Spotlight on Sandra Mihok
March 6, 2022
Sandra Mihok joined the firm’s Pittsburgh office in 1999. She grew up in Upper St. Clair, a suburb of Pittsburgh, and now lives just a few miles from her childhood home, in Peters Township. Sandra and her husband Robert have three daughters: Alessia (25), Isabella (20), and Emma (16), and a mini Aussiedoodle named Hank.
Sandra is chair of the firm’s Taxes, Estates and Employee Benefits Practice Group. She acts as outside benefits counsel for plan sponsors and fiduciaries, advising on special projects and day-to-day matters involving employee benefit plan administration and tax, Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. She plays a key role in her clients’ fiduciary compliance management by regularly attending plan committee meetings and providing training, education, and advice.
Q&A
What led you to pursue a career in law?
I have known since high school that I would be a lawyer. I always loved to read and write and wanted to help people.
What do you enjoy most about your practice?
The diversity of issues and working with great people.
What is something people might not know about you?
My parents are Italian immigrants — my dad is one of nine children and my mom one of 12. I have a huge, tight-knit family both here in Pittsburgh and also in Florence, Italy. Family reunions are frequent, loud and include ridiculous amounts of food.
Who/what inspires you?
Definitely my mother. She is loving, patient, and happy no matter what life throws her way. She is also hilarious.
Do you have any hidden talents?
Balancing anything on my head.
What’s your favorite place?
I have two: Florence, Italy and Nantucket, MA.
What’s your favorite pastime?
Watching NFL football, running, true crime TV, and reading.
What song instantly puts you in a good mood?
“Just the way you are” from Bruno Mars because it reminds me of my daughters.
What’s the last TV show you binge-watched?
Forensic Files
Who is a woman you admire and why?
I very much admire Nellie Bly, the investigative journalist from Pittsburgh who in 1887 faked her own insanity in order to expose the abusive conditions inside a woman’s asylum. She challenged norms and overcame rejection as she fought for gender equality in her field. Her courage and determination were remarkable, and she was an inspiration to the women of her time.