Samantha Kavanagh focuses her practice on white collar criminal defense, complex civil litigation, and investigations.

As a former Assistant Public Defender in Baltimore City, Samantha draws on that experience to vigorously represent clients in high-stakes matters. She combines effective courtroom advocacy with sharp legal analysis to help clients navigate sensitive and complex disputes. Samantha represents individuals and corporate entities in a broad range of criminal and civil matters, including cases involving fraud, product liability, antitrust, and complex commercial and regulatory disputes. She also maintains a robust pro bono practice.

Before joining the firm, Samantha also clerked for the Honorable Catherine C. Blake of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

Samantha graduated from Harvard Law School, where she was an Article Selection Editor for the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review and a student attorney for the Harvard Law School Criminal Justice Institute and the Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project. She also clerked at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia and the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs in Austin, Texas.

Experience
  • Represents a national pharmacy chain in defense of thousands of lawsuits by state and local governments to recover costs alleged to have been caused by the shipment and dispensing of prescription opioids.
  • Represents a non-profit media watchdog in a lawsuit filed by a social media platform alleging business disparagement and interference with contract.
  • Obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of the ACLU of Maryland in a lawsuit against the Office of the Sheriff of Calvert County and Sheriff Mike Evans, claiming that the office violated the law by requiring fees as part of a records request.
  • Represents multiple members of a religious organization in connection with an investigation and subsequent proceedings by a state Attorney General’s Office (AG) regarding historical allegations of child sexual abuse.
  • Represents a proposed class of television advertising purchasers in an MDL antitrust class action lawsuit against owners of local television stations throughout the United States.

Practice Focus

Education
  • Harvard Law School, J.D., cum laude with recognition for pro bono service, 2019
    • Article Selection Editor, Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review
  • Brown University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2014

Bar Admissions
  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland

Court Admissions
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland

Clerkships
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
    • Hon. Catherine C. Blake

Government Service
  • Maryland Office of the Public Defender
    • Assistant Public Defender, Baltimore City

Professional Leadership
  • Legal Advisory Committee Member, Amica Center for Immigrant Rights
  • Board Member, Maryland Chapter of the Federal Bar Association
  • Planning Committee Member, American Bar Association National Institute on White Collar Crime
  • Member, Women’s White Collar Defense Association

Recognitions
  • The Daily Record, “Leaders in Law – Generation J.D.” Award, 2024
  • DC Courts, Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2022-2025*

Events

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