Sean A. Bukowski is an attorney in Meissner Tierney’s litigation practice group where he primarily represents insurers and their insureds in civil matters involving liability and coverage issues.

Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Bay City, Michigan.

What was your first job?
At age 13, I started scooping ice cream for a local ice cream store that my mother managed.

Do you have any hobbies?
I enjoy movies, playing video games, attending sporting events, spending time with my family, and doing anything competitive.

What is something on your bucket list?
While I have traveled quite extensively in the U.S., traveling to England has been on my bucket list for some time. I love history and England has had such an important role in shaping the world through the centuries.

Why did you become an attorney?
Aside from not being able to get a job as a Political Science and History major after my undergraduate degree, I have always had an interest in the law. As a Senior in High School, I worked as an intern in my local prosecutor’s office, which piqued my interest in the law. But perhaps most importantly, being interested in government and politics seemed to provide a natural foundation to pursue a profession in the law.

What does a typical workday look like for you?
As a litigator, every day is different. Some days I spend my day taking depositions, attending mediations, or attending hearings. On other days, I am occupied with drafting briefs, mediation statements, or otherwise communicating with clients. My daily focus more broadly however is to solve problems. Attorneys are, at their core, problem solvers. There are times when we may encounter a difficult deposition, Court ruling, or some other problem. Our job is to then try to resolve that problem. That might be the most rewarding part of being an attorney as it requires you to use your skill and expertise to resolve a problem. That is fundamentally what it means to be an attorney.

Why did you choose your areas of practice?
Honestly, I fell into insurance law. The first firm that hired me out of law school primarily practiced insurance law, and I have not looked back since. What most people do not realize however is that insurance law is incredibly broad. While determining whether there is insurance coverage is part of my practice, practicing insurance law has exposed me to other areas of law including appellate, employment, construction, product liability, and much more. Being exposed to various areas of the law has allowed me to expand my practice into these areas beyond just the insurance context.

What is your biggest achievement, professional or personal?
To name just one is difficult and my response is sure to offend someone, but being sworn in as a Michigan attorney in my hometown was special. I was home for Christmas that year, and my family was able to attend and speak to my character, skill, and intellect, which is always an honor and truly humbling. One of my attorney mentors at my local prosecutor’s office motioned for my admission, and my admission was granted by a local judge, who also happened to be a family friend. It was a special event.

What activities do you participate in outside of the firm?
I am an active member of the Wisconsin Defense Counsel, an organization comprised of primarily insurance defense attorneys. I attend the yearly conferences and speak at the conferences on occasion.

What is your favorite thing about MTFN? 
I have worked at some good firms with some good lawyers, but MTFN is a set above the rest. Every single employee here, attorney or not, is professional, works hard, and above all, cares about what they do.

What has been the most impactful advice you have received about practicing law?
Your reputation is everything.

Sean can be reached at sab@mtfn.com. Learn more about our attorneys by visiting mtfn.com/attorneys.