When The Stakes Are High, So Is Our Resolve
Biography
Samantha S. Unsell was born and raised in Southern Illinois by two lawyers. Her mother, a successful attorney, set an example of hard work, advocacy, and devotion to both career and family that helped shape Sam’s approach to the practice of law.
She earned her Bachelor of Philosophy in 2005 and her Juris Doctor in 2008 from Saint Louis University. While in law school, Sam worked as a law clerk at the firm, where she was mentored by Tom Keefe, one of the most respected trial lawyers in Illinois. Under his guidance, she learned how to prepare cases for trial and advocate effectively for injured clients. After passing the Illinois Bar, she joined the firm in 2009 and was named Partner on October 1, 2015.
Sam concentrates her practice on all personal injury matters, including medical malpractice, wrongful death, and automobile/trucking accidents. She is licensed to practice in both Illinois and Missouri.
Outside of the office, Sam enjoys spending time with her husband and three spirited daughters, reading, practicing yoga, and maintaining order in a household that also includes two English mastiffs.
Education
- Saint Louis University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri
- J.D.
- Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri
- B.A. - 2005
- Honors: cum laude
- Major: Philosophy
Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 2009
- Missouri, 2009
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois, 2009
Professional Associations
- East St. Louis Bar Association, Board of Directors, 2013 – present
- St. Clair County Bar Association, Board of Directors, 2014 – 2018
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Board of Managers, 2014 – present
- Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, Member, 2017 – present
- American Association for Justice
Representative Clients
Languages
Ancillary Businesses
Fraternities or Sororities
Practice Areas
- Personal Injury
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Premises Liability
- Railroad Accidents
- Wrongful Death
- Medical Malpractice
Articles
Representative Cases
Honors
- Leading Lawyer: those identified by their peers as the top lawyers, a title bestowed on less than 2% of all lawyers licensed in Illinois, 2023 - present, also was designated and Emerging Lawyer, 2015-2023
- Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star: a distinction that is limited to fewer than 2.5% of the attorneys in Illinois and awarded according to a polling of lawyers practicing in Illinois, 2016 – 2018
- Top 10 Illinois Downstate Emerging Lawyer, 2016