Ethan Samson

Vice President & Deputy General Counsel

Ethan Samson is the Executive Vice President & Deputy General Counsel for Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants.  In addition to legal affairs, Ethan oversees development/new business opportunities for Lettuce and provides strategic oversight for the corporate and operations teams.

Ethan started his career with Lettuce as a Summer Intern while attending the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign).  After graduating with dual-degrees in Accounting and Finance, he earned his CPA and started as a Staff Accountant for Lettuce. Ethan continued in this role while earning his JD from Chicago-Kent College of Law until graduating and being admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2010. He spent the next four years working as a Corporate Attorney specializing in Mergers and Acquisitions at Reed Smith LLP.  Ethan rejoined Lettuce in the Legal Department in 2014.

Since his return, Ethan has had the opportunity to be on the frontlines of the company’s growth by participating in the negotiations for leases and financing sources for new projects in existing markets (Chicagoland, DC Metro, Las Vegas, Los Angeles) and for the company’s entry into new markets (Austin, Orlando, Miami).

He additionally supports the operations teams in working through ever-changing regulations and a wide variety of legal matters.  Ethan also played a key role in facilitating the Wow Bao transaction with Valor Equity Partners (Valor), a Chicago-based equity firm that partnered with Lettuce to grow the Wow Bao brand.

Ethan sits on the Board of Directors for the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services and is a member of the Advisory Council for the Illinois Restaurant Association.

He met his wife, Michaela, through their careers at Lettuce and loves when she tries new recipes at home.  Ethan also enjoys golf, live music, trying new restaurants, rooting for the Bears, Blackhawks, and Cubs, and participating in his book club’s debates.