Sam Saks, Esq.
Sam Saks, Esq.
sam@guidant.law (602) 888-9229
sam@guidant.law (602) 888-9229
Sam Saks has 20 years of experience in all phases of personal injury litigation and commercial litigation, including discovery, motion practice, trial, mediation, and appeal. In addition to his legal practice, Sam volunteers to conduct numerous settlement conferences in civil cases. He is the President-Elect of the State Bar of Arizona and has been appointed by the Maricopa County Superior Court to conduct settlement conferences.
In personal injury and tort cases, Sam has negotiated millions in settlements for clients involved in auto accidents, animal attacks, and commercial torts. He has handled a wide range of cases involving serious injury and wrongful death. Sam is also known for his ability to solve complex insurance disputes, including bad faith delay and denials of coverage. Sam has successfully negotiated millions of dollars in liens and medical bills for his clients to ensure that they receive the maximum value for their claims.
Sam’s commercial practice includes commercial collections as well as representing small- to medium-sized businesses navigating complex litigation over partnership, breach of contract, and commercial transactions. Depending on the case, Sam is willing to consider contingency fee arrangements and other alternative fee structures.
Before founding Guidant Law, Sam worked as a senior law clerk for Chief Judge Sheldon Weisberg at the Arizona Court of Appeals. There, he researched and drafted opinions and memorandum decisions on a wide variety of civil issues. In addition to cases in the Superior Court and Federal District Court, Sam has worked on cases at the U.S. Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Arizona Supreme Court. Sam currently serves as the President-Elect of the State Bar of Arizona. He is also the founder of Legal Aid of Arizona, which provides free legal referrals and educational seminars to the public.
Sam Saks offers extensive experience in all phases of commercial litigation and tort litigation, including discovery, motion practice, trial, mediation, and appeal. In addition to his legal practice, Sam volunteers to conduct numerous settlement conferences in civil cases. Sam is a leader in the legal community, currently serving as Vice President of the State Bar.
Sam’s commercial litigation includes representing small- to medium-sized businesses navigating complex litigation over partnership, breach of contract, and commercial transactions.
In personal injury and tort cases, Sam has negotiated millions in settlements for clients involved in auto accidents, animal attacks, and commercial torts. He has handled a wide range of cases involving serious injury and wrongful death. Sam is also known for his ability to solve complex insurance disputes, including bad faith delay and denials of coverage. Sam has successfully negotiated millions of dollars in liens and medical bills for his clients to ensure that they receive the maximum value for their claims.
Before founding Guidant, Sam worked as a senior law clerk for Chief Judge Sheldon Weisberg at the Arizona Court of Appeals. There, he researched and drafted opinions and memorandum decisions on a wide variety of civil issues. In addition to cases in the Superior Court and Federal District Court, Sam has worked on cases at the U.S. Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Arizona Supreme Court. He currently serves as the Vice President to the State Bar of Arizona’s Board of Governors. Sam is also the founder of Legal Aid of Arizona, which provides free legal referrals and educational seminars to the public.
- Successfully obtained millions of dollars in insurance settlements for clients.
- Obtained a $4 million judgment for victim of shooting. Won Arizona Supreme Court case that vindicated an injured party’s right to get the full benefit of their insurance coverages.
- Negotiated more than $5 million in medical liens and bills for clients.
- Successfully pursued insurance companies for bad faith delay and denials of coverage.
- Obtained a 99% reduction in liens on a trucking accident case.
- Assisted in obtaining a multi-million-dollar jury verdict in a complex first-party bad faith insurance case.
- Represented the fifth-largest U.S. hospitality company in bid protest over food service contract for major convention center.
- Represented selected governmental entities, including the Kingdom of Sweden.
- District 6 (Maricopa County) Representative, State Bar of Arizona Board of Governors (2024, 2025)
- President-Elect, State Bar of Arizona Board of Governors (2023 — present)
- Secretary-Treasurer, State Bar of Arizona Board of Governors (2022 — 2023)
- Chair, Arizona State Bar Association Strategic Planning Working Group
- Member, Judicial Performance Review Conference Team
- Certified Arbitrator, Maricopa County Superior Court
- Board Member, Arizona Foundation of Legal Services and Education (2015 — present)
- District Representative, State Bar Board of Governors (2009 — 2022)
- Chair, State Bar of Arizona Technology Committee (2012 — 2014)
- Founder, Legal Aid of Arizona
- PHOENIX Magazine: Top Lawyers (2022)
- State Bar of Arizona President’s Award (2022)
- Southwest Super Lawyers (2013 — present)
- The Best Lawyers in America©: Appellate Practice (2018 — present); Commercial Litigation; Litigation — Real Estate (2023 — present); Personal Injury Litigation — Plaintiffs (2023 — present)
- Arizona Finest Lawyers, (2014 — present)
- Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® rated (2017, 2020, 2023, 2024)
- Martindale-Hubbell® Judicial Edition: Highest Possible Rating in Legal Ability and Ethical Standards (2019 — present)
- Avvo Rated 10/10
- Author, “Sensible Safeguarding: Here’s how business owners can ensure their insurance coverage is aligned with their size and level of risk,” InBusiness Phoenix (Nov. 2024)
- Author, “A Risk Management and Asset Protection Perspective” InBusiness Phoenix (June 2024)
- Quoted, “A dangerous cycle path: Arizona’s growth is killing bicyclists” Daily Independent (April 2023)
- Author, “My View: Pre-planning property division avoids headaches if partnerships end” Phoenix Business Journal (Sept. 2022)
- Quoted, “Hazards of Home,” InBusiness Phoenix (Nov. 2020)
- Quoted, “How to get back deposit money if coronavirus canceled your conference or wedding,” Arizona Republic, (May 2020)
- Author, Representative Payment Under the Social Security Protection Act, 41 Wayne L. Rev. 1569 (2005)
- Author, Medical Malpractice Liability Under Chinese and American Law, 18 Michigan Int’l Lawyer 22 (2005)
- Author, Call 911: Psychiatry and the New EMTALA Regulations, 32 J. Psychiatry and L. 483 (2004)
- Panelist, “Running Your Law Practice: Things You Didn’t Learn in Law School,” 2019 Arizona State Bar Convention (2019)
- Presenter, “Amended Rules of Civil Procedure,” Continuing Legal Education at various forums (2018)
- Presenter, “Medical, Legal and Ethical Issues for Emergency Medical Providers,” Arizona EMS School (2018)
- Presenter, “HIPAA and Health Care Provider Liens,” Arizona Ambulatory Surgery Center Association Annual Convention and National Association for Legal Professionals (2016)
- Presenter, “Annual Ethics Game Show,” State Bar of Arizona Annual Convention (2014)
- J.D., Wayne State University Law School
- Magna cum laude
- Ranked in top 5% of class
- Executive Articles Editor, Wayne Law Review
- Order of the Coif
- Ford Leadership Award
- Intern at the Federal District Court and Michigan Supreme Court
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (B.A., Philosophy, 2001)
- Member, Golden Key National Honor Society
- Cum laude
- James Angell Scholar Award
- Member, Phi Beta Kappa
- Admitted in Arizona, U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
