Team
Related Practice Areas
- Affordable Care Act
- Banking & Financial Services
- Banking Mergers and Acquisitions
- Business Litigation
- CARES Act / COVID-19 Response Team
- Class Action Defense
- Commercial Lending
- Consumer Lending
- Creditors' Rights & Bankruptcy
- Cybersecurity and Information Privacy
- Economic Development
- ERISA Litigation
- Executive Compensation and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Agreements
- Financial Services Litigation
- FinTech
- General Regulatory and Compliance Matters
- Government Relations
- Health Plans, Cafeteria Plans and Other Fringe Benefits
- Labor and Employment
- Litigation
- Securities Law
Banking & Financial Services
Since our firm’s founding in 1920, the banking industry has been at the core of our practice. Today, Bowles Rice clients include:
- Banks
- Bank holding companies
- The West Virginia Bankers Association
- Community Bankers of West Virginia
- Mortgage companies
- Commercial credit companies
- Insurance agencies
- Trust companies
Bowles Rice currently represents more than 70 regional banks and financial services providers. Among the services we provide are:
- Expansion activities: formation of bank holding companies; bank mergers and acquisitions; acquisition of non-banking subsidiaries; and other special projects
- General regulatory matters
- Strategic planning, tax planning, capital planning and recapitalization
- Commercial and consumer lending
- Compliance with securities laws and reorganization
- Government relations
- Financial management
- Employee benefits and executive compensation
- Taxation
- Real estate
- Trusts and estate planning
- Commercial litigation
Bowles Rice has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms as “First Tier” for Banking Law in West Virginia since that publication’s inception. The Bowles Rice Banking Team includes attorneys who have decades of experience serving the banking and finance industry and who have been recognized in Woodward/White's publication, The Best Lawyers in America® as well as in Chambers and Partners' publication, America's Leading Business Lawyers.
News
- June 5, 2023
- May 20, 2021
- April 24, 2020
- June 3, 2019
- April 17, 2019
Presentations & Events
- Presentation: Deposit Fraud by Amy J. Tawney and Floyd BooneTop Net Annual ConferenceStonewall Resort, Roanoke, West Virginia, September 18, 2023
- Presentation: The Proposed Rule for Computer-Security Incident Notifications: What You Need to Know by Floyd Boone and Julie ShankCommunity Bankers of West Virginia Cybersecurity Technology ForumWebinar, April 13, 2021
- Presentation: What to Expect from PPP Plaintiffs by J. Mark Adkins and Lara R. BrandfassCommunity Bankers of West VirginiaWebinar, May 28, 2020
- Presentation: Putting Your Team Back to Work – New Rules, Regulations and Requirements for Employers in the COVID-19 Era by Jennifer B. Hagedorn, J. Tyler Mahew and Julie A. MooreCommunity Bankers of West VirginiaWebinar, May 12, 2020
- D.A. Davidson Mid-Atlantic ConferenceThe Duquesne Club, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 20, 2018
- D.A. Davidson Mid-Atlantic ConferenceThe Duquesne Club, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 20, 2018
- Presentation: 2015 West Virginia Legislative Update, by Thomas A. HeywoodCommunity Bankers of West Virginia's annual conventionStonewall Resort, Roanoke, West Virginia, June 6, 2015
- Presentation: 2015 Legislature Session: A Banking Industry Success Story, by Sandra M. MurphyWest Virginia Bankers AssociationStonewall Resort, Roanoke, West Virginia, April 23, 2015
- Presentation: West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act - Review & Update, by Floyd Boone, Julia A. Chincheck, Daniel J. Cohn, Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. TawneyWest Virginia Bankers AssociationDays Conference Center, Flatwoods, West Virginia, December 3, 2014
- Presentation: Collecting Under the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, by Julia A. ChincheckWest Virginia Bankers AssociationDecember 2014
- Presentation: West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, by Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. TawneyWest Virginia Bankers AssociationFlatwoods, West Virginia, December 2014
- Presentation: Judgment Enforcement Remedies, by Julia A. Chincheck and Daniel J. CohnClient SeminarNovember 2014
- Presentation: Secured Loan Documentation Seminar, by Julia A. ChincheckWest Virginia Bankers AssociationSpring 2014
- Presentation: Mitigating Fair Lending Risk in the Current Regulatory Environment, by Julia A. ChincheckWest Virginia Bankers Association2014
- Presentation: Collecting Under the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, by Julia A. ChincheckWest Virginia Bankers Association2014
- Presentation: West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act - Review & Update, by Floyd Boone, Julia A. Chincheck, Stuart A. McMillan, Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. TawneyWest Virginia Bankers AssociationCharleston, West Virginia, November 20, 2013
- Presentation: West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, by Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. TawneyWest Virginia Bankers AssociationCharleston, West Virginia, November 2013
- Presentation: Fair Lending, by Floyd Boone, Julia A. Chincheck and Sandra M. MurphyWest Virginia Bankers AssociationDays Conference Center, Flatwoods, West Virginia, April 24, 2013
- Presentation: Secured Loan Transactions, by Amy J. TawneyWest Virginia Bankers AssociationClarksburg, West Virginia, April 2013
- Presentation: Risks Associated With Fair Lending Laws, by Julia A. ChincheckWest Virginia Bankers Association2013
- Presentation: West Virginia's Amendments to Article 9, by Julia A. ChincheckWest Virginia Bankers Association2013
- Presentation: Collecting Under the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, by Julia A. ChincheckWest Virginia Bankers Association2013
- Presentation: Record Creation and Retention, by Julia A. ChincheckClient Seminar2011
- Presentation: Lender Liability, by Julia A. ChincheckWest Virginia Bankers Association2010
- Presentation: Take Five: A Primer on the Five Stages of Lending, by Julia A. ChincheckWest Virginia Bankers Association2010
- Presentation: Collection Compliance and Bankruptcy Law, by Julia A. ChincheckWest Virginia Bankers Association2010
- Presentation: Quick Refresher on Key Concepts in Bankruptcy, by Julia A. ChincheckWest Virginia Bankers Association2010
- Presentation: Bankruptcy Reform Act, by Julia A. ChincheckWest Virginia Bankers Association2005
- Presentation: Bankruptcy Overview, by Julia A. ChincheckPresented to the bank auditors of the West Virginia Division of Financial InstitutionsCharleston, West Virginia, 2004
- Presentation: Bankruptcy Seminar, by Julia A. ChincheckFDIC Regional MeetingOrlando, Florida, 2004
Articles & Alerts
- West Virginia Banker, Winter 2023
- How Employee Noncompetition, Nonsolicitation and Nondisclosure Agreements Can Be Applied in the Banking IndustryWest Virginia Banker, Spring 2021
- Banking & Financial Services e-Alert, December 22, 2020
- Banking & Financial Services e-Alert, October 9, 2020
- Banking & Financial Services e-Alert, October 8, 2020
- June 13, 2020
- March 31, 2020
- March 27, 2020
- The Community Banker, Quarter 1, 2019
- Pennsylvania Banker, Quarter 1 | Volume 21.1 | 2019
- The Community Banker, Quarter 2 | 2018
- Banking & Financial Services e-Alert, June 29, 2017
- Banking e-alert, May 15, 2017
- Bowles Rice Banking Alert, April 10, 2017
- Bowles Rice Banking Alert, April 2016
- Amicus Brief, July 14, 2015
- Banking AlertBowles Rice Banking Alert, July 7, 2015
- "TILA Takes a Turn: Recent TILA Decisions Expand Recission Rights," by Sanda M. MurphyWest Virginia Banker Magazine, Spring 2015
- Amicus Brief, March 31, 2015
- Bowles Rice Banking Alert, January 20, 2015
- Banking Alert, January 9, 2015
- Banking Alert, January 8, 2015
- The Community Banker Magazine, Winter 2015
- "Supreme Court of Appeals Defines Parameters of Incorporation By Reference," by Floyd Boone and Sandra M. MurphyWest Virginia Banker Magazine, Winter 2014
- The Community Banker Magazine, Fall 2014
- "New Vendor Management Regulatory Guidance May Help Banks Negotiating Contracts," by Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. TawneyWest Virginia Banker Magazine, Summer 2014
- "Amount of Loan in Excess of Value of Home is Not Enough to Render Loan Unconscionable," by Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. TawneyThe Community Banker Magazine, Summer 2014
- The Community Banker Magazine, Spring 2014
- Banking Alert, April 2014
- Banking Alert, October 24, 2013
- "Holding Lenders Liable for Auto Dealers' Interest Rate Decisions," by Sandra M. Murphy and Charles F. Printz, Jr.West Virginia Banker Magazine, Fall 2013
- The Community Banker Magazine, Fall 2013
- "CFPB Guidance on Reducing Enforcement Liability Creates Compliance Dilemma," by Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. TawneyThe Community Banker Magazine, Summer 2013
- "Trolling for Dollars – Banks Targeted in Costly Patent Infringement Cases," by Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. TawneyWest Virginia Banker Magazine, Summer 2013
- "West Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Court-Imposed Penalties and Attorneys' Fees Despite Jury Finding Plaintiff Suffered No Damages," by Floyd Boone and Sandra M. MurphyThe Community Banker Magazine, Spring 2013
- West Virginia Banker Magazine, Spring 2013
- "Cause for Caution: Quicken Loans Case Clarifies Standard for Unconscionability Claims in West Virginia," by Floyd Boone and Sandra M. MurphyThe Community Banker Magazine, Winter 2013
- Banking Alert, 2012
- "Fourth Circuit Court Gets It Right: Court Holds Claims Are Time-Barred Under the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act," by Sandra M. MurphyWest Virginia Banker Magazine, Fall 2012
- "Client Alert: Recent Case Provides Guidance on Protecting Banks from ATM Notice Liability," by Floyd Boone and Sandra M. MurphyThe Community Banker Magazine, Fall 2012
- "Has Your Bank Become 'Publicly Traded' Without Your Knowledge?," by Lynn S. Clarke and Sandra M. MurphyWest Virginia Banker Magazine, Summer 2012
- The Community Banker Magazine, Summer 2012
- Banking Alert, 2012
- West Virginia Banker Magazine, Spring 2012
- "Ability to Repay: CFPB Should Grant Complete Exemption For Balloon Loans Held in Portfolio," by Sandra M. MurphyWest Virginia Banker Magazine, Winter 2011
- Bowles Rice Banking Alert, April 19, 2011
- West Virginia Banker Magazine, Spring 2011
- "Technology May Assist Borrowers in Holding Banks Liable for Excessive Phone Calls," by Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. TawneyWest Virginia Banker Magazine, Winter 2010
- Banking Alert, 2010
- Banking Alert, 2010
- Banking Alert, 2010
- Banking Alert, 2010
- "Risky Business: Regulators and Dodd-Frank Target Incentive Compensation Arrangements," by Sandra M. MurphyWest Virginia Banker Magazine, Fall 2010
- "Beware of Tenant's Rights Upon Foreclosure," by Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. TawneyWest Virginia Banker Magazine, Summer 2010
- Banking Alert, 2009
- Amicus Brief, May 5, 2006
- Amicus Brief, July 19, 2004
- Amicus Brief, May 6, 2004
- Amicus Brief, 2004
- Brief in support of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company's briefAmicus Brief, March 16, 2003
- Amicus Brief, 2001
- Amicus Brief, August 1999
Financial Services Litigation:
- Successful defense of a nationwide bank against claims brought by a nationwide class of customers alleging the existence of unfair and deceptive banking practices and fees.
- Defense of a major West Virginia bank in class actions alleging unfair and deceptive banking practices.
- Successful representation of a major Virginia bank seeking payment for losses stemming from loans backed by forged collateral under a financial institution bond issued by a major insurance company.
- Successful representation of a lending services provider in a regulatory enforcement action brought by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
- Representation of a former bank director and officer in litigation brought by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
- Successful representation of banks in lender liability cases filed in state and federal courts.
- Successful representation of a West Virginia bank in RICO and fraud litigation in state court.
- Successful representation of West Virginia banks in cases involving the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
- Successful representation of mortgage broker in state court litigation involving borrowers, lender and real estate appraisers alleging breach of fiduciary duty, unconscionable conduct and fraud in connection with residential loan.
- Defense of mortgage broker in litigation brought by borrowers in federal court against broker, lender and surety alleging violations of federal truth in lending regulations, unconscionable inducement, fraud, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty. Obtained dismissal.
- Successful defense of nationally known mortgage broker in state court action against broker, lender and surety, which were accused of unconscionable inducement, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud regarding refinanced mortgage loan and subsequent short sale.
- Defense of debt collector for alleged unlawful debt collection practices in violation of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
- Defense of regional lending institution in lawsuit claiming unconscionable inducement, breach of contract, illegal debt collection practices and fees, breach of fiduciary duty, illegal trustee fees, and forfeiture and inadequate sale price regarding refinanced mortgage loan and subsequent foreclosure.
- Representation of lender in legal actions against developer and guarantors for collection of notes.
- Defense of a major West Virginia bank in an action involving numerous purchasers in a failed land development alleging breach of contract, negligence, joint venture, conspiracy and agency, negligent misrepresentation and punitive damages.
- Successful defense of a large lending servicer in a class action alleging unlawful application of payments in violation of West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
- Successful resolution on behalf of a major West Virginia bank seeking insurance coverage for losses sustained as a result of a bank customer's fraudulent activity.