Press Release

Charleston, W.Va. — Spilman Thomas & Battle (Spilman) announced that 60 of the firm's attorneys were selected by their peers for inclusion on the 2023 Best Lawyers list, 10 were selected as Best Lawyers "Lawyers of the Year," and nine others were selected as Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch."

Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Its methodology is designed to capture the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area. More information can be found at https://www.bestlawyers.com/methodology.
 
BEST LAWYERS
The following Spilman attorneys were selected by their peers in their respective areas of practice for inclusion on the Best Lawyers list:
Charleston, West Virginia:

• John F. Allevato: Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
• Andrew P. Arbogast: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
• Michael J. Basile: Corporate Law, Government Relations Practice, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• H. Dill Battle III: Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
• Samuel M. Brock III: Employment Law - Management, Litigation - ERISA
• Kevin L. Carr: Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Mark D. Clark: Government Relations Practice
• James S. Crockett, Jr.: Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation - Construction, Litigation - Environmental, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Paula L. Durst: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Travis H. Eckley: Real Estate Law
• Lee F. Feinberg: Energy Law, Utilities Law
• David P. Ferretti: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Michael S. Garrison: Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Christopher M. Green: Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
• Laura E. Hayes: Insurance Law
• Mark E. Heath: Energy Law
• William M. Herlihy: Corporate Law, Energy Law, Natural Resources Law
• Eric W. Iskra: Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Bruce M. Jacobs: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Corporate Law, Financial Services Regulation Law, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation - Bankruptcy
• Heather Heiskell Jones: Litigation - Insurance, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Eric E. Kinder: Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Clifford F. Kinney, Jr.: Litigation - Construction, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
• Neva G. Lusk: Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
• Alexander Macia: Energy Regulatory Law, Government Relations Practice
• Nicholas P. Mooney II: Financial Services Regulation Law, Litigation - Banking and Finance
• Glen A. Murphy: Litigation - Insurance
• Joyce F. Ofsa: Real Estate Law
• Paul G. Papadopoulos: Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Tax Law
• Don C. A. Parker: Insurance Law
• Niall A. Paul: Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Environmental, Litigation - Labor and Employment, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Nicholas S. Preservati: Energy Law, Natural Resources Law
• Susan J. Riggs: Utilities Law
• Edward W. Rugeley III: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
• Grant P. H. Shuman: Litigation - ERISA
• John R. Teare, Jr.: Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Gerald M. Titus III: Commercial Litigation
• Ellen J. Vance: Employment Law - Management
• Karin L. Weingart: Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
• David L. Yaussy: Environmental Law, Litigation - Environmental

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania:

• Derrick Price Williamson: Energy Law

Morgantown, West Virginia:

• Debra Lee Allen: Financial Services Regulation Law
• Carl H. Cather III: Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Real Estate Law
• Patrick R. Esposito II: Corporate Law
• Matthew P. Heiskell: Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law
• James A. Walls: Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Labor and Employment

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:

• Sally E. Edison: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Carl H. Hellerstedt, Jr.: Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Bryan S. Neft: Commercial Litigation
• Julian E. Neiser: Construction Law, Litigation - Construction
• Peter R. Rich: Employment Law - Management
• Ronald W. Schuler: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Roanoke, Virginia:

• Carter R. Brothers: Commercial Finance Law, Trusts and Estates
• F. B. Webster Day: Corporate Law, Public Finance Law
• Bryce J. Hunter: Banking and Finance Law
• Peter M. Pearl: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Corporate Law
• Lori D. Thompson: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Family Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy
• Hugh B. Wellons: Banking and Finance Law, Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice, Financial Services Regulation Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law

Wheeling, West Virginia:

• David R. Croft: Corporate Law, Tax Law

Winston-Salem, North Carolina:

• Matthew W. Georgitis: Construction Law
• Stephanie U. Eaton: Litigation - Construction, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

 
BEST LAWYERS "LAWYERS OF THE YEAR"
Additional recognitions were awarded to 10 Spilman lawyers with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. Only one lawyer is recognized as the "Lawyer of the Year" for each practice and location. Spilman 2023 "Lawyers of the Year" are as follows:

• John F. Allevato: Trusts and Estates; Charleston, West Virginia
• Carl H. Cather III: Real Estate Law; Morgantown, West Virginia
• David R. Croft: Corporate Law; Morgantown, West Virginia
• F. B. Webster Day: Corporate Law, Public Finance Law; Roanoke, Virginia
• Eric W. Iskra: Labor Law – Management; Charleston, West Virginia
• Nicholas P. Mooney II: Financial Services Regulation Law; Charleston, West Virginia
• Joyce F. Ofsa: Real Estate Law; Charleston, West Virginia
• Don C. A. Parker: Insurance Law; Charleston, West Virginia
• Susan J. Riggs: Utilities Law; Charleston, West Virginia
• Ronald W. Schuler: Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

 
BEST LAWYERS "ONES TO WATCH"
Finally, nine Spilman attorneys also were recognized as 2023 "Ones to Watch" by Best Lawyers. These awards honor extraordinary lawyers who have been in private practice for fewer than 10 years in the United States.

• Lee D. Denton: Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction; Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Joseph A. (Jay) Ford: Commercial Litigation; Charleston, West Virginia
• Steven C. Hemric: Construction Law, Litigation – Construction; Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Tai Shadrick Kluemper: Financial Services Regulation Law; Charleston, West Virginia
• Sarah E. Kowalkowski: Litigation – Labor and Employment; Charleston, West Virginia
• Jordan A. Sengewalt: Commercial Litigation; Wheeling, West Virginia
• James E. Simon: Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Insurance law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Chelsea E. Thompson: Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment; Charleston, West Virginia
• Michelle L. Varga Esposito: Corporate Law; Morgantown, West Virginia

 
About Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC
Spilman Thomas & Battle is a full-service, super-regional law firm serving local, regional, national and international businesses. Founded in 1864, Spilman has offices in Charleston, Morgantown and Wheeling, West Virginia; Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and Roanoke, Virginia.