Michael Sears is Vice President and Senior Counsel at Bank of the West.

Sears has been a BASF member for over a decade, has served on the Executive Committee of the In-House Counsel Subsection and currently serves on the Justice & Diversity Center’s board of directors. He has participated in numerous BASF activities and events throughout the years and enjoys all of the benefits BASF has to offer. Outside of practicing law, Sears has numerous interests. Here are five things we didn’t know about him:

1. My first job after graduating from college was teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) at Harvard Summer School. It was a great experience interacting with students from all over the world.
2. Between college and law school, I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Swaziland, southern Africa, where I taught high school mathematics. Among many memorable events, I attended King Mswati’s coronation ceremony in traditional dress.
3. I have traveled to over 25 countries (some by hitchhiking), in Africa, South America and Europe, and I have studied four languages (Spanish, Irish, siSwati and French).
4. I rowed in the World Outgames in Montreal in 2006, representing San Francisco. Although my boat did not medal, it was thrilling to row on the same course as the 1976 Summer Olympics.
5. I am proud to be associated with two fine law firms, Lillick & Charles and Seyfarth Shaw, and two fine legal departments, Charles Schwab & Co. and Bank of the West.