Press Release

Charleston, W.Va. — Spilman Thomas & Battle (Spilman) announced that 71 of the firm's attorneys were selected by their peers for inclusion on the 2024 Best Lawyers list, nine were selected as Best Lawyers "Lawyers of the Year," and 18 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 (retired): Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
• Andrew P. Arbogast: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - 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
• 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, Consumer Protection Law, Corporate Law, Financial Services Regulation Law, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation - Bankruptcy
• 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
• Charity K. Lawrence: Insurance Law, Product Liability Litigation - 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
• Joyce F. Ofsa: Real Estate Law
• Charles W. (C. W.) Pace, Jr.: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Trusts and Estates
• 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
• Jason C. Pizatella: Government Relations Practice
• Nicholas S. Preservati: Energy Law, Natural Resources Law
• Susan J. Riggs: Municipal Law, Utilities Law
• Edward W. Rugeley III: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
• John R. Teare, Jr.: Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Gerald M. Titus III: Commercial Litigation
• Ellen J. Vance: Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Karin L. Weingart: Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
• David L. Yaussy: Environmental Law, Litigation - Environmental

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania:

• Derrick Price Williamson: Energy Law

Jacksonville, Florida:

• Kevin L. Carr: Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment

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
• Joshua L. Jarrell: Corporate Law, Economic Development Law
• Kelly J. Kimble: Commercial Litigation
• James A. Walls: Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Labor and Employment

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:

• The Honorable Tom Corbett: Government Relations Practice
• Sally E. Edison: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Carl H. Hellerstedt, Jr. (retired): 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
• Jeremy E. Carroll: Litigation - Municipal
• 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
• Robert A. Ziogas: Commercial Litigation

Wheeling, West Virginia:

• David R. Croft: Corporate Law, Tax Law
• W. Eric Gadd: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Trusts and Estates
• Gerald E. (Gee) Lofstead: Insurance Law
• Donald A. Nickerson, Jr.: Corporate Law

Winston-Salem, North Carolina:

• Rayford K. (Trip) Adams III: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Matthew W. Georgitis: Construction Law, Litigation - Insurance
• Stephanie U. Eaton: Construction Law, Litigation - Construction, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
• Erin Jones Adams: Corporate Law, Employment Law - Management
• Jeffrey D. Patton: Employment Law - Management

 
BEST LAWYERS "LAWYERS OF THE YEAR"
Additional recognitions were awarded to nine 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 2024 "Lawyers of the Year" are as follows:

• Samuel M. Brock III: Litigation - ERISA; Charleston, West Virginia
• David P. Ferretti: Corporate Law; Charleston, West Virginia
• Christopher M. Green: Workers' Compensation Law - Employers; Charleston, West Virginia
• Carl H. Hellerstedt, Jr. (retired): Employment Law - Management; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Eric W. Iskra: Employment Law - Management; Charleston, West Virginia
• Clifford F. Kinney, Jr.: Litigation - Construction; Charleston, West Virginia
• Peter M. Pearl: Corporate Law; Roanoke, Virginia
• James A. Walls: Litigation - Labor and Employment; Morgantown, West Virginia
• Hugh B. Wellons: Banking and Finance Law, Financial Services Regulation Law; Roanoke, Virginia

 
BEST LAWYERS "ONES TO WATCH"
Finally, 18 Spilman attorneys also were recognized as 2024 "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.

• Drew A. Cather: Real Estate Law; Morgantown, West Virginia
• Victoria L. Creta: Commercial Litigation; Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Lee D. Denton: Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation - Construction; Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Robert J. Dobkin: Corporate Law; Wheeling, West Virginia
• Joseph A. (Jay) Ford: Commercial Litigation; Charleston, West Virginia
• Brandon M. Hartman: Real Estate Law; 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, Labor and Employment Law - Management; Charleston, West Virginia
• Megan W. Mullins: Litigation - Labor and Employment, Labor and Employment Law - Management; Charleston, West Virginia
• Mitchell J. Rhein: Labor and Employment Law - Management
• Brian H. Richardson: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Alison M. Sacriponte: Corporate Law; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Wesley A. Shumway: Commercial Litigation; Charleston, 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
• Ryan W. Weld: Real Estate Law; Wheeling, 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; Roanoke, Virginia; and Jacksonville, Florida.