Education

• J.D., West Virginia University College of Law (1973)
• B.A., Washington and Jefferson College (1968)

Bar Admissions

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

Professional Highlights

• Named Best Lawyers' "2012 Mining Law Lawyer of the Year" for Charleston, West Virginia
• Named Best Lawyers' "2010 Real Estate Lawyer of the Year" for Charleston, West Virginia (2010) 
• McClaugherty Award Recipient, Energy and Mineral Law Foundation (2006)
• Recognized by West Virginia Super Lawyers as one of "West Virginia Top 10 Super Lawyers"(2009)
• Named to Best Lawyers in America (Energy Law, Mining Law, Natural Resources Law, Oil & Gas Law, Real Estate Law, Litigation - Real Estate)
• AV Martindale-Hubbell Rating
• Listed in Chambers USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers
• Trustee and Past President, Energy and Mineral Law Foundation
• Past President and Executive Council Chairman, West Virginia Bar Association
• West Virginia University College of Law, Robert T. Donley Adjunct Professor of Coal, Oil and Gas Law (1986-2005)
• Published articles: Rights-of-way and Easements in Mineral Development; Maintaining Oil and Gas Lease in Distressed Markets; West Virginia Ad Valorem Property Taxes; Fire in the Hole to Longwell Shears, Old Law Applied to New Technology; Accounting for Cotenants, Trustees, Lessees, Trespassers and the Like
• Former Law Clerk, Honorable John A. Field, Jr., United States Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
• President, Charleston City Council, elected member since 1987
• Independent Oil and Gas Association
• West Virginia Coal Association
• Chairman, Charleston Land Trust
• Member, Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference

Interests

• Private Pilot
• Gardening and Landscaping
• United States Tennis Association, 4.0 rating