Case Western Reserve University
BS Engineering , 1966
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MS Civil Engineering, 1968
Loyola Marymount University
MBA, 1983
University of San Francisco
JD, 1990
United States Navy Civil Engineer Corps
1968-1990
Thelen LLP
1990-2008
Howrey LLP
2008-2011
Ralls, Gruber & Niece LLP
2011-Present
California Civil Engineer (C 21802)
California Bar (148645)
Patent Bar (47824)
Private Pilot (3427208)
California Trial and Appellate Courts
U.S. District Courts Northern, Eastern, Southern and Central California
Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
Federal Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
United States Court of Federal Claims
After MIT Sam Niece served as an officer in the United States Navy Civil Engineer Corps, managing construction projects in Viet Nam, Guantanamo Bay Cuba, Saudi Arabia, and various stateside locations. From 1975 through 1978 he served as the Public Works Officer at the United States Naval Observatory, the official residence of the Vice President of the United States.
Since commencing the practice of law in 1990, Sam has represented public owners and contractors in bid protest, construction defect and payment disputes, including representation of the Republic of Palau in litigation arising out of the collapse of the Babeldaob Bridge. He has also represented private entities in patent disputes with other private entities and with the United States Government.
San Mateo
1700 S. El Camino Real
Suite 150
San Mateo, CA 94402
1 (650) 458-4040
San Francisco
601 Montgomery St.
Suite 1800
San Francisco, CA 94111
1 (415) 829-6217