R. Samuel Gilley

Partner

Sam provides clients with substantial experience in civil litigation in both state and federal court, as well as in several arbitration forums. He has represented companies large and small, as well as individuals, in business tort and business contract litigation, financial institution litigation, construction litigation, healthcare litigation, ERISA litigation, securities litigation, false claims act/qui tam litigation, insurance disputes, and motor vehicle accidents.

Through his extensive in-court experience, Sam has successfully tried cases in courts at all levels, including appellate courts throughout the nation, and argued dispositive and non-dispositive motions. Pulling on his experience as a former federal law clerk, he has written countless jurisdictional briefs before the Supreme Court of Ohio, motions, and appellate briefs – totaling in the hundreds.

Sam also has experience in white collar defense and corporate investigations. Notably, Sam co-leads Dinsmore’s Court Order Processing team, which works hand-in-hand with financial institutions on a daily basis to navigate any issues they encounter in processing subpoenas and garnishments.

Sam is most proud of his role on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Domestic Violence Network.  He previously established a pro bono partnership between Dinsmore and ODVN to provide legal representation for survivors of domestic violence.  As part of his pro bono practice, he has represented clients in state and federal court and successfully tried one such matter in state court.

Credentials

Education

Northern Kentucky University, Chase College of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 2014)

  • Northern Kentucky Law Review, editor-in-chief

Miami University (B.A., cum laude, 2007)

  • Political Science
  • Oxford Scholar

Bar admissions

  • Ohio

Court admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Distinctions

  • Best Lawyers®
    • “Ones to Watch” in Cincinnati for Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: General Practice (2021-2024)
  • Ohio Rising Stars® 
    • For General Litigation (2020-2021)

Publications
  • July 20, 2022

    Ohio Record-Retention Rules: How can banks defend themselves after purging account records that are essential to a future lawsuit?

  • March 27, 2020

    Ohio House Bill 197 to Ease Statute-of-Limitation and Discovery Burdens on Ohio’s Civil Litigants and Attorneys

News
  • August 21, 2025

    260 Dinsmore Attorneys Listed as 2026 Best Lawyers®, Ones to Watch

  • August 15, 2024

    250+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers ®, Ones to Watch

  • December 29, 2023

    Ohio Super Lawyers Recognizes 30 Dinsmore Attorneys on 2024 List

  • August 17, 2023

    200+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2024 Best Lawyers®, “Ones to Watch”

  • January 12, 2023

    Dinsmore Elevates 16 Attorneys to Partnership, Makes Board and Department Chair Appointments

  • December 29, 2022

    Ohio Super Lawyers Honors 36 Dinsmore Attorneys

  • August 18, 2022

    Best Lawyers® 2023 Names 63 Dinsmore Attorneys “Ones to Watch”

  • December 30, 2021

    44 Dinsmore Attorneys Named Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

  • August 19, 2021

    Best Lawyers® Recognizes 64 Up-and-Coming Dinsmore Attorneys

  • December 8, 2020

    44 Dinsmore Attorneys Named Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars