About Sam
Sam grew up in Kernersville, North Carolina and attended East Forsyth High School. He is a 1994 graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in Economics and minored in Business Administration. He received his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1998.
Sam has practiced law for more than 20 years, beginning his legal career with international law firm of Arnold & Porter in Washington, DC. While at A&P, he represented a number of American companies in complex litigation. He also took on pro bono representation of indigent criminal defendants in DC Superior Court. Outside of the office, he served as a member of the Board of Governors of the North Carolina State Society of Washington, DC and membership chair of the Tar Heel Circle.
In 2015, Sam returned to his native North Carolina to serve in the McCrory Administration as General Counsel of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, now the Department of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”). At DEQ, he assisted in the implementation of the Coal Ash Management Act in order to address the decades-long problem of coal ash contamination. He is most proud of his work to ensure the cleanup and removal of coal ash and the provision of municipal drinking water to communities impacted by coal ash impoundments.
Also, at DEQ, Sam was appointed Special Counsel by Governor McCrory to represent the Administration in fighting regulatory overreach by the Environmental Protection Agency. In litigation involving the Waters of the United States Rule, or “WOTUS,” Sam proudly stood with North Carolina’s farmers to oppose what would have amounted to a taking of all agricultural lands east of Interstate 95. In the so-called “Clean Power Plan” action, Sam fought against the Obama EPA’s attempt to take over North Carolina’s power grid and severely punish the State’s rate payers.
In 2017, Sam joined the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer (“DST”) as General Counsel. While at DST, he worked to address the problem of unfunded liabilities for pension and retiree healthcare. As part of that effort, he managed the successful defense of a billion-dollar class action suit seeking lifetime premium-free healthcare for state government retirees. In 2019, he fought for taxpayers against special interests by serving as counsel of record for the State Health Plan in federal litigation brought by plaintiffs seeking the provision of gender dysphoria benefits.
Sam was a candidate for Attorney General in the 2020 Republican primary. In his first campaign for statewide office, he received over 225,000 votes, or 31 percent of primary votes cast, finishing second to the GOP’s eventual nominee.
Sam currently serves as General Counsel to North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore. In that role, he directs litigation in state and federal court on behalf of legislative leadership. During his tenure, Sam has overseen the legal defense of actions involving voter ID, felon voting, charter schools, opportunity scholarships, public school funding, and right to farm. He has also fought against judicial activism on the state Supreme Court by bringing Moore v. Harper, the landmark Elections Clause case recently heard by the United States Supreme Court.
Outside of work, Sam remains active in support of both his alma maters. At UNC, he served on the Board of Visitors and the Economics Department Advisory Board. He also served on the General Counsel Advisory Committee at Wake Law. Sam is an active member of the Federalist Society and the Republican National Lawyers Association.
Sam lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife, Adriane, their daughter, Anna, and their son, Walker. They are members of Edenton Street United Methodist Church.
Sam has practiced law for more than 20 years, beginning his legal career with international law firm of Arnold & Porter in Washington, DC. While at A&P, he represented a number of American companies in complex litigation. He also took on pro bono representation of indigent criminal defendants in DC Superior Court. Outside of the office, he served as a member of the Board of Governors of the North Carolina State Society of Washington, DC and membership chair of the Tar Heel Circle.
In 2015, Sam returned to his native North Carolina to serve in the McCrory Administration as General Counsel of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, now the Department of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”). At DEQ, he assisted in the implementation of the Coal Ash Management Act in order to address the decades-long problem of coal ash contamination. He is most proud of his work to ensure the cleanup and removal of coal ash and the provision of municipal drinking water to communities impacted by coal ash impoundments.
Also, at DEQ, Sam was appointed Special Counsel by Governor McCrory to represent the Administration in fighting regulatory overreach by the Environmental Protection Agency. In litigation involving the Waters of the United States Rule, or “WOTUS,” Sam proudly stood with North Carolina’s farmers to oppose what would have amounted to a taking of all agricultural lands east of Interstate 95. In the so-called “Clean Power Plan” action, Sam fought against the Obama EPA’s attempt to take over North Carolina’s power grid and severely punish the State’s rate payers.
In 2017, Sam joined the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer (“DST”) as General Counsel. While at DST, he worked to address the problem of unfunded liabilities for pension and retiree healthcare. As part of that effort, he managed the successful defense of a billion-dollar class action suit seeking lifetime premium-free healthcare for state government retirees. In 2019, he fought for taxpayers against special interests by serving as counsel of record for the State Health Plan in federal litigation brought by plaintiffs seeking the provision of gender dysphoria benefits.
Sam was a candidate for Attorney General in the 2020 Republican primary. In his first campaign for statewide office, he received over 225,000 votes, or 31 percent of primary votes cast, finishing second to the GOP’s eventual nominee.
Sam currently serves as General Counsel to North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore. In that role, he directs litigation in state and federal court on behalf of legislative leadership. During his tenure, Sam has overseen the legal defense of actions involving voter ID, felon voting, charter schools, opportunity scholarships, public school funding, and right to farm. He has also fought against judicial activism on the state Supreme Court by bringing Moore v. Harper, the landmark Elections Clause case recently heard by the United States Supreme Court.
Outside of work, Sam remains active in support of both his alma maters. At UNC, he served on the Board of Visitors and the Economics Department Advisory Board. He also served on the General Counsel Advisory Committee at Wake Law. Sam is an active member of the Federalist Society and the Republican National Lawyers Association.
Sam lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife, Adriane, their daughter, Anna, and their son, Walker. They are members of Edenton Street United Methodist Church.
