Experience

Ms. Samaras serves as a full-time mediator and arbitrator in various domestic and international commercial cases. She focuses her ADR practice on cases including disputes involving intellectual property, technology, and business-related issues. Ms. Samaras also serves as a neutral in employment, securities, personal injury, consumer, and other civil matters.

She has handled disputes involving a wide variety of technologies including biotechnology; industrial machinery; website development; security systems; food processing; telecommunications; eye treatments; pesticides/insecticides; industrial chemicals; gaseous oxygen; medical devices; mechanical devices; surgical implants; respiratory masks; blood glucose test kits; air shelters; vehicle lifts; animal feed; and insulation materials.

The industries Ms. Samaras’ cases have involved include consumer products and services; medical device; medical/molecular testing; pulp mill; pharmaceutical; drug delivery; website/Internet; biotechnology; apparel; security; food processing; telecommunications; agriculture; chemical; software and Information; computer technology; industrial gases; clinical trials; insurance; animal husbandry; music; safety; finance; automotive; and life sciences.

The following are a representative sample of cases in which Ms. Samaras has served.

Mediation
International – Ms. Samaras has mediated international cases on an ad hoc basis and under the auspices of the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the International Trade Commission (ITC).
- Mediated worldwide patent disputes involving thermal insulation materials and products.
- Mediated trademark dispute involving trade dress.
- Mediated dispute regarding software license.
- Mediated dispute relating to the breach of an indemnification provision in an animal feed manufacturer agreement.
- Mediated dispute involving patent infringement, unfair competition, and copyright infringement claims involving 2 ongoing cases filed in separate jurisdictions between companies who make and sell column lifts for large vehicles.
- Mediated dispute between pharmaceutical companies over drug to treat ADHD, involving claims of breach of employment, settlement agreement and patent assignments; tortious interference with contract; slander; unfair competition; and Sherman Act violations.
- Mediated breach of technology transfer and development agreement (including patent issues) between international orthopedic products company and medical device developer regarding an orthopedic product.
- Mediated disputes pending before district and appellate courts involving multiple patents, multiple defenses, business, and contract claims, and patent ownership claim between two international companies who develop and commercialize blood analyzers.
- Co-mediated a dispute between a Canadian and a U.S. company (also involving an insurance provider), in which trademark, unfair competition, and copyright claims, based on the content of an internet website, were asserted.
Domestic/U.S. – Ms. Samaras has mediated cases on an ad hoc basis and under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
- Mediated dispute involving wrongful termination of a corporate executive.
- Mediated dispute in an ongoing case involving claims of patent infringement, false advertising, and breach of contract. The technology related to a self-dislodging filter element for automotive applications.
- Mediated patent infringement dispute in an ongoing case involving the extraction and use of information from audio and video works.
- Mediated patent dispute between companies who make and sell riding lawn mowers.
- Mediated patent infringement dispute in an ongoing case involving financial and payment products for customers.
- Mediated multi-party patent infringement dispute in an ongoing case involving companies that make and sell emergency shelters.
- Mediated patent infringement dispute for an ongoing case involving systems for managing waiting lines.
- Mediated patent infringement dispute between companies involved in the manufacture and sale of emergency equipment involving four parties, multiple patents, an interference, and foreign oppositions.
- Mediated dispute between pharmaceutical company and pharmacist related to a distribution agreement for medical equipment. Claims included various breaches of contract and tort claims.
- Mediated contract and trade secret dispute between division of global pharmaceutical company and privately held medical device developer/manufacturer related to a medical device product.
- Mediated patent infringement case between two U.S. corporations involving cover plates for electrical outlets.
- Mediated trademark infringement/unfair competition case involving registered mark owned by a motorcycle company.
- Mediated patent license dispute (and related claims) between two corporations in the immunotherapy field involving patents related to biomedicines for treating autoimmune diseases.
- Mediated dispute regarding the breach of an exclusive distribution agreement relating to pharmaceutical products.
- Mediated dispute between two U.S. companies, including inventorship, ownership, and associated contract issues relating to a development and licensing agreement for an active pharmaceutical ingredient.
- Mediated patent infringement case involving 7 patents and related counterclaims regarding respiratory mask products sold worldwide.
Arbitration
International – Ms. Samaras has arbitrated international cases on an ad hoc basis and under the auspices of the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), applying ad hoc procedures designed by the parties, UNCITRAL, ICDR, CPR, ICC, and WIPO international rules. She has arbitrated both administered and non-administered cases.
- Arbitrated (Wing) dispute involving patent sublicensee who developed and commercialized an enzyme replacement therapy. Issues involved timeframe of royalties, breach of contract and double patenting.
- Arbitrated (Wing) license dispute related to gene therapy technology.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) dispute involving payment of compensation owed under a Representation Services Agreement.
- Arbitrated (Chair) dispute involving the payment of fees for clinical trials under a License and Collaboration Agreement related to pharmaceutical products.
- Arbitrated (Wing) dispute involving the sale of a pharmaceutical product under a Promotion Agreement.
- Arbitrated (Wing) dispute involving the sale of an agricultural product under a License.
- Arbitrated (Chair) dispute involving milestone payments and sales of a prescription pharmaceutical product under a Purchase and Sale Agreement.
- Arbitrated (Wing) dispute involving a pharmaceutical license, development, and commercialization agreement.
- Arbitrated (Wing) dispute over earn-out payments under an asset purchase agreement for a pharmaceutical product for treating parasites on humans.
- Arbitrated (Wing) dispute for breach of a license related to a chemical catalyst.
- Arbitrated (Wing) dispute involving the breach of an exclusive trademark license in the apparel industry.
- Arbitrated (Chair) breach of contract dispute relating to the payment of license royalties.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) license dispute relating to recombinant human fusion proteins.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) breach of contract dispute relating to the purchase of assets concerning the research, study, and development of a pharmaceutical product.
- Arbitrated (Wing) breach of master services and master license agreements, including a motion to disqualify counsel.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) breach of product development and consulting agreements involving animal nutrition products.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) breach of settlement agreement involving a license to patented printing materials, including Markman and infringement hearings.
- Arbitrated (Wing) case involving an exclusive distribution agreement related to equipment and involving claims for breach of contract and trade secret misappropriation.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) case involving companies in the dental product field involving breach of asset purchase and sale agreement (included patent issues).
Domestic – Ms. Samaras has arbitrated domestic/U.S. cases on an ad hoc basis and under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), applying ad hoc processes designed by the parties, AAA, and CPR rules. She has arbitrated both administered and non-administered cases.
- Arbitrated (Chair) dispute related to license to develop, obtain regulatory approval, and commercialize pharmaceutical product (including conducting clinical trials).
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) dispute involving Master Services Agreement for clinical trials related to a medical device.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) dispute involving contingent payment under Settlement Agreement.
- Arbitrated (Chair) dispute involving proceeds from patent infringement action under an Asset Purchase Agreement.
- Arbitrated (Chair) dispute involving a supply agreement for gaseous oxygen.
- Arbitrated (Chair) dispute involving capabilities of computer finance software.
- Arbitrated (Wing) dispute involving the breach of an exclusive patent license relating to pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment.
- Arbitrated (Chair) contract dispute regarding defense and indemnification claims.
- Arbitrated (Chair) breach of license to patents and other technology relating to an antineoplastic agent linked to a monoclonal antibody.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) case involving breach of license agreement by the alleged disclosure of confidential and proprietary information.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) multiple cases involving breach of indemnification provisions.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) dispute over an option to purchase a company contained in a distribution and supply agreement.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) an employment dispute relating to whether a position qualified for overtime under the Federal Labor Standards Act.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) breach of an asset purchase agreement involving patent assets.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) breach of contract relating to a professional services agreement.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) dispute relating to age and disability discrimination.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) dispute relating to race and age discrimination.
- Arbitrated (Wing) employment/breach of contract dispute relating to non-payment under the terms of a promissory note.
- Arbitrated (Wing) breach of contract dispute under the Uniform Commercial Code relating to a product used in the food industry.
- Arbitrated (Chair) breach of contract case involving pharmaceutical companies concerning drug development.
- Arbitrated (Wing) securities dispute involving negligence, breach of contract, misrepresentation, and fraud.
- Arbitrated (Wing) dispute involving a stock purchase and advisory services agreement.
- Arbitrated (Wing) dispute involving issues under the UCC (i.e., choice of law, exclusion of warranties, and limitations of liability) and breach of contract involving a product used to process food.
- Arbitrated (Chair) breach of distributor agreement for failure to pay for wireless telecommunication services and products.
- Arbitrated (Wing) breach of patent license related to over the counter product for treating eye condition.
- Arbitrated (Wing) breach of contract related to a pharmaceutical product to treat parasitic disease.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) breach of a license related to recombinant fusion proteins.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) breach of a distribution and supply agreement.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) breach of an employment agreement.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) breach of an asset purchase agreement and various tort claims and counterclaims. Assets involved 3D printing technology.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) breach of contract case for clinical trial services.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) breach of contract case for website design.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) breach of industrial services agreement.
- Arbitrated (Wing) breach of license agreement involving patented eye care products.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) an employment dispute for wrongful termination on the basis of racial discrimination.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) an employment dispute for wrongful termination on the bases of age and disability discrimination under the FLSA and Maryland Wage Payment and Collection Law.
- Arbitrated (Sole arbitrator) an employment dispute for wrongful termination and replacement on the bases of racial and age discrimination under Title VII, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and Age and Race PA Humans Relation Act.
- Arbitrated (Wing) (court-annexed) numerous breach of contract cases for professional and consumer services.