Sneed & Stearns has been part of the Swannanoa Valley since 1982.
Ron Sneed founded the firm after graduating from UNC School of Law, building a practice around the legal needs of the people of the Swannanoa Valley. Alongside his private practice, Ron served for 41 years as attorney for the Town of Black Mountain.
Over the decades, thousands of clients across Western North Carolina have trusted the firm to help them buy homes, start businesses, settle estates, plan for their families, resolve disputes, and navigate the moments when good legal advice matters most.
That tradition continues today under Managing Partner Anna Stearns, whose own history with the firm began as a high school intern. After working alongside Ron for years, attending law school, and serving as Chief of Staff to the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, Anna returned to Black Mountain and purchased the firm in 2021.
Today, Sneed & Stearns is a multigenerational practice with deep roots in the community it serves. Our attorneys bring experience from private practice, the courts, and public service—but our approach remains much the same: know our clients, know our community, and provide practical legal counsel with personal attention.
Our Story
We are a boutique law firm by choice. We believe legal services should be personal, accessible, and grounded in the needs of the people we serve.
Our clients come to us with matters that affect their families, their homes, their businesses, and their livelihoods. They deserve more than a file number or a call center. When you call our office, a member of our team answers the phone. We take the time to understand what matters to you, explain your options in plain language, and give you practical advice you can actually use.
Being client-centered also means being responsive. We work to keep our clients informed, answer questions, and make complicated legal processes easier to understand. And because we are a small firm with broad experience, we can offer the personal attention of a neighborhood practice backed by experience in private practice, the courts, and state government.
Good legal counsel should help you understand where you stand, what your options are, and what comes next. That’s what we aim to provide.
Our Approach
Our Attorneys
Anna Stearns
Managing Partner
Anna started with the firm as a high school intern and today serves as its managing partner. Along the way, she built a career spanning private practice, state government, and the North Carolina courts. Anna specializes in real estate transactions and complex estate administration.
Ronald Sneed
Founding Partner
Ron founded the firm in 1978 and has spent nearly five decades serving clients in Black Mountain and Western North Carolina. His deep knowledge of the community and its people remains at the heart of the firm he built.
Johanna Finkelstein
Associate Attorney
Johanna brings decades of experience in private practice and the Buncombe County court system, including more than ten years presiding over estate and guardianship matters. Her practice focuses on civil litigation, estates, and guardianships.
Ciara Woodlee
Associate Attorney
Ciara first joined Sneed & Stearns as a high school intern and continued working with the firm through college and law school before returning home to practice law. She focuses on estate planning and business matters, helping clients plan thoughtfully for what comes next.