HARRISBURG, Pa. (April 20, 2023) — The Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee will present its Sir Francis Bacon Alternative Dispute Resolution Award to retired Judge A. Michael Snyder, a distinguished neutral at the Dispute Resolution Institute (DRI) in Philadelphia, at an awards ceremony during the PBA Annual Meeting, May 3-5, in Philadelphia.
The Sir Francis Bacon Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant impact in bringing mediation and other forms of dispute resolution to Pennsylvania. Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was a Renaissance writer who served British monarchs in a legal capacity as knight, attorney general and solicitor. He authored the essay, “Of Negotiating,” which featured the frequently quoted line, “It is generally better to deal by speech than by letter, and by the mediation of a third than by a man’s self.”
In 2012, Judge Snyder joined the DRI as a distinguished neutral, arbitrator, mediator, discovery master and trial strategy consultant. Previously, he was a judge for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Bureau of Workers’ Compensation for 15 years. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Snyder worked in private practice.
In addition to his current role, Judge Snyder has been appointed as a Discovery Master in certain matters in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia. He is also an adjunct professor at Temple University Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia.
One of his nominators said: “I recently retained his services to help mediate a complicated personal injury matter I was handling. Mike’s skills in helping opposing parties reach a consensus was on full display. Opposing counsel and his clients were challenging to deal with, but Mike did so seamlessly, making everyone feel comfortable with the compromise he helped us reach. He was able to do this because of his ability to relate to people and to look at all issues from a unique perspective.”
Judge Snyder has extensive knowledge about the interrelationships between Workers’ Compensation and Medicare, and frequently lectures on various Medicare Set-Aside issues. His broad list of speaking engagements includes: Pennsylvania Association of Mutual Insurance Carriers, Pennsylvania Self-Insured Association, Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel, Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, Delaware Valley Consortium, Delaware Valley Workers’ Compensation Trust, National Business Institute and Temple University Beasley School of Law.
Within the PBA, Judge Snyder is a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, Civility in the Profession Committee, Civil Litigation Section and the Workers’ Compensation Law Section. He is a past member of the PBA House of Delegates. Judge Snyder is also active on the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation Board of Directors and the foundation’s Events, Finance, Grants and Investment committees. He has helped plan the annual workers’ compensation continuing legal education (CLE) programs and has given numerous CLE presentations for the PBA. Judge Snyder has been a member of the PBA since 1974.
Judge Snyder is the founder and past president of the Judge Alexander F. Barbieri Workers’ Compensation Inn of Court, and a member of the Temple American Inn of Court. In addition, Judge Snyder has served as chancellor of the Louis D. Brandeis Law Society and is now on its Executive Committee. He also served as president of the society’s foundation. Currently, Judge Snyder is a member of the Elder Justice Resource Center Taskforce and the Ombuds Project, a joint First Judicial District Bar Association initiative; member of the National Conference of Bar Presidents Finance Committee; and board member of Good Shepherd Mediation Services and ArtsBlog.
Active in the Philadelphia Bar Association, Judge Snyder has served as chancellor and chair of its Board of Governors, co-chair of its Bar Academy, co-chair of its Law School Outreach Initiative, treasurer of its Campaign for Qualified Judges and member of its Bench-Bar Planning Committee. In addition, he is a trustee of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation and has served as chair of its Grants Committee.
Recognized for his work, Judge Snyder’s accolades include the Martha Hampton Award, Workers’ Compensation Section of Philadelphia Bar Association; Benjamin F. Levy Community Service Award, Louis D. Brandeis Law Society; and Scholar in Residence, Temple University, Fox School of Business. He was also named Top 3 Individual Mediator by The Legal Intelligencer two years in a row.
Judge Snyder received his Juris Doctor from Temple University School of Law and his bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg College. He received advanced mediation training through the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions.
For more information on the PBA Annual Meeting, visit https://www.pabar.org/pdf/2023/AnnualMeeting2023.pdf.