Peter G. Markham

Peter G. Markham provides general counsel and civil litigation services to businesses, health care providers and insurers, and public officials and state agencies.  Clients requiring government relations assistance benefit from Peter’s substantial experience in state government.  From 2012 to 2017, Peter served as General Counsel to former West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin.

Peter also leads the firm’s Broadband and Appellate Advocacy practice teams.  Recent appellate victories include:

• IPI, Inc. v. Axiall Corp., 897 S.E.2d 572 (W.Va. App. 2024) (vacating summary judgment award on breach of contract and indemnity counterclaims in personal injury action stemming from chlorine gas leak)  
• Monaco v. WV Parkways Auth., 57 F.4th 185 (4th Cir. 2023) (holding in matter of first impression that state agency’s claim to sovereign immunity was sufficiently strong to trigger provision of Class Action Fairness Act foreclosing diversity jurisdiction)
• Jefferson Cnty. Found., Inc. v. W. Virginia Econ. Dev. Auth., 875 S.E.2d 162 (W. Va. 2022) (holding sale-leaseback financing arrangement for manufacturing facility did not violate constitutional guarantee of equal and uniform taxation)

Peter's broadband work centers on representing the West Virginia Broadband Enhancement Council and the Office of Broadband in the West Virginia Department of Commerce. Their trusted advisor on legal issues relating to the implementation of federal broadband programs, Peter has helped the Council and Office obtain favorable orders in Public Service Commission proceedings that will bolster broadband expansion in the state for years to come. Significantly, Peter recently led a team of Bowles Rice attorneys appointed by the Attorney General in the successful defense of a lawsuit challenging the state's implementation of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Peter’s practice also focuses on, among other things, advising and representing: 

• The Robert C. Byrd Corridor H Highway Authority;
• A hyperscale data center campus developer and operator that plans to produce power on-site and off-grid in accordance with the High-Impact Certified Microgrid District Development Program;
• A licensed behavioral health center that focuses on improving mental health access for youth and adults and reducing stigma;
• Companies protesting bid specifications and state contract awards; and
• Clients requiring legislative drafting and lobbying services.

• Obtained dismissal of several ethics complaints challenging a mayor's and council members' actions in connection with the investigation of a suspended police officer who was accused of misconduct
• Obtained dismissal of injunction, mandamus, and declaratory judgment requests in multi-million dollar construction dispute on behalf of a county board of education
• Secured judgments totaling $6.5 million against fraudulent laboratories on behalf of a healthcare benefits provider 
• West Virginia Representative, Advisory Committee on Rules and Procedures for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (2012 - 2018)
• General Counsel to the Office of West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin (2012 - 2017) (advised on legal and policy matters involving federal and state law, the West Virginia budget, ethics, procurement, and crisis management; drafted legislation, coordinated agency rulemaking efforts, and developed comprehensive oil and gas leasing program for state properties, generating millions of dollars for improvements to state parks, forests, and wildlife management areas)
• Chairman, School Building Authority of West Virginia (2012 - 2017) (assisted in distributing more than $300 million for public education construction and improvement projects)
• Governor’s Designee, Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission (2012 - 2017) (assisted in governor's selection of more than 20 circuit and family court judges)
• Member, State Armory Board (2012 - 2017)
• Performed and authored After Action Reviews of the State of West Virginia's emergency responses to the 2012 Derecho and 2014 Water Crisis
• Defended global private equity company and its chairman in wrongful death actions arising out of the Sago Mine Disaster

• Recognized by The Best Lawyers In America (Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation), since 2025

• Member, Board of Directors, Advantage Valley (2023 - Present)
• Membership Committee Chair, Advantage Valley (2024 - Present)
• Member, West Virginia State Bar – Appellate Committee (2019 - Present) 
• Member, West Virginia Chamber of Commerce – Government Relations Committee (2017 - Present)
• Judge John A. Field, Jr. American Inn of Court

• Committee Member, Vote Yes! Our Schools. Our Community. (2018 excess levy campaign for Kanawha County Public Schools)
• Student Mentor, University of Charleston MBA Program (2018 - Present)
• Secretary, Faculty Merit Foundation of West Virginia (2018 - Present) (selects WV higher education Professor of the Year)
• Coach, Kanawha Valley Youth Soccer League 
• Thriving Congregations Committee Member, Village Chapel Presbyterian Church