Sallie Gilbert

Partner Sallie Gilbert concentrates her practice on representing clients in commercial and civil litigation in a wide variety of construction disputes, complex commercial cases, mass torts, and environmental disputes. Sallie provides her clients with a distinctive combination of business insight and litigation strategy. Whether a client prefers a discreet settlement or aggressive litigation, Sallie delivers sharp, strategic guidance tailored to the situation.

Sallie is a member of the firm’s Commercial and Environmental Litigation Practice Group where she represents business clients in complex litigation matters such as breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference, fraud, fraudulent transfer actions, and claims under federal and state statutes. Our Commercial & Environmental lawyers represent the full spectrum of business interests and industries, from solo entrepreneurs to multi-national corporations, from coal miners to energy companies. Our team tries cases from coast to coast, in state and federal courts, and before arbitration tribunals.

Sallie has been part of trial teams that have won multimillion-dollar verdicts, and she has deep experience at all stages of civil litigation in state and federal courts and before arbitration tribunals. Sallie has represented clients in a variety of industries including energy, health care, construction, and higher education. 

Sallie's work has been recognized by Lawdragon where she is a Lawdragon 500 X - The Next Generation in litigation, construction, and mass torts; Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch in construction and environmental litigation; and Super Lawyers Rising Stars for business litigation. 

Sallie is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center and received her undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University. 

Awards & Accolades

Lawdragon 500 X - The Next Generation (Litigation, Construction, Mass Torts) (2025 and 2026)

Best Lawyers Ones to Watch®, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Construction, and Litigation - Environmental, Charleston, WV (2024 - 2027) 

Super Lawyers Rising Star, District of Columbia, Business Litigation (2022 - 2025)

Representative Matters

• Part of trial team that obtained a unanimous jury verdict on behalf of Shonk Land Company, proving five separate breaches of Shonk’s contractual rights of first refusal, awarding the plaintiff over $4.1 million in damages. As a result of those verdicts, Shonk will be restored as the rightful owner of 16,000-plus acres of valuable oil & gas property. In addition, the trial team proved intentional trespass, slander of Shonk’s title, tortious interference, and unjust enrichment.
• Obtained a $10 million arbitration award for a telecommunications utility contractor in a contract dispute related to the installation of Google Fiber.
• Helped more than 120 plaintiffs who were victims of a residential natural gas explosion in Silver Spring, Maryland successfully resolve their claims.
• Favorably resolved an oil and gas lease dispute regarding an assignment of a lease without consent and failure to pay royalties.

News & Insights

Community and Professional Activities

Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia