Sarah R. Simmons

As a member of the firm’s Litigation practice, Sarah Simmons combines a passion for the law and helping others to assist clients in a broad array of disputes, including commercial and residential construction disputes, commercial leasing, tort claims, and general commercial contracts. Sarah pairs this with a complementary track record of working on class actions and handling cases at the appellate level.

Consistent with her belief that all attorneys should use their resources and privilege to give back to their communities, Sarah maintains a robust pro bono practice by partnering with organizations such as Tahirih Justice Center, House of Ruth, and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. In both 2024 and 2025, she was recognized by the firm’s Pro Bono and Community Service Committee for her unique dedication to pro bono service.

Prior to joining Gallagher, Sarah served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Kathryn Grill Graeff, Appellate Court of Maryland (2019-2021). Sarah graduated summa cum laude in 2019 from the University of Baltimore School of Law, and was the recipient of the prestigious Law Faculty Award upon graduation.

Representative Experience

• Represented a general contractor in a bid protest appeal and related litigation concerning a government contract for construction work at a major international airport.
• Represented a real estate developer in arbitration against a general contractor and its performance bond surety following substandard performance, resulting in a $2.6 million settlement that allowed construction of the project to proceed.
• Represented a property management corporation in the resolution of a complex, cross-border commercial landlord-tenant dispute with a publicly-traded Chinese biopharmaceutical company.
• Represented the plaintiffs in Cynthia M. Clark ex rel. Estates of Walter F. Kacala & Helen M. Kacala, et al. v. Peter G. Angelos, et al., the largest legal malpractice class action ever reported in the United States. Shortly before class certification, the firm settled with the defendants for $57 million to the benefit of approximately 7,500 beneficiaries.
• Secured a reversal on appeal in a case before the Appellate Court of Maryland involving the State’s use of artificial intelligence and facial recognition software in policing.
• Served as lead counsel and won a defensive asylum claim before the Baltimore Immigration Court for a Honduran woman and her two sons who had endured horrific violence in their home country.

Beyond Gallagher
When Sarah is not busy helping clients, she enjoys hiking, skiing, camping, live music, and traveling.