling v. Stapley, 221 Ariz. 251 (App. 2009). -
Partner | Cantelme & Brown, PLC
2007 - 2014
Partner in a boutique law firm practicing personal injury, business litigation, and representation of governmental entities.
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Senior Law Clerk | Arizona Court of Appeals Chief Judge Sheldon Weisberg
2005 - 2007
Served as senior law clerk to the chief judge of Division 1 of the Arizona Court of Appeals. Researched and drafted opinions and memoranda decisions on a wide variety of issues, including commercial law, municipal law, and tax law. Presented pending cases at panel conferences. Cite checked final drafts of opinions.
Worked on several high profile cases, such as Hernandez v. Lynch, 216 Ariz. 469, 167 P.3d 1264 (App. 2007) (determining constitutionality of denying bail to illegal immigrants) and Copper Hills Enters., Ltd. v. Ariz. Dep’t of Revenue, 214 Ariz. 386, 153 P.3d 407 (App. 2007) (involving municipal taxing authority).
Education
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Juris Doctor (J.D.) | Wayne State University Law School
2001 - 2005
magna cum laude
Ranked in top 5% of class
Executive Articles Editor of the Law Review
Order of the Coif
Tritell Academic Scholarship
Ford Leadership Award -
BA (Philosophy) | University of Michigan
1997 - 2001
cum laude
Member, Golden Key National Honor Society
James Angell Scholar Award
Member, Phi Beta Kappa
Attorney Rating and Feedback
Publications and Presentations
No Publications
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TYPICAL HOURLY RATE: --
TYPICAL FIXED FEE: --
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Phoenix, Arizona, Maricopa County
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