About Sam M.
Sam M. Shihab is an engineer who took up the law. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Ohio State University in 1984 and later returned to school to obtain his Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School in 1994. He also holds a Professional Engineer designation from the State of Ohio, a qualification that remains relatively uncommon among practicing attorneys.
Shihab joined the Ohio State Bar in 1994 and has maintained his membership since then. That same year marks the completion of his legal training and the start of his formal legal career in Ohio. His legal practice is based at Sam Shihab & Associates, where his combination of technical and legal education shapes the work he takes on.
The pairing of a J.D. and a PE designation gives Shihab a particular perspective. He is able to read technical reports, engineering drawings, and regulatory language in a way that many lawyers cannot. That dual background informs how he approaches matters that present technical questions alongside legal ones. Colleagues and clients see the mix of practical engineering understanding and courtroom-oriented legal thinking as a practical advantage when disputes require both sets of skills.
Over the years, Shihab has established himself as a lawyer who bridges two professional languages. He translates complex engineering concepts into clear legal issues. He also explains legal risk to clients who are trained to think in measurements and specifications. This translation role shows up in conferences, document reviews, and in advising on compliance and standards where technical detail matters.
Outside the office, his continued standing with the Ohio State Bar suggests an ongoing engagement with the profession’s rules and standards. He keeps the Professional Engineer designation active, which requires attention to the technical licensing side of his work as well. That upkeep reflects the practical reality of operating at the intersection of licensed engineering and licensed law practice.
Today, Sam M. Shihab works at Sam Shihab & Associates in Ohio. His practice draws on both his engineering training and his legal experience to address matters that raise technical and regulatory questions.
