--
Samuel Dewey is an experienced lawyer and legal professional specializing in (1) white-collar investigations, compliance, and litigation; (2) regulatory compliance and litigation; and (3) complex public policy matters. Due to his level of expertise, Sam is a frequent commentator on Congressional Investigations on national network news.
Over the years, Samuel Dewey has served as the Senior Counsel in charge of Oversight & Investigations with the US House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, as Chief Investigator & Counsel with the US Senate Special Committee on Aging, and as the Senior Advisor with the United States Agency for Global Media.
Sam has also spent a great deal of time in the private sector. He got his first job as an Associate Attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher where he was responsible for representing both corporations and individuals in Executive Branch investigations. Later on, he worked as a Counsel for McDermott, Will & Emery. There, Sam advised highly regulated companies and individuals seeking to mitigate significant legal, reputational, and political risks while advancing their primary policy objectives.
Sam Dewey graduated summa cum laude from Brandeis University, getting his BA in Political Science in 2006. He proceeded to Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC, and earned his Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 2009. He was a Senior Editor of Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy and an Executive Board Member at Harvard Federalist Society.
Samuel Dewey’s diverse skill set includes consulting, congressional investigations, litigation, lecturing, staff oversight, risk management, and legal research. When he is not working, he enjoys reading, British History, choral music, traveling, and socializing with friends.
What was your best/favorite subject in school?
As a kid, my favorite subject in school was history. There is so much you can learn from the past, and when you look closely at what men and women have done to preserve and protect this country, you will always end up thankful for everything you have.
What was your first job?
At first, I was working as an associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP right out of law school where I represented both corporations and individuals in Executive Branch investigations, clients staring down complex anti-trust issues, or False Claims Acts cases, as well as clients facing overlapping criminal and civil investigations. While I was there, I also worked preparing CEOs to testify before Congress and studied a great deal of Congressional precedent and procedure, which gave me a leg up for the next stage of my career.
Where and how did you first decide that you wanted to become a lawyer?
A number of my family were practicing lawyers. Growing up legal work permeated the home. As a young kid I liked what I saw and decided that I too would be a lawyer.
How have these jobs prepared you for what you do now?
My first job gave me a detailed introduction to every facet of what I do now. The law, the precedent, the practices, the tradition, the applicable techniques. It also gave me the opportunity to work on real cases under the supervision of a top expert in the field.
Describe a lesson you learned on the job that serves as good advice for anyone in any field.
Always know your craft. It does not matter what you do. If you take the time to know the ins and outs of your job, to perfect it, to make it your own, you will be much better off for it.
Obviously, this is doubly true if you work in a field like mine. People will come to you for answers, and you need to be able to give them sound advice. But really this is something that anyone can apply to anything they do.
What motivates you?
Any time I feel tired or reluctant to give something my best effort, I just remember that Americans have gone through far worse than I have. It is hard to compare my struggles to some of those endured by the Marines in Chosin or the troops at Bastogne. You just have to keep pushing through it and know that if they can do it, so can I.
What personal achievement are you most proud of?
Overcoming asthma. I had extremely severe asthma as a child, and it really set me back. I missed weeks of school, was unable to play many sports, and missed out on a variety of childhood activities.
What wisdom would you have liked to share with lawyers who are just starting out?
Network, network, network. It is vital that you build genuine and professional relationships with people in the field and even in related fields. It is also important that you don’t come off looking like you are merely trying to fish for the job. Do some research, ask intelligent questions, and demonstrate value. At the end of the day, it will all be worth it.