About Samantha
Samantha Brutout built a foundation in law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, earning her J.D. in 2006 after completing a B.A. at the University of Toronto in 2003. Her academic background spans two countries and two legal traditions, and it shows in the steadiness of her courtroom work and written advocacy.
She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. She also holds permission to appear before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Those admissions allow her to handle matters in both state and federal forums and to take appeals when litigation moves beyond the trial court.
Brutout works as a lawyer at DFL Legal. Her role there involves representing clients in contested matters and advising on disputes that arise from contracts, construction projects and commercial relationships. She appears in trial courts and files briefs in appellate proceedings when cases require it. Colleagues describe her approach as methodical: she breaks problems down into discrete issues and builds arguments one piece at a time.
Outside of casework she participates in professional organizations. She holds membership in the American Bar Association and is listed in the ABA’s Construction Law Section. She also belongs to the Allegheny County Bar Association. Those connections keep her in touch with peers who handle similar transactional and litigated matters, and they provide a steady stream of updates on rules and practice habits in Pennsylvania courts.
Clients and other lawyers see Brutout as pragmatic about outcomes. She prefers practical solutions over grand gestures and aims to align litigation strategy with a client’s larger business needs. In court she marshals precedent and statutory text; at the negotiating table she frames risks in dollars and timelines. She maintains an active litigation docket at DFL Legal and continues to accept matters in state and federal courts.
As of 2026 she practices at DFL Legal, handling litigation and dispute resolution that often involve construction and commercial issues in Pennsylvania and federal courts.
