Meet Attorney Max W. Thomas

Why I do this work

Before I became a lawyer, I earned my Ph.D. in English literature at the University of Pennsylvania and taught as an assistant professor at the University of Iowa. Those years in the classroom taught me two things I use every day: how to explain complicated ideas in plain language, and how to really listen to the person in front of me. Every student, like every client, comes with their own story.

After earning my J.D. at Case Western Reserve University, I spent a dozen years as a business litigation attorney. That work taught me how legal disputes unfold, and how often careful planning could have prevented them. It’s still the foundation of how I practice.

Then my daughter was born with Down syndrome, and I got a crash course in what families like mine face: planning for a child’s future, navigating benefits and schools, and wondering what happens when we’re no longer here to help. That experience, along with missing the close, one-on-one work I’d loved as a teacher, led me to build my own practice. I wanted to help other families find their way through the same uncertain territory.

You’ll work with me directly, from our first meeting to the day you sign. I take the time to understand both the legal questions and the personal and family concerns behind them, and then we build a plan together. You’ll get clear answers, and you won’t be left sorting through legal jargon. I welcome clients of every background and family structure, including LGBTQ+ individuals, couples, and families. Today I help Akron-area families plan ahead, care for loved ones with disabilities, settle a family member’s estate or trust, and work through disputes when they arise.

Outside the office, I’ve long supported the arts in Northeast Ohio, including fifteen years on the board of GroundWorks DanceTheater and earlier service on the board of the Beck Center for the Arts.

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