Resources

Our “Get to Know BMD” series introduces you to the professionals who drive our firm’s success. We delve into the personal and professional stories of our team members, exploring their career paths, practice areas, and the passions that inspire their work. Get to Know BMD in this spotlight with Cleveland Member Michael Sneeringer.

What inspired you to choose a career in law?

My undergraduate Professor, Dr. Joseph DiSarro, thought I should look into law school. I did and thought it could be something worth pursuing. 

What is your practice area and why did you choose it?

Estate Planning. I chose this area because my law Professor, Jerry Hesch, exposed me to some of the trust cases in this area and gave me a stack of books while I was a law student. They were interesting; so much so, I pursued an LLM in Estate Planning.

What do you enjoy most about practicing law?

I enjoy meeting new clients for the first time and learning their personal stories, and the intellectually stimulating conversations I have with other attorneys.

If you weren’t a lawyer, what alternative career path do you think you might have pursued?

I would have been a chief-of-staff/executive assistant for someone important in politics, worked in the foreign services, or worked somewhere in the sport of water polo.

What was your first job ever, and what did it teach you that you still use in your legal career today?

I was a busser and dishwasher at the Red River Roadhouse at the Millcreek Mall in Erie, Pennsylvania. It taught me that restaurant workers are tough people and that I was not cut out for the restaurant industry or manual labor. 

Outside of the legal world, what is one skill or talent you possess that might surprise your colleagues?

I am very good at domestic housework. I keep the dishes clean and the laundry caught up. I enjoy cleaning out a clutter-filled room and not telling my wife when things have been thrown away. 

What’s a recent book you read or podcast you listened to that you would recommend?

I listen weekly to The Right Time with Bomani Jones. He recently had Mina Kimes as a guest, and they had a stimulating conversation about NFL football. They also discussed the length of time it took them to solve the New York Times crossword puzzle. 

What is one goal you’ve set for yourself this year, professionally or personally?

To attend as many of my daughter, Bellamy's, middle school volleyball games as I can. 

Michael can be reached at masneeringer@bmdllc.com. Learn more about our attorneys by visiting https://www.bmdllc.com/team/.