Samuel H. Porter III serves as a partner in Ice Miller’s Government Affairs and Regulatory Law Group and Ohio Government Law Group. He is an active member in the firm’s cannabis practice as well as the gaming, sports betting and liquor law practice. His extensive background combines public service, government counsel and compliance issues, which allows him to provide multi-dimensional service to his clients.
Before joining Ice Miller, Sam was the regional director of compliance for Penn National Gaming, Inc. (“PNGI”) in Columbus. He oversaw all compliance operations for the Ohio Hollywood Casinos, Racinos and Racing to ensure adherence to all federal and state regulatory requirements, PNGI policies and compliance with responsible gaming. Sam also acted as the primary liaison to the Ohio Casino Control Commission, managed a team of seven compliance officers and worked with other PNGI compliance officers across the country to help implement, improve and streamline processes and procedures.
As executive director of the Ohio Liquor Control Commission, Sam managed all Commission operations, including supervising staff, providing counsel on all legal and policy matters involving liquor and gaming issues and managing a near $1 million budget. Sam worked with the General Assembly, the Governor’s Office and stakeholders to draft and adopt Commission administrative rules. In addition, he presented testimony before the Ohio House and Senate in support of the budget and maintained active communication with the General Assembly.
Sam served as assistant chief counsel to the Office of Governor John Kasich, providing legal counsel to the Governor and senior staff. He worked with the Governor’s legislative team and members of the General Assembly to draft and review legislation and administrative rules as well as all state agency chief counsels to manage and direct major litigation and policy matters. Sam was also responsible for reviewing and making recommendations on all clemency and death penalty decisions for the Governor.
Sam was an assistant prosecuting attorney for Franklin County before joining Governor Kasich’s office where he prosecuted adult felony cases in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, drafted indictments and presented felony cases to the Grand Jury. He prosecuted over 1,500 felony, misdemeanor, traffic and abuse, neglect and dependency cases in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and served as a gang unit prosecutor.
In 2008, Sam earned his juris doctor from Capital University Law School. During law school, he served as a clerk for the Ohio Department of Public Safety Legal Services, a Columbus law firm and the U.S. House Judiciary Committee Constitution Committee in Washington, D.C. Sam was the vice president of the Corporate & Business Law Association and participated in the Moot Court Sports Law Team. Prior to law school, Sam acted as legislative correspondent to Congresswoman Deborah Pryce and as a staff assistant at the United States Republican Conference.
Sam graduated from Wake Forest University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics with a minor in Spanish.
