Attorney Profile
Sam pursued his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Illinois with intent to use his knowledge in the legal profession. Upon earning his J.D. from Northern Illinois University College of Law, he became a registered patent practitioner licensed to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Sam joined Quinn Johnston as an associate at the beginning of 2022. Prior to joining the firm, Sam was the senior law clerk for Hon. James E. Shadid in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Peoria Division. By accepting a clerkship after law school, he was able to gain experience in a wide variety of practice areas, gain exposure from some of the best legal writers in the profession, study the legal landscape of the region, and develop an understanding of the reputations of local attorneys and law firms. Sam’s decision to join Quinn Johnston was based in large part on the exceptional reputation Quinn Johnston enjoys in the local and regional legal community.
At Quinn Johnston, Sam devotes a significant portion of his practice to litigation in federal court. He has successfully defended healthcare workers and municipalities against civil rights claims, and has obtained dismissals and judgments in favor of employers in federal employment discrimination suits. Additionally, Sam has experience litigating intellectual property disputes in both state and federal courts, as well as prosecuting trademark applications. In both state and federal courts, Sam has successfully defended clients in appeals before the Illinois Fourth District Appellate Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Beyond litigation, Sam also counsels medical professionals and healthcare institutions in connection with internal peer review matters and represents physicians before the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Sam grew up in Washington, Illinois and has lived in the Peoria area for most of his life. When he is not at the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife, son, and their two canine companions.
Practice Areas
Education
- J.D., Northern Illinois University College of Law, Dekalb, Illinois, 2015
- Honors: Magna Cum Laude
- Research Assistant for Assistant Dean Yolanda King
- B.S., Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, 2012
Professional Publications
‘Fixing’ the First Sale Doctrine: Adapting Copyright Law to the New Media Distribution Paradigm, Northern Illinois University Law Review, January 2015
Admissions/Associations
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Federal District Courts of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit