Aaron Bruggeman
Current association: Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Past associations: Bricker Graydon LLP; Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
Law School: Capital University Law School
Undergraduate: Ohio University
Spouse: Jaime
Children/Grandchildren: 5 Children – Olivia, Grace, Aubrey, Brady, and Mason
Hometown: Barnesville, Ohio
Favorite restaurant: Muddy Miser’s – Zanesville, Ohio
EMLF Involvement: Past Member of Board of Trustees and Multiple Presentations at CLE Events
Community Involvement: Former President, Barnesville Area Chamber of Commerce; Former President, Barnesville Rotary Club; Former President, Belmont County Bar Association; Former Board Member, Barnesville Hospital Association; Member, Muskingum County Bar Association
Many of the cases you have handled through the years have been in mineral and natural resources law. How did you get involved in this area of law? Throughout law school, I had every intent on practicing criminal defense. Around the time of my graduation in May 2011, the oil and gas boom hit my hometown in Southeast Ohio. Whether I wanted to or not, oil and gas law was a necessity with all of the activity. Those early years dealing with the title issues with the Ohio Dormant Mineral Act, negotiations, and all of the activity will always remain some of my fondest memories in law practice.
Over the years, you have been very active in various mineral or energy organizations. What has EMLF meant to you? Has your involvement had a positive effect on your career? EMLF has been a wonderful asset to my career by allowing me to interact and associate with other energy attorneys around the country. The energy bar, in my experience, is honestly much smaller than some of the other areas of practice, and I have found many times I have been associated with or litigating cases with EMLF members. The networking events and CLE events are always so well tailored to the big topics at that time in the energy sector, and I have always appreciated the opportunity to attend these events and network with the other professionals.
Do you find time to travel for fun? Do you have a favorite place to visit? With 5 children, our travel usually revolves around sports, but we do travel as much as possible. Our favorites are Palm Coast, Florida and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, but I have always been a Civil War history buff, so the regular trip to Gettysburg is also a regular visit for us.
Favorite books/authors, genre? Other hobbies? Being a fan of Civil War history, I regularly read biographies and other literature surrounding that era. However, my favorite hobby, when not coaching one of my kids, is hitting that little white ball on the golf course.
You have been practicing law for a number of years and have had substantial success. Is there any advice you would give to new lawyers and law students who are about to become lawyers? My biggest advice to law students is always to keep an open mind early in their career and be willing to try different practice areas. If I had limited myself to criminal defense, my career would have not traversed the energy sector in the manner it has or opened up the many career opportunities I have been presented.their conferences and programs ever since. EMLF has provided a host of networking opportunities with colleagues in-house, in private practice, and at regulatory agencies. These connections have had a profoundly positive impact on my practice and career.