J. Mark Adkins

Mark Adkins practices business litigation, commercial and contract disputes, financial services/banking litigation, energy litigation, construction litigation, insurance coverage disputes and personal injury and products liability litigation.

The entirety of Mark's 18 years of practice has been focused on complex litigation and trial work, which has positioned him to better assist his clients in high-risk litigation.

He has been recognized with an AV-rating by Martindale-Hubbell. Additionally, Mark has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America ® in commercial litigation law, litigation - banking & finance, litigation - construction and by Super Lawyers in the area of business litigation. He has also been named a “Future Star” in litigation by Benchmark Litigation.

• Chief Financial Officer (2024-present)
• Chairman, Bowles Rice Litigation Department
• Member, Bowles Rice AI Steering Committee
• Former member, Bowles Rice Executive Committee 
• Former chair, Bowles Rice IT Department (2023-2024)
• Former chairman, West Virginia State Bar Legal Outreach Committee
• Past president, Young Lawyers Section, West Virginia Bar Association
• Past officer, Kanawha County Bar Association
• Per Diem Staff Counsel, West Virginia House of Delegates Judiciary Committee, 2015 Legislative Session

Representative Decisions:

• CM Energy Properties LP, Big Huff Minerals LLC, and Big Huff Timberlands LLC v. Appalachian Power Company, Case No. CC-55-2023-C-37 (Wyo. Cir. Ct. 2026) (obtained recovery of approximately $75.1 million in a breach of contract and easement dispute regarding mining operations.)
• G.T. et al. v. Bd. of Educ. of the Cnty. of Kanawha, 117 F.4th 193 (4th Cir. 2024) (defense of putative class action challenging quality of special education policies)

• DLB Enterprises LLC v. Kanawha Stone Company, Inc., Case No. 22-cv-46 (S.D. W. Va.) (obtained judgment in excess of $1.8 million following a 23 day multi-party arbitration on competing claims for breach of contract and wrongful termination concerning a $50 million infrastructure project involving two bridges.)

• Blankenship v. Trump, Jr., No. 2:19-cv-00549 (S.D. W. Va. 2023)
• The County Commission of Fayette County, West Virginia, et al., v. Quercus West Virginia LLC and Pardee and Curtin Realty LLC., No. 2:21-cv-00307 (S.D. W. Va. 2023)
• Reed v. Collins, No. 18-0009 (W. Va. 2018), unpublished
• State ex rel. Blankenship v. Warner, No. 18-0712 (W. Va. 2018)
• State ex rel. Biafore v. Tomblin, 782 S.E. 2d 223 (W. Va. 2016)
• W. Virginia Inv. Mgmt. Bd. v. Variable Annuity Life Ins. Co., 234 W. Va. 469, 766 S.E.2d 416 (2014);
• State ex rel. McDavid v. Tennant et al., No. 14-0939 (W.Va. Supreme Court, Oct. 1, 2014)(memorandum decision);
• W.W. McDonald Land Co. v. EQT Prod. Co., No. 2:11-CV-00418, 2014 WL 4063870 (S.D.W. Va. Aug. 14, 2014);
• Rufus et al. v. The Greenbrier Sporting Club Development Co., Inc. et al., No. 13-0218, 2013 WL 5966996 (W.Va. Supreme Court, November 8, 2013) (memorandum decision);
• Morton v. Unknown Heirs of Van Camp , 221 W. Va. 299; 654 S.E. 2d 621, (2007);
• Thaxton v. Novastar Mortg. , 2:05-0858, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21912, (2006);
• State ex rel. Blackhawk Enters. V. Bloom, 219 W.Va. 333; 633 S.E. 2d 278 (2006);
• Estate of Tawney v. Columbia Natural Res., LLC , 219 W. Va. 266; 633 S.E. 2d 22; (2006);
• Wood v. Acordia of West Virginia, Inc., 217 W. Va. 406; 618 S.E. 2d 415 (2005); and
• Dunn v. Watson, 211 W. Va. 418; 566 S.E.2d.305 (2002).

• Recognized by Forbes Best-in-State Lawyers (Commercial Litigation)
• Ranked by Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers (Litigation: General Commercial), since 2022
• Named Best Lawyers’ 2019 Litigation - Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year in the southern West Virginia region
• Named to The Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation Law; Litigation - Banking & Finance; Litigation - Construction; and Government Relations Practice), since 2011
• Peer-Review Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell
• Selected to the West Virginia Super Lawyers list, since 2012
• Selected to the West Virginia Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers, 2007 - 2008, 2010 - 2011
• Named a 2020 “State Litigation Star” in General Commercial, Construction, Trust and Estate by Benchmark Litigation

• Republican National Lawyers Association (Chair, West Virginia Chapter)
• Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (Board member, Trustees at Large)
• Associated Builders and Contractors of West Virginia (ABCWV)
• The Trial Network