July 1, 2020 | By Matthew Kellogg
As part of a series that will help readers get to know our attorneys better, McCathern presents a brief interview with attorney Sam King of the firm’s Frisco, Texas office. If you think Sam or any of our attorneys can help you with a legal matter, please contact us at any time.
You took a bit of a “non-traditional” path to becoming an attorney and joining McCathern. How did that play out?
In July 2000 I took the Texas Bar Exam; the following day I flew to France with a backpack and a guitar. A long road through Europe, Africa, the Americas and all 50 states led me back to the legal world. Those experiences shaped me and made me the person and lawyer I am today. After making my way back to Texas, I got trial experience with firms located in Dallas and Houston and then in 2017 I joined McCathern’s Frisco office. I’m so grateful to have found a career home here at McCathern after many years and many miles traveled.
What legal practices are your specialties?
At McCathern, our attorneys handle a wide variety of litigation, including civil, family and criminal matters, as well as transactional and advisory work. My practice involves civil litigation: mostly personal-injury and construction-defect matters.
Can you describe your litigation experience?
Licensed to practice law in Texas since 2000, I’ve tried cases in all the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex’s largest counties and across the state. I also appear pro hac vice in courts across the United States. In the past few weeks, separate cases have taken me to a cattle ranch in Hereford, Texas, and a warehouse fire scene in Springdale, Arkansas.
McCathern’s mission is to improve people’s lives. Describe what it is like helping your clients overcome challenges and lead better lives.
Being involved in a lawsuit can be a formidable experience. Our clients rely on us to handle the legal services so they can focus on their families, businesses and the other things that are most important. With so much going on in the world right now, litigation is one less thing McCathern clients need to be concerned about.
You’ve represented plaintiffs and defendants. What perspective have you gained from working on both sides of the docket?
When facing adversaries in court, it is often helpful to have been in their positions before. For example, possessing a deep understanding of the culture of plaintiffs’ personal-injury litigation allows me insight into the best ways to defend those cases. Working on both sides of litigation makes me a better lawyer.
What is it like for you to work alongside the Dallas Cowboys?
I was born and raised in Dallas County by parents of modest means. Some of my earliest memories are cheering for the Cowboys around a television with my family. As a teenager, I worked in a concession stand at Texas Stadium in Irving during Cowboys’ games. Needless to say, working with the team at its headquarters, and representing the team’s interests in court, is a dream come true.
What are your interests outside of practicing law? If you’re still traveling, where would you like to go next?
Almost all my waking hours are spent practicing law or spending time with my large and wonderful family. Other interests include music and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. As for travel, Australia and New Zealand are up next.