Sam’s clients have benefited from his expertise in complex matters involving real estate, business disputes, condemnation, probate and fiduciary disputes, and serious personal injury.
Sam graduated from Krum High School and received his Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts from Austin College. Inspired by his father, Hardy Burke (who graduated from Texas Tech’s second law school class), Sam attended Texas Tech School of Law and received his law degree in 1998. After graduating from Texas Tech, he returned to Denton to practice law with his father. After transitioning to a civil practice, Sam was a partner at Wood, Thacker & Weatherly, P.C. for several years. In 2013, Sam joined Alagood & Cartwright, P.C., now Alagood Cartwright Burke PC, as a shareholder.
Sam Burke is board certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has been honored by his peers and legal publications throughout his legal career. Sam was named a “Texas Rising Star” in General Litigation as published by Thomson Reuters for Texas Monthly Magazine 2008 – 2013. Beginning in 2009 and every year since, Sam has received the prestigious AV Preeminent rating (Top) by Martindale-Hubbell and was recognized as one of the Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40 in Texas by the National Trial Lawyers Organization. For the past several years, Sam has been a regular contributor to the Denton Record Chronicle business journal and periodically speaks at continuing legal education seminars on litigation topics.
In addition to his law practice, Sam is involved in the local community. Sam served as a board member of the Corinth Economic Development Corporation and currently serves Corinth as its Mayor Pro Tem. Sam also currently serves as a board member of the Denton County Transportation Authority. For several years, he served as a member of the Board of Communities in Schools of North Texas and is a past president of that organization. Sam also served as a Director of the Denton County Bar Association and as a member of the Denton County Bar Association’s Judiciary Committee.
“I have unique perspectives and insights because I have worked for both plaintiffs and defendants. And, while I love courtroom work, because I am a trial attorney, I recognize when the courtroom is not the best place to solve my client’s problems. Some of my most satisfying work has been done with long-term clients who bring me into their trust and allow me to provide an ounce of prevention that avoids the need for a pound of cure.”
