919.865.1119
sslater@wyrick.com
Bio
Sam serves as the Commercial Litigation Practice Group Leader and represents businesses and individuals in civil litigation and land use matters. He serves as lead counsel in complex and strategically critical litigation. His experience includes defending securities class actions and shareholder derivative suits, representing parties in post-acquisition and financing disputes, and assisting clients by negotiating or litigating contract disputes. Sam maintains an active land use practice, often representing property owners, developers, and municipalities in quasi-judicial hearings and related litigation and appeals.
Sam received his undergraduate degree from N.C. State University, where he was a Park Scholar. He received his J.D. from Wake Forest University, where he served on the editorial board of the Wake Forest Law Review and competed in the National Appellate Advocacy Competition.
- Chambers and Partners: Litigation: General Commercial (USA); Up and Coming (2024-2025)
- Listed among Business North Carolina Magazine Legal Elite: Litigation (2017, 2021-2022, 2024-2026); Young Guns (2016, 2018, 2020)
- Listed among The Best Lawyers in America: Commercial Litigation (2026)
- Listed among North Carolina Super Lawyers: Business Litigation (2025-2026)
- N.C. State University Park Scholarships: Selection Committee
- Food Runners Collaborative: Board Member, Past President (2014-2023)
- Wake County Bar Association: Professionalism Committee
- North Carolina Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Secured favorable award as lead counsel for public company following multi-day American Arbitration Association hearing
- Secured favorable jury verdict as lead counsel for multi-state convenience store owner/operator following multi-day jury trial
- Successfully defeated counterclaims and secured favorable settlement for client asserting post-closing breach of contract claims.
- Prevailed on a motion to dismiss a securities class action and affirmed by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Recovered favorable sum on behalf of multi-state retailer following litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery on post-closing purchase price adjustment dispute and financing dispute.
- Represented municipality in appeals through the North Carolina Supreme Court
- Represented real property owners in disputes including development, access, and condemnation.
- Regularly represents municipalities, developers and property owners, businesses, and individuals in quasi-judicial hearings before municipal boards and in related land use litigation and appeals.
