Samuel H. Simon

As co-chair of Houston Harbaugh’s Litigation Group, Sam focuses his practice on commercial/business litigation, corporate governance and shareholder disputes and litigation and construction law and litigation. He has been recognized by his peers to be listed in Super Lawyers for Business Litigation. Sam regularly represents clients in the construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, and wholesale/retail/ distribution industries, as well as individuals in matters such as:

• Construction litigation;
• Corporate Governance and Shareholder Disputes and Litigation;
• Owners and Architects Litigation
• Environmental litigation;
• Breach of contract disputes;
• Oil and gas litigation;
• Negligence;
• Restrictive covenants (non-compete agreements);
• Civil rights;
• Collections/creditors’ rights;
• Lease disputes

Sam regularly represents shareholders and closely held businesses in resolving disputes, either through negotiation or, when necessary, litigation in the following areas: Breach of fiduciary duty, restrictive covenants (non-compete agreements), minority rights disputes, waste or mistreatment of company assets, executive compensation, buyout agreements, and self-dealing.

As a part of Sam’s construction litigation practice he represents commercial and residential contractors, developers, lenders, subcontractors, material suppliers, engineers, architects, design professionals, insurance companies and landowners in such matters as:

• Contract (both general and subcontract) formulation and review
• Dispute avoidance counseling
• Mechanic’s lien foreclosure
• Construction and design defect cases
• Statutory and common law warranty cases
• Owner/contractor disputes
• Contractor/subcontractor disputes
• Delay claims
• Bid disputes
• Performance and payment bond cases
• Professional negligence
• Land use disputes
• Property disputes
• Government licensing investigation and enforcement actions
• Arbitration/Mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution

Prior to joining Houston Harbaugh, Sam practiced law in the state of Ohio for eight years where he handled business disputes as well as defense of civil rights for government employees. Sam also served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Ohio and represented a number of governmental agencies, including the Ohio Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors, the Ohio Division of Securities, and the Ohio Division of Real Estate. While an Assistant Attorney General, Sam was awarded the Jeffrey Goldsmith Outstanding Attorney Award by the Business and Government Regulations Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

A 1989 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Mr. Simon obtained his Juris Doctor in 1993 from The University of Akron School of Law, where he was active with the school’s Law Review. He is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, and he is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of Pennsylvania, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio.

Additionally, he also practices before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia, the U.S District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the U.S District Court for the District of Colorado, as well as before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd and 6th Circuits.

A leader in his field, Mr. Simon serves on the adjunct legal faculty of Duquesne University School of Law, where he facilitates classes on federal civil rights litigation, and he conducts lectures and seminars across his region on a variety of legal topics. He is also an active member of the Allegheny County Bar Association and the Defense Research Institute. Furthermore, he gives back to his local community by volunteering with Fox Chapel Youth Sports.