Alan Abes knew from a young age he wanted to be a lawyer and never wavered in his pursuit. In junior high he quickly recognized his academic strengths in History and English. By the time he joined his high school debate team, his calling became undeniable—Alan wanted to pursue a career in law. He enjoyed presenting arguments, researching, and persuading others, which led him to realize he wanted to become a litigator. Recognizing these skills as his strengths, he pursued a path that would allow him to do just that.
College took Alan from his home in Northeast Ohio to Columbus where he attended The Ohio State University. During his time there he kept busy by volunteering as a reader at the school’s Disability Services office, serving as community service chair of Romophos Sophomore Honor Society, Vice President of Mortarboard Senior Honor Society, and President of Pi Sigma Alpha political science honor society. He stayed active by playing intramural softball and flag football. The summers brought him back home where he worked as a mover at the store where his dad sold furniture, and as a playground supervisor for the Canton Recreation Department.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, with honors in the Liberal Arts and distinction in Political Science, in 1990. Law school was the next step on his list. Ready for a change, but not wanting to leave the Midwest, Alan applied to a handful of schools and decided upon Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Alan said, “It appealed to me, and it would be a bit more accessible than other places I might have applied to.”
During law school, Alan was involved in moot court, serving on the moot court board, and contributing to one of the school’s legal journals. Outside the classroom, he stayed active by playing intramural softball and floor hockey. After his second year, he spent the summer in Cincinnati as a summer associate for Dinsmore & Shohl, an experience that would later shape his career. Reflecting on his time in law school, he shared, “I loved law school, had a great group of friends, and a supportive class that wasn’t needlessly competitive.”
Alan graduated cum laude in 1993 with his Juris Doctorate and chose to return to Ohio to begin his legal career. He interviewed with firms in Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati before ultimately selecting Dinsmore—a decision made easier by his experience as a summer associate there. Describing himself as a “jack of all trades” litigator, Alan has built a long and successful career at Dinsmore, remaining with the firm for 32 years.
Over the years, Alan has held various leadership roles at Dinsmore, including Commercial Litigation practice group co-chair, Vice Chair of the Diversity Committee, and Firm Coordinator for the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati’s Volunteer Lawyers Project. He spoke fondly of his time as Chair of the Recruiting Committee saying, “I like recruiting and working hand in hand with our Diversity Committee. When I look back at what I’ve really accomplished, helping open our doors wider to more promising candidates is something I'm proud of.” In 2001, he reached a milestone in his career when he made Partner at Dinsmore.
Alan has been a staunch champion for the Cincinnati Bar Association during his career, as well. He joined in 1994 and has retained his membership every year. He credits the CBA with providing him access and opportunities to volunteer and grow in his leadership skills and career. Alan said, “My first leadership position was an officer in the local government law committee. I then became a member of community service committee, then chair, and that connected me to tutoring and mentoring work. Kent Wellington (fellow CBA member) was my first chair and that was his passion. Through his motivation we started tutoring at Dinsmore, then I became a mentor through Cincinnati Youth Collaborative. And that led to community service activities and volunteer opportunities for other organizations, and so on,” recalled Alan.
“Cincinnati Academy of Leadership for Lawyers, Class VII, was my first formal leadership experience. I became CALL’s Community Service Liaison and Steering Committee Chair. It gave me the credibility to join and contribute in a meaningful way to other organizations, including Leadership Cincinnati Class 39. Those experiences were really transformative,” said Abes. “That’s where I got to be a leader, at the CBA.”
“All these leadership positions at the Bar helped develop me tremendously. They gave me the resume and experience needed—law related or not. Because the bar association opened doors, which opened many other doors,” said Alan.
In 2009, Alan had another door open for him. He met his future wife, Monica Schneider. He claims to have won her over on their first date when he knew about a paper a famous author in the political science world wrote. Monica is a political science professor at Miami University. They were married at Cincinnati Museum Center in 2010. The venue was a top choice for the couple. At our photoshoot, he and Monica beamed as they recalled how they walked through the museum exhibits, at their reception. “It was magical,” said Monica.
Their first child, Harrison, was born in 2011. Mitchell came along in 2014. After the photoshoot, Mitchell turned to Alan and said, “So, now that I’m President of the CBA when do I see my photos?” Alan assured him he was the son of the CBA President but loved the enthusiasm.
As a devoted husband and father, Alan keeps busy but still manages to donate time to organizations he finds worthwhile. He has a heart for the community and volunteer work. Outside of the CBA, he’s given his time and knowledge to several organizations over the years including but not limited to: United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Ohio Supreme Court Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness, Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, and Cincinnati Public Schools.
Through their oldest child, Harrison, Alan and Monica have become involved with the developmental disability community. He currently serves as President of the Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services Board and previously served on the board of the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati.
Genealogy also occupies some of Alan’s spare time. He’s delved into the history of his family and discovered a relative who was famous, or possibly notorious, in his time. He was the first head of gambling at the Stardust in Las Vegas. This relative was also best friends with the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and owned a small piece of the team for a little time before he sold his interest.
He’s also an avid sports fan. Playing sports was a big part of his youth, as was his love of college and professional sports (see sidebar). He’s a die-hard Ohio State fan. He and his best friend have held season tickets to Ohio State football since 1993. They had the privilege to attend the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship in Atlanta in January. It was an amazing trip as Ohio State won the game. He hopes to make more trips just like that.
When the conversation steered toward his goals as CBA President, Alan’s enthusiasm was evident. One main focus is to “reboot our community orientation.” But how? Alan recalled past CBA programs, such as field trips to local nonprofits and organizations around the area. “The Bar should be the one place where we help members get involved with the community. It plays a vital role in a lawyer’s career by bringing people together, fostering engagement, and strengthening connections,” he explained.
Reflecting on his own experiences, Alan emphasized the impact the CBA had on his professional journey. “My goal is to keep the bar association as a place where people can engage, gain experience, and build the connections they need to advance their careers. I don’t need another line on my resume—I want to do this because the bar association gave me so many of my first opportunities, opened doors, and created connections that led to other meaningful experiences,” he said passionately. Even before officially stepping into the role, he laid plans to support practice groups, outlined several of his President’s Briefs for The Report, and has additional ideas in the works to boost engagement.
Over three decades, Alan has not only built a thriving legal career but also dedicated himself to mentorship, diversity, and community service. Now, as President of the Cincinnati Bar Association, he is committed to strengthening community engagement and creating opportunities for others, like the Bar did for him.
Erica Monttinen is a communications specialist for the CBA. Thank you to the Cincinnati Museum Center for providing the perfect space for our photos.