It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Sam A. Mawn-Mahlau, who practiced in the business law group at Davis Malm for nearly 16 years.

“Sam was an extremely kind-hearted man, an intelligent and innovative attorney, and an instrumental part of our firm,” said Davis Malm President, Amy Fracassini. “Sam had a vibrant intellect and an incredible zest for life, opera, literature, history, and travel. He was beloved by his clients and colleagues, and he has left a lasting impression on all of us.”

Sam joined Davis Malm as a shareholder in 2008. He served as general counsel and advisor to businesses in the pharmaceutical, biotech and specialty pharmaceutical, medical device, and software industries. Sam worked with emerging growth and public companies in sophisticated transactional matters, such as mergers & acquisitions, licensing, joint ventures, and venture capital and private equity financing.

Sam began his legal career as a tax lawyer and was adept at handling matters motivated by complex tax issues. His guilty pleasure was parsing through lengthy tax regulations whenever the opportunity arose.

Prior to law school, Sam served as deputy director for the Massachusetts Democratic Party and as a campaign manager for then-state senator (and later Congressman) John W. Olver, who at one time was the only member of the House of Representatives with a PhD in the sciences. Sam retained a keen interest and involvement in politics, policy and diplomacy.

He had a deep appreciation for the arts and was involved in the founding and growth of two innovative musical institutions – the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Inc. (BMOP) and Odyssey Opera.

Sam earned a J.D. (cum laude) from Boston College Law School and an A.B. in History, with a focus on the Middle East, from Amherst College.

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