Sam Hirsch

Career

Sam Hirsch has led major litigation across a variety of both established and burgeoning practice areas. Sam’s practice is diverse. He is a sought-after partner in the firm's Environmental, Energy, Government Controversies and Public Policy Litigation, and Election Law and Redistricting practice groups. Across the board, he is revered by clients and colleagues alike for his litigation savvy, critical thinking skills, ability to collaborate among many groups, and unwavering commitment to the success of a case.

In particular, Sam has significant experience in environmental litigation, previously serving as the acting Assistant Attorney General and Principal Deputy at the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD)—the US’s largest environmental “law firm.” He has worked on cases that cover nearly the entire range of federal environmental and natural-resources statutes. Sam also has an active energy practice and counsels large electric and gas utilities on a range of matters, including issues related to hydroelectric power.

Sam began his legal career at Jenner & Block and was instrumental in creating its Election Law and Redistricting Practice. He has gained a national reputation as one of the leading lawyers in the field, having litigated voting-rights and redistricting cases in more than 20 states, including cases under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Help America Vote Act of 2002. Sam has also handled cases raising constitutional claims under the First, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments, and Article I's Elections Clause. Sam is a sought-after speaker and author who has lectured and written on redistricting and election law for audiences at Harvard, NYU, UPenn, Georgetown, the London School of Economics, and more.