Services & Industries
Education
J.D., cum laude, Willamette University College of Law, 2020
B.S., Political Science, University of Oregon, 2013
Bar & Court Admissions
Oregon State Bar
Sam is an associate in Tonkon Torp’s Business Department. An experienced negotiator and advocate, Sam works with clients to identify solutions and to achieve practical and productive results. She has broad experience in many areas of the law – and with the process of lawmaking – and is a skilled strategist in handling a variety of issues for clients in numerous industries.
Sam has unique insight informed by experience gained prior to her legal career. She has worked for two Oregon governors and two ranking state legislators. She has also served as a lobbyist to several of Oregon’s top businesses.
Sam served as the Vice-Chair of the Willamette University Racial Justice Task Force, a group focused on ensuring fair and impartial judicial proceedings. She is a member of the Multnomah Bar Association Young Lawyer Section Social Justice Task Force. Sam was also a member of AmeriCorps, developing programs for and mentoring at-risk youth in Oregon’s low-income communities.
Sam joined the firm from Dunn Carney LLP where she practiced litigation and business transactional law. She earned her J.D., cum laude, from Willamette University College of Law. During law school, Sam served as an extern to Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice Martha Walters, was Editor-in-Chief of the Willamette Law Review, and was a member of the Moot Court Board.
In her free time, Sam enjoys painting, traveling, and spending time outdoors.
Featured Work
Tonkon Torp Leads Gagen MacDonald Acquisition
Tonkon Torp represented client Gagen MacDonald, a human-focused transformation consulting firm, in its acquisition by APCO Worldwide, a global advisory and advocacy consultancy. The two industry leaders provide complementing C-suite consulting services that focus on human-centered transformation within organizations.
Community Involvement & Activities
Willamette University Alumni Board of Directors
Multnomah Bar Association Young Lawyer Section Membership Committee
IMPRINT
Professional Memberships
Multnomah Bar Association
Recent News
Tonkon Torp Welcomes Samantha Klausen to its Business Department
Tonkon Torp LLP welcomes attorney Samantha Klausen to its Business Department. Klausen, who joins the firm from Dunn Carney LLP, is an experienced negotiator and advocate.
Recent Publications
Lawsuits Don’t Often Make Your Dreams Come True
By Adam Adkin and Sam Klausen – The recent legal clash between Daryl Hall and John Oates highlights key lessons about partnership dynamics and the necessity for a well-crafted partnership agreement. Their conflict, while centered on assets derived from their creative collaborations, mirrors challenges that business partners often face when their relationship deteriorates.
Publications & Presentations
“Lawsuits Don’t Often Make Your Dreams Come True,” December 2023
Co-author, Use of Peremptory Challenges During Criminal Jury Selection in Oregon, Willamette Law Review, Vol. No. 2, 2021