Skip to main content

Samuel Clayton Gazzo

  Save
Avvo Rating10
  • Solana Beach, CA
  • Licensed for 22 years
See more Solana Beach Litigation lawyersSearch
AboutContactReviewsCost

About Samuel

Sam Gazzo has more than two decades trial experience in State and Federal Courts practicing all phases of business and tort litigation across a broad range of specialty areas including personal injury, premises liability, construction, real estate, employment, professional malpractice, civil rights, complex commercial claims, products liability, insurance bad faith, intellectual property, trade secrets and unfair competition, and, director and business disputes. Mr. Gazzo has also developed a specialty practice group protecting the interests of developers, general contractors, and subcontractors.

 

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Gazzo was an active duty Officer in the United States Marine Corps. As a member of the Selected Marine Corps Reserve, Mr. Gazzo deployed as an Intelligence Officer for multiple consecutive combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mr. Gazzo has since successfully served in positions of increasing direct leadership up to the battalion/squadron level, and principal staff positions up to major command and joint levels. As a Marine Colonel, he currently serves as the Inspector General for a major command.

 

Leveraging his extensive litigation background with his unique organizational and leadership experience, Mr. Gazzo is often sought as outside General Counsel. He frequently advises corporate entities and new ventures regarding strategic business development, risk mitigation, litigation supervision and cost management, compliance matters, internal polices and best practices, and is often retained to lead and conduct the most sensitive internal investigations.

 

Practice areas

Litigation
  1. Litigation: 100%

    21 years

Languages spoken

English

Contact

462 Stevens Ave #201
address map

462 Stevens Ave #201
Solana Beach, CA, 92075

Resume

License
StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
CAActive200111/04/2019
IAInactive199712/01/2019
We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
Avvo Contributions
Legal answers0
Legal guides0
Awards
Award nameGrantorDate granted
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review RatedMartindale-Hubbell2016
Super LawyerThomson Reuters2016
Super LawyersThomson Reuters2015
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review RatedMartindale-Hubbell2014
Top LawyersSan Diego Magazine2014
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review RatedMartindale-Hubbell2014
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review RatedMartindale-Hubbell2013
Top LawyerSan Diego Magazine2013
Top Lawyers in CaliforniaAmerican Lawyer Media2013
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review RatedMartindale-Hubbell2012
Client Distinction AwardMartindale-Hubbell2012
Bar Register of Preeminent LawyersMartindale-Hubbell2012
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review RatedMartindale-Hubbell2011
Bar Register of Preeminent LawyersMartindale-Hubbell2011
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review RatedMartindale-Hubbell2010
Trial AdvocacyThe Association of the Bar of the City of New York2000
Work Experience
TitleCompany nameDuration
PartnerDaley & Heft, LLP2002 - Present
ColonelUSMCR1998 - Present
Associations
Association namePosition nameDuration
Federal Bar AssociationMember2018 - Present
U.S. District Court for Northern District of TexasAdmitted to Practice2017 - Present
Veterans Bar AssociationMemberN/A
United States District Court for the Central District of CaliforniaAdmitted to PracticeN/A
United States District Court for the Southern District of CaliforniaAdmitted to PracticeN/A
United States District Court for the Northern District of CaliforniaAdmitted to PracticeN/A
United States District Court for the Eastern District of CaliforniaAdmitted to PracticeN/A
United States Court of Appeals For the Ninth CircuitAdmitted to PracticeN/A
San Diego County Bar AssociationMemberN/A
San Diego Military Advisory CommitteeMemberN/A
United States District Court for the Southern District of IowaAdmitted to PracticeN/A
United States Supreme CourtAdmitted to PracticeN/A
San Diego County Bar Association, Military Law CommitteeFormer Co-ChairN/A
Education
School nameDegreeGraduated
Creighton University School of LawJD - Juris DoctorN/A
University of California - IrvineBA - Bachelor of ArtsN/A

Reviews

(1)
5 Star
100%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Review Samuel Gazzo

Excellent representation

Posted by

Sam took on real estate litigation for my spouse and I when our prior attorney retired mid-case. Not only did Sam expedite our case, he turned things much more in our favor after our previous attorney left too many loose ends hanging. Suddenly phone calls were returned promptly, better advise was provided, and better general care of our case was given when Sam came on the scene. Wish we had had him from the beginning!

Attorney endorsements

(7)
Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

David Ashe, Social security Attorney on Jul 27, 2017
Relationship: Worked together on matter

Sam is a great Marine and lawyer. He wins by outworking and out-researching everyone else on the case.

Derek Diaz, Litigation Attorney on Apr 22, 2015
Relationship: Co-worker

Sam Gazzo, whom I've known for over 15 years now, was always the go-to lawyer in our organization for the toughest cases. Sam is a tireless advocate for his clients, and his record of success is extremely impressive.

Khoa Nuyen, Immigration Attorney on Mar 29, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I have known Sam Gazzo for over a decade, starting when we were both Marine attorneys at Camp Pendleton, CA. He is one of the best at what he does--fiercely representing his clients and getting massive results. Sam always brings his "A" game to any matter.

James Kent

I endorse this lawyer. I have known Sam for over three years. He is a true professional. In the years that I’ve known him, he has exhibited thoughtfulness, sound judgment and knowledge of law. He is the consummate professional.

Alessandro Assanti, Personal injury Attorney on Nov 20, 2012
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Gazzo was professional, knowledgeable and effective. He did a great job for his client.

Keith Rutman, Criminal defense Attorney on Nov 19, 2012
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

I endorse this lawyer. Sam was an opponent in a civil rights case I filed in federal court. He was professional, friendly, and accommodating of my schedule. I would welcome seeing him on another case.

Paul Ryan, Divorce and separation Attorney on Jul 9, 2012
Relationship: Other

I have sent various clients to Sam and they have benefitted from his professionalism and impressive expertise. He has spent years as a civil litigator and is in the top echelon of litigators in San Diego. I have also served with Sam as a co-chair on the Military Law Section of the SDCBA. He works tirelessly to produce programs/initiatives that benefit the military community. Likewise, he manages to be an elite lawyer while balancing a successful reserve military career and family life. I give Sam my highest and most enthusiastic recommendation.

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?

Experience & background

Years licensed, work experience, education

Legal community recognition

Peer endorsements, associations, awards

Legal thought leadership

Publications, speaking engagements

Discipline

Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.

Avvo Rating levels

  • 10.0 - 9.0 Superb
  • 8.9 - 8.0 Excellent
  • 7.9 - 7.0 Very Good
  • 6.9 - 6.0 Good
  • 5.9 - 5.0 Average
  • 4.9 - 4.0 Concern
  • 3.9 - 3.0 Caution
  • 2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution
  • 1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution
Learn More