Sam D. Colletti

Sam recently entered his 30th consecutive year of being able to dunk a basketball. He also happens to be a Board Certified family lawyer with more than 20 years of experience. Based in Austin, Texas, Sam practices with Noelke Maples St. Leger Bryant LLP, where his work centers on Family Law and Family Law Mediation. His practice frequently involves divorces for professionals, business owners, and their spouses. Sam’s approach is deliberate and understated. He listens carefully and chooses his words with intention.

Sam’s work as a litigator and mediator reflects an understanding that divorce often involves a complex mix of emotional dynamics, logistical challenges, and financial analysis. He focuses on identifying how these factors interact and how they are likely to affect negotiation, settlement, and trial. This perspective informs his preparation and his communication with clients throughout the process.

In negotiations, Sam is direct and diplomatic, with an emphasis on problem-solving. When cases proceed to court, he is a prepared and effective advocate for his clients’ positions. Sam’s wife would describe this tendency more simply as, “he thinks he’s right about everything.”

Sam grew up in Port Arthur, Texas, where he acquired his Southeast Texas accent before attending Trinity University in San Antonio. He moved to Austin in 2002 to attend the University of Texas School of Law. Despite years in an urban and academic setting, the accent has remained.

Before law school, Sam spent time as a competitive basketball player, a trumpet player, and an Eagle Scout. At Trinity, he participated in a country-western dance troupe and sang bass/baritone in the college choir while earning a degree in Political Science. During law school, he continued his interest in music by singing in, arranging for, and eventually conducting the law school a cappella group, alongside a continued enthusiasm for intramural sports.

Today, Sam is first and foremost a devoted husband. His wife, Lauren Colletti, is a functional medicine nurse practitioner: laurenjcolletti.com. Conversations about their respective work often reveal similarities in approach. Both emphasize genuine curiosity, active listening, and respect for the fact that their clients are often dealing with some of the most stressful issues in their lives. Sam brings this mindset to his Family Law practice by assessing current stressors and personal history to better understand how conflicts developed and how they may be addressed moving forward.

In addition to litigation, Sam maintains an active Family Law Mediation practice in Austin and throughout Texas. He takes particular satisfaction in helping parties and counsel work through difficult issues in a structured and thoughtful way. Since the pandemic, his mediation work has expanded, and he continues to refine his process to meet the evolving needs of families and attorneys. (His own children, however, remain skeptical of his attempts to mediate sibling disputes.)

Sam and Lauren live in the East Oak Hill area of Austin with their three children, Hazel, Harrison, and Holland, along with a rotating collection of reptiles and insects acquired by Harrison. Outside the office, Sam serves as a full-time chauffeur to sports practices, school events, rehearsals, and birthday parties. When time allows, he enjoys coffee on the front porch, mowing the lawn, playing beach volleyball, and grilling steaks—preferably all in one day and in that order.