Michael Paul Ringwood, Esq.

With more than 40 years of experience serving clients all over New York State, Michael is dedicated to help his clients and the NYS community. 

Michael Paul Ringwood has been a NYS Bar Admitted Attorney continuously since 1980. His career began at and with the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office.  First as a Law Student/Law Clerk.  Then as a Fourth Department Certified Criminal Law Associate.  Last, as an Assistant District Attorney over a four-year time span in their Felony Trial Unit working for his law school trial practice instructor and later Federal District Court Judge, (Northern District of NY), the late Norman A. Mordue. 


After honing his skills as a trial lawyer, he joined the Civil Litigation Firm: Smith, Sovilk, Kendrick, Schwartzer & Sugnet, PC. (now known as the Smith Sovik Law Firm). From his start as an Associate in 1984 up to his 12-31-2022 retirement as a full Equity Partner,  he tried civil lawsuits to verdict, and argued appeals all over the State of NY.  These cases covered the full gamut of personal injury litigation, including but not limited to:

  • General Negligence
  • Fraternity/Sorority Litigation
  • Premises Liability
  • Construction / Labor Law Litigation
  • Automobile Liability
  • Trucking Litigation
  • Product Liability
  • Municipal Liability
  • Employment Litigation
  • Civil Rights Litigation
  • Defamation Litigation 
  • Healthcare Litigation
  • Medical Malpractice 
  • Chiropractic Malpractice
  • Nursing Home Litigation
  • Legal Malpractice
  • Architect / Engineering Litigation
  • Professional License Discipline 

Michael Paul Ringwood has been a NYS Bar Admitted Attorney continuously since 1980. His career began at and with the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office.  First as a Law Student/Law Clerk.  Then as a Fourth Department Certified Criminal Law Associate.  Last, as an Assistant District Attorney over a four-year time span in their Felony Trial Unit working for his law school trial practice instructor and later Federal District Court Judge, (Northern District of NY), the late Norman A. Mordue. 


After honing his skills as a trial lawyer, he joined the Civil Litigation Firm: Smith, Sovilk, Kendrick, Schwartzer & Sugnet, PC. (now known as the Smith Sovik Law Firm). From his start as an Associate in 1984 up to his 12-31-2022 retirement as a full Equity Partner,  he tried civil lawsuits to verdict, and argued appeals all over the State of NY.  These cases covered the full gamut of personal injury litigation, including but not limited to:

  • General Negligence
  • Fraternity/Sorority Litigation
  • Premises Liability
  • Construction / Labor Law Litigation
  • Automobile Liability
  • Trucking Litigation
  • Product Liability
  • Municipal Liability
  • Employment Litigation
  • Civil Rights Litigation
  • Defamation Litigation 
  • Healthcare Litigation
  • Medical Malpractice 
  • Chiropractic Malpractice
  • Nursing Home Litigation
  • Legal Malpractice
  • Architect / Engineering Litigation
  • Professional License Discipline 

To the extent the practice of Civil Litigation includes work in the nature of Arbitration and Mediation, his practice has included each, both as legal counsel representing clients and also as duly chosen Mediator or Arbitrator.

Awards & Honors

  • Admitted NYS Bar (Appellate Division, 4th Dept), 1980
  • Member, NYS Bar Association 
  • Member, Onondaga County Bar Association
  • Longtime Fmr. Member, Onondaga County Bar Judiciary Committee
  • Admitted to practice in all NYS State and NYS Federal Courts 
  • Member, American College of Legal Medicine
  • Member, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • AV-Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell 
  • “Super Lawyer”, continuously listed since 2007 
  • Top 50 for Malpractice Defense “Super Lawyer” listed 2010 
  • “Best Lawyer in America” listed continuously since 2008
  • “Best’s, Lawyer of the Year” for Professional Malpractice Law 2013
  • “Best’s, Lawyer of the Year” for Legal Malpractice Defense 2015
  • “Best’s, Lawyer of the Year” for Malpractice Defense 2023