Brigid F. Cech Samole

Experience: Representative Matters: Lead appellate counsel for Fortune 100 company in high-profile discrimination case. After extensive briefing and oral argument, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued a lengthy opinion, which agreed with arguments presented in support of the company's position and clarified that law on the issues presented.; Lead appellate counsel for large financial institution in an appeal that raised numerous issues, including breach of contract and tortious interference. In particular, the case presented innovative issues of law relating admission of evidence and a mixed question of law and fact as to what constitutes an intentional and unjustified interference with a business relationship. The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit accepted the arguments set forth in the brief and affirmed.; Lead appellate counsel for consumer products company in high-stakes discrimination case. Defended jury verdict from a six-week jury trial, in which a former executive alleged discrimination. On appeal, the former executive raised numerous purported errors and legal issues, all of which were rejected by the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal in a detailed opinion that accepted the arguments set forth in our client's brief.; Lead appellate counsel for large financial institution in a contract dispute stemming from an $11 million loan agreement regarding the acquisition, financing, and renovation of a 198-unit apartment complex. After an extensive and interactive oral argument, the Third District Court of Appeals, State of Florida, agreed with the arguments presented, affirmed the decisions, and subsequently, denied rehearing.; Member of appellate team that represented a United States territorial government, and obtained precedent-setting 118-page opinion from the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which reversed key portions of the district court's decision. This high-stakes appeal concerned complex legal issues relating to the government's retirement system, in which the government had a judgment against it in the amount of $63 million and future potential liability of up to $1.6 billion. This was an enormous win for our client, and helped it to avoid near-certain financial ruin.; One of appellate team leads that obtained a rare reversal of a criminal conviction by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit secured for our client who was convicted in a $750 million securities fraud prosecution. The Fifth Circuit reversed for a new trial, finding error in the district court's exclusion of the SEC's investigation findings - which had cleared our client of any wrongdoing - and in the admission of alleged health care fraud by a purchaser of the company's products.; Internship: Legal Intern, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois