Sam E. Taylor, II joined the Lanier Law Firm in 2014. Sam has been board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for over 14 years and board certified in Civil Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy for over 13 years. Additionally, he has received statewide recognition. In statewide surveys published in Texas Monthly magazine, Mr. Taylor was named as one of the Top Attorneys in Texas with his selection to the Texas Super Lawyers list every year since 2008. Less than 5% of the attorneys in Texas are chosen to the Texas Super Lawyers. Sam has also achieved for 15 consecutive years an AV Preeminent Rating through a strenuous Peer Review Rating process by Martindale-Hubbell, the premier attorney rating service in the United States. An AV Preeminent Rating is the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards. Recently, Mr. Taylor was nominated and selected as a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.
Mr. Taylor has over 25 years of experience representing clients in state and federal courts. He has successfully tried to verdict over 50 civil jury trials in state district courts and federal district courts. As lead counsel, he has tried over 40 personal injury jury trials, including cases involving wrongful death, quadriplegia, serious burns, brain injuries, and other serious personal injuries. As lead counsel, he has handled serious personal injury cases involving truck wrecks, automobile and motorcycle accidents, train crossings, medical and dental malpractice, and construction site injuries. He served as lead counsel in a successful class action certification hearing against IBM. Mr. Taylor has also tried as lead counsel multiple child custody jury trials and also served as co-lead attorney in a fourteen day capital murder jury trial.
Mr. Taylor attended law school at the University of Texas School of Law. While in law school, he worked in the opinions division of the Texas Attorney General's Office. While attending undergraduate school at Tarleton State University, Mr. Taylor obtained invaluable experience in government when he dedicated a semester to working full time as an administrative assistant to Senator Bob Glasgow in the Texas Senate during the 69th Texas Legislative Session.
A strong believer in public service, Mr. Taylor has donated much of his time to serving on various boards and committees. He has served as a commissioner on his local planning and zoning commission, the high school athletic booster club board of directors, the livestock association board of directors, the CASA board of directors, and as a coach and mentor for numerous parks and recreation programs for youth. Mr. Taylor also successfully ran for public office twice when he was elected to the city council.
