Education

• J.D., West Virginia University College of Law (1998)
• A.B., Lenoir-Rhyne University (1991)

Bar Admissions

• Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts
  of West Virginia

Affiliations

• American Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law Section)
• West Virginia State Bar (Employment Law Committee)
• Defense Research Institute (Employment Law Committee; former Regional Editor of The Job Description)
• Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia (Employment Law Committee)
• West Virginia Chamber of Commerce (Human Resources Committee)

Professional Highlights and Representative Legal Experience

• Member, Bowles Rice Executive Committee
• Former Member, Bowles Rice Human Resources Committee
• Leader, Bowles Rice Labor and Employment Practice Group
• Named to Best Lawyers in America (Employment Law - Management; Litigation - Labor & Employment)
• Recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers
• Selected as a West Virginia Super Lawyer
• Successfully tried multiple employment cases to verdict, including claims of wrongful discharge, sexual harassment, retaliation and discrimination (age, gender and disability/failure to accommodate)
• Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of a publicly traded company in a wrongful discharge/gender discrimination case after a seven day jury trial
• Obtained a defense verdict in a multi-party sexual harassment case after a five day jury trial
• Lead counsel in successful defense of a "same-sex" sexual harassment and retaliation case filed and litigated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• Obtained pretrial dismissal of numerous claims asserted against employers and management employees through the filing of dispositive motions
• Substantial experience representing employers in administrative proceedings involving EEO investigations and public hearings, unemployment compensation claims and state employee grievances
• Successfully represented employers in numerous labor arbitrations involving grievances over “just cause” discharge, implementation of a drug and alcohol policy, and health care benefit plan changes
• Represented management in labor relations matters, including collective bargaining negotiations and the litigation of unfair labor practice charges
• Authored over 30 articles on labor, employment and other legal topics for state and national publications