Snapper Tams

Snapper Tams is a senior litigation attorney recognized for his strategic precision and practical, down-to-earth approach to resolving high-stakes legal challenges. He is driven by a commitment to deliver effective, tailored solutions that achieve results, and his ability to balance meticulous preparation with creative problem-solving has made him a trusted advocate in the courtroom.

Prior to joining BerlikLaw, Snapper served as a Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Loudoun County, where he represented the Commonwealth of Virginia in the prosecution of a wide range of felony and misdemeanor offenses. During his four years as a prosecutor, Snapper managed complex litigation involving vehicular crash data, computer and electronic records, and drug and blood analysis. In this role, he partnered with local law enforcement agencies to educate officers on developments in the law and help implement effective strategies to strengthen cases and yield consistent outcomes. He also worked closely with various community stakeholders, serving as the liaison for programs including the Loudoun County Adult Drug Court Treatment Docket (“Drug Court”) and the Mental Health Docket.

Snapper earned his J.D. with honors from the University of Richmond School of Law, where he served in multiple leadership roles, including as President of the Criminal Law Society and Managing Editor of the Public Interest Law Review. Snapper was awarded as the winner of the Carrico Intrascholastic Moot Court Competition and emerged as a finalist in the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Competition. He graduated as a member of the Order of the Barristers, a distinguished honor recognizing his excellence in oral advocacy.

In addition to practicing law, Snapper maintains an active real estate license through the eXp realty brokerage and is a member of the Dulles Area Association of Realtors. He is part of both the GRID real estate investor community and the GAIN real estate network, where he provides commentary and legal insight on legislative changes, appellate case updates, and a variety of real estate issues to support investors, homeowners, and agents in successfully navigating obstacles and accomplishing their real estate goals.

Snapper grew up outside of Los Angeles, California, where he attended Sierra Canyon School and was the first-ever recipient of the Head of School award, bestowed upon the graduating student who most exemplifies Sierra Canyon’s core values of excellence, integrity, community, independence, and perspective. After graduating from Colorado College with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, he returned to Los Angeles for two years where he worked with teens diagnosed with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health issues.

Snapper remains active in mental health and youth community organizations and has served as a board member of both Mental Health Virginia, Virginia’s oldest statewide mental health nonprofit advocacy organization, as well as Fihankra Akoma Ntoaso, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit supporting youth in foster care through immersive summer and after-school programs.

Snapper is an alumnus of both Leadership Loudoun’s Signature Program (‘23) and the Sorensen Institute’s Emerging Leaders Program (‘19). He is an avid sports fan and aviation enthusiast. Outside of the office, he enjoys taking landscape photography, traveling internationally with his family, and hiking with his Bernese Mountain Dog, Toblerone.