Biography

Samantha Dorey is a founding partner of Everett Dorey LLP and serves as trial counsel in high-impact cases in state and federal court. She specializes in complex civil litigation with an emphasis in catastrophic injury, employment law, habitability, mold, public entity defense, mass tort, asbestos litigation and environmental law. Ms. Dorey represents multi-national corporations, non-profits, cities, public agencies, school districts, property owners and property managers in all aspects of litigation. She also regularly advises clients on non-litigated matters, including development of risk management protocols and procedures related to property management and environmental issues.

As a leading litigation firm in California routinely retained as trial counsel in complex and challenging cases throughout the state, Ms. Dorey has shaped a firm of exceptionally talented litigators with diverse cultural and personal backgrounds, with particular focus on creating an environment that empowers female attorneys. She has received numerous industry awards, including a spot on Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under list, Woman Entrepreneur’s Under 40 Award by the National Association of Women Business Owners and recognition by the Orange County Business Journal’s Leaders of Influence – Women in Law. She was the recipient of the 2022 Chapman University Distinguished Alumni Award. Additionally, she is selected annually as a Super Lawyers Rising Star. 

Ms. Dorey is an Adjunct Professor at Chapman University, Dale E. Fowler School of Law where she teaches a course on litigation strategy and civil procedure in state and federal courts. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Public Law Center, a nonprofit providing free legal services to low income residents and other nonprofits in Orange County. Ms. Dorey externed for the Honorable Kathleen O'Leary at the California Court of Appeal.

Recent jury trials include: Ohio House LLC v. City of Costa Mesa, United States Central District Court (Defense Verdict April 2022); Chen v. The Irvine Company, et al., Orange County Superior Court (Defense Verdict, April 2018); Mobley v. The Irvine Company, et al., Orange County Superior Court (Defense Verdict, December 2017); Demolay v. Millard Group, et al., Orange County Superior Court (Defense Verdict, August 2017).

Admissions

California

U.S. District Court of California, Central District

9th Circuit Court of Appeals

Associations / Recognitions

"Best Places to Work" by OC Business Journal 

"Companies that Care" by OC Business Journal

Benchmark Litigation’s Top 40 & Under

2022 Chapman University Distinguished Alumni Award

Super Lawyer Rising Star

Lawyer of Distinction, National Law Journal

Woman Entrepreneur under 40 Award, National Association of Women Business Owners

Women in Business Award, Orange County Business Journal

Leaders of Influence – Women in Law, Orange County Business Journal

Public Law Center, Board of Directors

Chapman University, Dale E. Fowler School of Law, Dean’s Advisory Board

Commercial Real Estate Women, Member

National Association of Women Business Owners, Member

WTS International, Member

Orange County Lavender Bar Association, Past Board of Directors

Education

Chapman University School of Law

Juris Doctor, cum laude

Emphasis in Advocacy & Dispute Resolution

University of California at Santa Barbara

Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude

Professional Presentations /  Publications

Recent Developments Related to California’s Private Attorney General Act Provide Rare Good News for Employer Defense Bar, Orange County Lawyer Magazine, May 2022

Advising Clients About the Duty to Preserve Evidence Under Federal and State Law, Orange County Lawyer Magazine, July 2021.

ASCIP (Alliance of Schools for Cooperative Insurance Programs) – Speaker/Presenter, Managing Litigation and Protecting Schools in the Age of COVID-19, October 2020.

A Jury of Your Remote Peers…Is it Working?, Orange County Lawyer Magazine, October 2020.

Anticipated Litigation in the Wake of COVID-19: Price Gouging Claims, Orange County Lawyer Magazine, June 2020.

CPCU Society – Speaker/Presenter, "Litigation 101: An Overview of the Pre-Trial Process to Maximize Results", August 2020.

Veterans Legal Institute – Speaker/Presenter "Litigation 101: Handling a Civil Case Pre-Trial",  June 2020.

CPCU Society – Speaker/Presenter "Managing Social Media: Design Through Chaos", May 2020.

Urban Water Institute – Speaker/Presenter, "So Sue Me: Overview of Claims and Litigation Issues for Water Districts", February 2020.

PRIMA (Public Risk Management Association) – Speaker/Presenter, “Big Brother is Watching – Surveillance & Risk Management”,  June 2019.

UCI School of Law & Chapman University School of Law Diversity Week, Moderator: “The Lavender Bar Panel: LGBTQIA+ & Lawyering”, February 2019.

All Industry Day, CPCU Society, Orange Empire, "Talc, Fibromyalgia, PTSD & Other, Emerging Risks and Litigation Trends, Impacting the Insurance Industry", October 2017.

Public Entities and the Claim Presentation Statute – Accept, Reject, Provide Notice or Do Nothing?, Orange County Lawyer, July 2016.

Insurance Professionals of Los Angeles, Region VIII Conference, Keynote Speaker – “Drones:  The Impact on Insurance and What You Need to Know to Navigate the Insurance Market Place”, March 2016.

A Complex Web of Loyalties: The Tri-Partite Relationship and Cumis Counsel, Orange County Lawyer,  February 2012.