Practice Areas
Education
J.D., West Virginia University College of Law (1997)
- Member, Moot Court Board of Review
B.A., Centre College (1994)
Admissions
- Supreme Court of the United States
- Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Third and Fourth Circuits
J. Mark Adkins
Mark Adkins focuses his practice primarily on complex, high-risk commercial litigation in the areas of banking, construction, energy and commercial contract disputes.
With more than two decades of representative experience in litigation work, including numerous tried-to-verdict jury trials, Mark is well positioned to assist clients in the arena of high-risk, "Bet-the-Company" matters.
Mark represents banks, lenders and debt collectors in matters involving bank and consumer litigation issues. He also represents clients in matters involving leasing issues, contracts and property rights related to coal and natural gas. He also has significant experience in multi-million dollar construction litigation matters involving commercial, retail and public construction projects.
In addition to his vast litigation experience, Mark is a member of the Bowles Rice Government Relations group. As a registered lobbyist, he regularly works with members of the West Virginia Legislature and administration on behalf of the firm's clients. Mark served as staff counsel to the West Virginia House of Delegates Judiciary Committee during the 2015 Legislative Session.
Mark has been recognized with an AV-rating by Martindale-Hubbell. Additionally, he has been recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers (litigation: general commercial);The Best Lawyers in America ® in commercial litigation law, litigation/banking & finance and litigation/construction; by Super Lawyers in the area of business litigation; and by Benchmark Litigation in general litigation .
Representative experience:
- Represented corporate land owner in successful termination of a mineral lessee which resulted in obtaining a large monetary award as a result of mineral lease.
- Represented bank in multi-million dollar insurance coverage dispute, regarding claim for damages resulting from fraudulently secured loans.
- Represented state agency in multi-million dollar construction dispute regarding a northern West Virginia facility.
Professional Highlights
- Practice Group Leader, Bowles Rice Litigation Department
- Member, Bowles Rice Executive Committee
- Chair, Bowles Rice IT Department (2023-)
- Former Chairman, West Virginia State Bar Lawyer Outreach Committee
- Per Diem Staff Counsel, West Virginia House of Delegates Judiciary Committee, 2015 Legislative Session
Representative Decisions:
- 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).
Honors
- 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
- Recognized by Super Lawyers (Business Litigation), since 2010
- Named a 2020 “State Litigation Star” in General Commercial, Construction, Trust and Estate by Benchmark Litigation
J. Mark AdkinsRated by Super Lawyers
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News
- June 5, 2023
- May 6, 2021
- February 1, 2021
- Best Lawyers in America®, August 20, 2020
- April 21, 2020
- August 15, 2019
- April 17, 2019
- February 19, 2018
- August 18, 2016
- January 26, 2016
Presentations & Events
- Presentation: Let's Be Real: "Deep Fakes" in Trial Practice by J. Mark AdkinsThe Trial Network – Napa Litigation SuperCourse: Wine Sips and Trial TipsThe Silverado Resort, Napa Valley, California, November 4, 2023
- Presentation: The New Gold Rush – Sifting Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for Mountain State Opportunities by J. Mark AdkinsAssociated Builders & Contractors of West Virginia | Destination Meeting 2022Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Nassau, Bahamas, April 2022
- Presentation: Alternative Dispute Resolution: It is Not All the Same – Know the Differences! by J. Mark AdkinsAssociated Builders & Contractors of West Virginia – Summer 2021 MeetingSnowshoe Mountain Resort, Snowshoe, West Virginia, July 31, 2021
- Presentation: What to Expect from PPP Plaintiffs by J. Mark Adkins and Lara R. BrandfassCommunity Bankers of West VirginiaWebinar, May 28, 2020
- Presentation: Another Truancy Problem: How the AIA Empowers School Districts to Correct Delays and Absenteeism in Construction, by Marc Monteleone, Ken Webb and Mark AdkinsWest Virginia Association of School Business Officials: Annual ConferenceEmbassy Suites Charleston, Charleston, West Virginia, May 12, 2015
Articles & Alerts
- The DTCWV Defender, Summer 2021
- The Community Banker, Quarter 2 | 2018
- Bowles Rice Banking Alert, April 10, 2017
- Washington Legal Foundation, June 5, 2015
- West Virginia Banker Magazine, Spring 2013
Professional Affiliations
- Republican National Lawyers Association (Chair, West Virginia Chapter)
- West Virginia Bar Association (Past President, Young Lawyers Section)
- Kanawha County Bar Association (Past Officer)
- Associated Builders and Contractors of West Virginia (ABCWV)