Our Team

Sam Sneed — ES&A

Director, Attorney
Practice Areas

Business Strategy
Government Contracts 
Technology & Information Rights

Education and Certification

William S. Richardson School of Law (J.D.)
University of Denver (M.B.A; B.S. in Electrical Engineering)

Admitted to Practice

Hawai`i
U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai`i

Sam provides practical guidance at the intersection of business, law and technology. Download her info sheet. She brings diverse experience in management, public policy development, engineering design, and strategic planning to clients ranging from tech startups to established employers on matters including:

  • Technology use & regulation (acceptable use, training, emerging law)
  • Key employee & key personnel agreements (proprietary rights, executive agreements)
  • Corporate governance and structuring (fiduciary duties, decision-making, intercompany agreements;
  • Intellectual property development (licensing, research & development, post-employment restriction, dual use, collaboration)
  • Government contracts & grants (administration, cybersecurity requirements, teaming, subcontracts and subgrants, public-private partnership) 
  • Confidentiality, privacy & cybersecurity

Sam holds a B.S. in electrical engineering and an M.B.A. from the University of Denver, and is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law. She is a regular speaker and collaborator on artificial intelligence, information security, STEM education, and technology policy. 

Prior Experience
  • Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing, Associate (2013-2015)
  • State of Hawai`i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), Strategic Industries Division, Energy Planning and Policy Office (2013)
  • Hawaii Procurement Institute (2011-2012)
  • U.S. Department of Energy, Western Area Power Administration, Sierra Nevada Region, SCADA Department (2009)
Affiliations
  • Hawaii State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • CyberHawaii, Education & Workforce Development Committee
Awards and Honors
  • Best Lawyers Ones to Watch (2022-present)
  • Super Lawyers Rising Star (2017-2024) 
Recent Speaking Engagements

Artificial Intelligence

  • ELA Webinar, Moderator “AI Governance in the US: Employment, Cybersecurity & Compliance” (August 2026)
  • ELA Webinar, Moderator “AI at Work: Navigating US Employment Law in the Age of Automation“ (December 2025)
  • ELA Podcast, “The Interplay of AI and Intellectual Property: Considerations in Creating, Use and Enforcing IP Rights for Employers and Beyond” (August 2024)
  • AI Summit Hawaii, “Navigating the Legal Ramifications of AI” (June 2024)
  • PBS Hawaiʻi Kākou, “Artificial Intelligence: Embrace It or Fear It?” (March 2024)
  • ELA Webinar, Moderator “Reshaping the Workplace With AI” (September 2023)

Cybersecurity

  • ISC2 Hawaii, “Legal Compliance and Liability Issues in Cyber Security” (July 2024)
  • ES&A Webinar, “Cybersecurity Compliance for Government Contractors” (July 2024)
  • CyberHawaii, “Keeping Your Business Safe from Cyber Threats” (November 2023)
  • BSides Hawaii, “Defending the Home Front – Compliance in Evolving Landscape” (May 2023)
  • Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Hawaii Chapter, “How to Make the Case for Cybersecurity” (September 2020)
  • BSides Hawaii, “Getting a Hand on the Helm: How to Make Your Case to Leadership on Cybersecurity” (February 2020)
  • University of Hawaii at Manoa, Shidler College of Business, Panelist, “Building a Cybersecurity Program to Size” (March 2019)
  • ES&A Webinar, “In a BYOD World, Secure the Device and Secure the Human” (July 2018)
  • ES&A Webinar, “Cybersecurity Hygiene” (June 2017)

Business, IT & HR

  • ELA Webinar, Moderator “2025 ELA Year in Review: US Employment Law” (January 2025)
  • Society for Human Resources Management, Hawaii Educational Foundation, “Partners in Anti-Crime: The HR + IT Cybersecurity Collaboration” (July 2019)
  • Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Assn., Hospitality IT Council, “Digital Literacy & Collaboration: Critical Workplace Skills” (May 2019)
  • AFCEA Hawaii, TechNet Asia Pacific, Panelist, “Leadership for the Next Cyber Operations Generation” (November 2017)
  • HSBA, Bar Convention, Panelist “How Hawaii Solo and Small Firms are Leveraging Technology” (October 2017)
  • ES&A Webinar, “Update on the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act” (March 2017)
  • AFCEA Hawaii, TechNet Asia Pacific, CEU “Privacy and Security Compliance Overview” (November 2016)

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