Samuel A. Lewis

Co-Chair, Copyright Practice

Recent News:

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Samuel focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation and transactional matters involving computer, technology, and Internet-related issues. He has represented a wide variety of clients including motion picture companies, photographers, internet and computer-related companies, health care providers, and various other corporations seeking to secure rights, protect their intellectual property and defend their rights on the internet. He has also served as outside general counsel to a variety of corporations. Sam’s background as a photojournalist and computer software developer enables him to combine a practical understanding of content creation and a technical perspective to find solutions for his clients.

Sam has authored more than 50 articles relating to technology and intellectual property law. He has also lectured extensively and served for seven years as an adjunct professor of law at the Shepard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University. His lecture course, “Computers and the Law,” covered topics including internet jurisdiction, computer-related evidentiary issues, electronic discovery, privacy issues, “Cybertorts,” and the development of laws relating to computer usage, electronic commerce, and electronic signatures. 

Since 2012, Sam has been a member of the Local Rules Committee of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Sam is also actively involved with the Intellectual Property Law, Computer and Technology Law, Grievance Mediation & Fee Arbitration, and e-Discovery Committees of the Florida Bar’s Business Law Section, and through that involvement has helped to shape legislation in Florida relating to computers and other intellectual property issues. He is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a circuit mediator.

Sam is board certified in intellectual property law by the Florida Bar and is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He received his B.A. and M.A. from Florida State University. He earned his J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law.

Experience

News

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Super Lawyers Names 15 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys to its 2024 Florida List

July 03, 2024

Eight Cozen O’Connor attorneys have been recognized as Super Lawyers, including Susan N. Eisenberg, James A. Gale, Howard S. Krooks, Samuel A. Lewis, Ellen S. Morris, Stuart R. Morris, Ralf R. Rodriguez, and Martin T. Schrier. The seven Cozen O’Connor attorneys recognized as Rising Stars are Heather Beale, Tiffany Bustamante, J. Kent Crocker, Arielle Eisenberg, Alexandra J. Schultz, Natasha Shaikh, and Paul Souferis.

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

Rebalancing IP Protection and Employee Mobility? [Daily Business Review]

May 01, 2024

Samuel Lewis authored an article discussing the complexities and challenges of using noncompetition agreements in intellectual property law to protect a company's trade secrets.

SCOTUS ‘Attacks’ Paul Weiss Partner in Copyright Damages Case

February 22, 2024

Samuel Lewis was quoted in a Managing IP article discussing the U.S. Supreme Court’s doubt about copyright damages brought up in oral arguments in Warner Chappell Music v Sherman Nealy.

Copyright Law and Generative AI: What a Mess

August 30, 2023

Samuel Lewis was quoted in the ABA Journal discussing the recent surge of authors, artists, and programmers who have sued generative artificial intelligence companies for copyright violations.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to its Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Business Today Names 32 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to Its Top 10 Lists

July 28, 2023

These lists recognize lawyers “mastering,” “leading,” “revolutionizing,” and “dominating” their fields in their respective states and nationwide.

Business owners beware: The AI backlash is mounting — and so are the lawsuits

July 06, 2023

Samuel Lewis was quoted in The Business Journals discussing how the copyright status of generative artificial intelligence can be complex.

Super Lawyers Names 12 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys to its 2023 Florida List

June 30, 2023

Selection to Super Lawyers is based on peer nominations and evaluations, combined with independent research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5% of attorneys are named Super Lawyers; only 2.5% of attorneys are listed as Rising Stars.

Samuel Lewis Appointed to Two Roles by the Florida Bar

June 27, 2023

Samuel Lewis, co-chair of the firm’s Copyright Practice, has been named the chair of the Florida Bar’s Grievance Mediation & Fee Arbitration Committee.

Eighty-eight Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 23 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2023 Guide

June 05, 2023

Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.

SCOTUS To Look at ‘Fair Use’ in Warhol ‘Prince Series’ Case [WIPR]

October 11, 2022

Samuel Lewis was quoted in World Intellectual Property Review discussing how the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments on whether Andy Warhol’s “Prince Series” infringed a photographer's copyright, the outcome of which could change the law on ‘fair use’.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Super Lawyers Names 10 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys to its 2022 Florida List

July 11, 2022

Super Lawyers has named 10 Cozen O’Connor attorneys to its 2022 Florida Super Lawyers list.

Chambers Ranks 86 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 22 Practice Areas in Chambers USA 2022 Guide

June 02, 2022

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.

Warhol v Goldsmith Could Be ‘Biggest Copyright Case in Decades’

April 04, 2022

Samuel Lewis was quoted in Managing IP discussing the U.S. Supreme Court picking up a fair use case between the Andy Warhol Foundation and photographer Lynn Goldsmith over pictures of the late pop star Prince.

SCOTUS To Examine Fair Use in Warhol ‘Prince Series’ Case

March 29, 2022

Samuel Lewis was quoted in World Intellectual Property Review discussing how the US Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments on whether Andy Warhol’s “Prince Series” infringed a photographer's copyright, the outcome of which could change the law on ‘fair use’.

More Than 205 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Super Lawyers Names Five Cozen O’Connor Attorneys to its 2021 Florida List

June 24, 2021

Super Lawyers has named five Cozen O’Connor attorneys to its 2021 Florida Super Lawyers list.

82 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 19 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2021 Guide

May 26, 2021

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 82 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2021 edition; of those, 15 lawyers have been recognized nationally.

Six Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Recognized by the South Florida Legal Guide

February 02, 2021

Six Cozen O'Connor attorneys have been honored by the South Florida Legal Guide for their work in South Florida over the last year.

200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 20, 2020

Best Lawyers selected 200 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).

BuzzFeed’s Loss in Photo Case Affirmed by Second Circuit

August 13, 2020

Samuel Lewis was quoted in Bloomberg Law discussing copyright management information and BuzzFeed being liable under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act for altering a photographer’s credit for a picture and publishing the photo in an article without permission.

Super Lawyers Names Seven Florida Cozen O’Connor Attorneys to its 2020 List

June 11, 2020

Super Lawyers has named seven Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2020 Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

63 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 16 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2020 Guide

May 14, 2020

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 63 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2020 edition.

Seven Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Recognized by the South Florida Legal Guide

December 17, 2019

Seven Cozen O'Connor attorney have been honored by the South Florida Legal Guide for their work in South Florida for the last year.

Publications

An Emerging Copyright Paradox For AI-Generated Content [Law360]

July 26, 2023

Samuel Lewis authored an article about the impact artificial intelligence has on copyright law.

Would Artificial Intelligence Lie to Us? [Daily Business Review]

June 21, 2023

Samuel Lewis authored an article about using generative artificial intelligence systems for the practice of law.

The Frustrating Reality of Fair Use: AWF v. Goldsmith [Alert]

June 20, 2023

On May 18, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court released its long-awaited opinion in Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. v. Goldsmith.

COVID-19: Technology to the Rescue in a Remote World? [Daily Business Review]

March 24, 2020

Samuel Lewis wrote an article about ways that you can make working remote become a more productive and a positive experience.

Stairway to Heaven: End of the Inverse Ratio Rule Apophthegm [Daily Business Review]

March 16, 2020

Samuel Lewis wrote an article about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit's decision on a intellectual property case involving the Led Zeppelin song "Stairway to Heaven."

Events & Seminars

Past Events

Bench & Bar Conference 2019

March 01, 2019 - Miami, FL

9th Annual IP Symposium

April 12, 2018 - St. Pete Beach, FL

8th Annual IP Symposium

March 30, 2017 - Fort Lauderdale, FL

Education

  • University of Florida School of Law, J.D., 1995
  • Florida State University, M.A., 1991
  • Florida State University, B.A., 1989

Awards & Honors

Board Certified in Intellectual Property Law by the Florida Bar, 2007 - Present

Chambers USA, 2020-2024

Lawyer Monthly, Internet Law – Lawyer of the Year - USA, 2016

Best Lawyers in America 2007-2025

Best Lawyers in Florida 2018

South Florida Legal Guide, "Top Lawyers" 2019

Florida Super Lawyers 2007-2024

Business Today, Top 10 IP Lawyers Impacting Florida’s Legal Scene, 2023

  • Florida
  • District of Columbia
  • Supreme Court of Florida
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court -- Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court -- Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • United States District Court for the District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court -- District of Columbia

Board of Trustees, Temple Judea 2017- Present 

Chair (2023 - Present) and Vice Chair (2021 - 2023) of the Florida Bar's Grievance Mediation & Fee Arbitration Committee

Vice Chair of the Florida Bar's Intellectual Property Law Certification Committee, 2021 - Present