Sam Knowles

Career

Sam Knowles co-chairs DLA Piper's Government Contracts practice.

Sam Knowles provides counselling and litigation services to both large and small companies on a range of Government Contracts matters, including bid protests, prime-subcontractor disputes, audits and investigations, mergers and acquisitions, compliance assessments, procurement integrity and ethics, and state/local government contracts issues. Sam also focuses in the areas of GSA Federal Supply Schedule contracting, commercial item contracting, and intellectual property issues under US Government contracts. In addition, Sam speaks Spanish and has leveraged his language skills to counsel clients in Puerto Rico on federal grants and contracting issues.

Sam is a trusted advisor to his clients, lending his perspective on complex issues. His approach to practicing law is informed by a number of experiences, both personal and professional. Sam previously worked for a large aerospace and defense contractor as part of its business management team while he earned his law degree in the evenings. In that role he regularly interfaced with in-house and outside counsel. He draws on that experience as a “consumer” of legal services to address complex issues in a practical and efficient manner for his clients. Early in his legal career at DLA Piper, Sam earned his LL.M. at George Washington University in the evenings, balancing his coursework with the demands of a busy practice. He also draws on his tenure as a middle and high school Spanish teacher and wrestling coach, which provided any number of challenges, rewarding experiences, and life lessons.