Global law firm Shearman & Sterling today announces the appointment of Samuel (Sam) Cooper as a litigation and commercial arbitration partner in Houston.

Sam is a seasoned trial, commercial arbitration and investigations lawyer, with a wide-ranging disputes practice that encompasses corporate governance and transaction litigation, complex commercial litigation, commercial arbitration, securities and shareholder litigation, antitrust litigation, as well as enforcement and internal investigations. Sam has significant experience across a broad range of industries, with particular focus on oil and gas, energy, petrochemical and private equity related disputes.

“The addition of Sam significantly strengthens our U.S. disputes offering and is indicative of the ongoing growth of our disputes capabilities as well as the continued expansion of our platform in Texas,” said David Beveridge, Senior Partner at Shearman & Sterling. “Sam joining the firm is part of the continued execution of our global strategy, focused on strengthening our business mix by building our core practice areas in key geographies. His versatile practice has strong synergies with our litigation and commercial arbitration offering globally, and in Houston in particular.”

Commenting on Sam’s election to partnership, Adam Hakki, Global Managing Partner and Global Head of Disputes, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Sam to the firm. His preeminent reputation as a trial and commercial arbitration lawyer and broad experience across disciplines and industries and particularly in the energy sector and with private equity and corporate clients, is a perfect fit for our growing Texas-based litigation capability. Sam’s recruitment is part of our ongoing commitment to continue to grow our global disputes offering globally and in Texas.”

Sam commented: “I am very pleased to be joining Shearman & Sterling’s outstanding litigation and disputes practice. The firm is in an exciting growth phase in Texas and beyond and is expanding its disputes capabilities globally. I have worked with the firm’s stellar litigation team previously, and I am honored to join this outstanding practice, renowned for the high caliber of its work.”

Sam is the 29th lateral partner to join Shearman & Sterling since January 2021. The firm has significantly grown its global disputes offering in the last 18 months with the lateral hires of partners Matthew Skinner in London; Dan Gold, Thad Behrens and Saul Perloff in Texas; and Ryan Shores in Washington, D.C., as well as several internal partner promotions.

Sam Cooper joins Shearman & Sterling from a leading global law firm.