Sam Winston is a New Orleans attorney practicing across Louisiana who specializes in appeals, federal cases, and white-collar criminal defense. The people who hire Sam all have one thing in common – everything is on the line and they need a fierce advocate to tell their side of the story.
Sam is also frequently hired by other attorneys, including the state’s top trial lawyers, to write their briefs and co-chair their cases in high-profile trials and appeals.
Sam started his legal career as an associate attorney in the white-collar section of Jones Walker LLP, one of the top law firms in the Gulf South, working on both civil and criminal cases for five years. In 2017 he opened his own criminal defense practice that specializes in appeals, federal cases, and white-collar criminal defense. He has become known for outside-the-box legal thinking, effective appellate writing, and result-oriented lawyering.
Sam has had many successes both large and small for his clients. For example, he’s defended sophisticated clients in large-scale international criminal investigations around the globe. He has also freed several innocent men right here in Louisiana through his effective appeals writing and advocacy.
As a result, Sam has been recognized by his fellow lawyers for his achievements, including being named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2018 and a Top 40 under 40 attorney by the National Trial Lawyers.
What enables Sam to be successful for his clients is that he only takes on a handful of cases at a time. This allows him to focus on each case with much greater attention to detail than most other attorneys do. Sam commits to knowing every single detail of your case – when your freedom and your reputation are at stake, the details matter.
If you need help with your case, give Sam a call or send him an email to see if he’s available to take on your case.
Background
- 5 years as a white-collar attorney in the white collar section of Jones Walker LLP, defending individuals and counseling companies that were at risk of prosecution and government enforcement
- Clerked for the Honorable Edwin A. Lombard on the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals during law school
- Interned for the Honorable Jay C. Zainey of the Eastern District of Louisiana
- Clerked for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana
Education
- Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, J.D., 2012, cum laude; Loyola Law Review; Moot Court Board; William L. Crowe Scholar
- Bucerius Law School – WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management, LL.M. in Law and Business, Hamburg, Germany, 2009
- Boston University, B.S. in Journalism, 2004
- Isidore Newman High School, 2000
Statewide Louisiana Appeals Practice (including):
- Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Terrebonne, Tangipahoa, Lafourche, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Alexandria, and Shreveport.
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana, 2012
Court Admissions
- All Louisiana state courts
- United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2012
- Eastern District Court of Louisiana, 2012
- Middle District Court of Louisiana, 2012
- Western District Court of Louisiana, 2012
Practice Areas
- White-Collar Defense
- Criminal Defense
- Appeals/Post-Conviction Relief
- Complex Litigation
Publications
- “Cannibal Cop Decision Deepens Circuit Split On Federal Hacking Statute“, Trade Secret Insider January 2016
- “DOJ and SEC Release Much-Anticipated Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”)”, Jones Walker Corporate Compliance & White Collar Defense E*Bulletin, November 2012
Languages
- German – Fluent
Membership
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
- Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (LACDL)
- American Bar Association
- Order of the Barristers
- Thomas More – Loyola Law School American Inn of Court
- Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, Katz-Phillips Leadership Development Program (Graduate)
- St. Katharine Drexel Prep High School (formerly Xavier Prep, past board member)
Sam is a smart, personable, and persuasive lawyer. Both the courts and clients respect him for his skills and his integrity. The way he handles tough cases and the results he has achieved for his clients are quite impressive.
