J. Michael Ranson

William Tiano is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. William, who practices law in Charleston, West Virginia, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

D. C. Offutt, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. D. C., who practices law in Huntington, West Virginia, has been recognized since 2005. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which D. C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Emily Lambright focuses her practice on federal taxation, employee benefits and qualified retirement plans, estate and gift tax planning, and tax-exempt organizations and nonprofit law. She is a certified public accountant. Emily represents individuals and businesses by counseling them on income and estate tax issues, business succession planning, entity formation and selection, and transactional tax matters. She also provides guidance on benefits matters and executive compensation to clients...

Areas of Emphasis Charles Saffer is senior counsel in the Energy and Natural Resources and Corporate and Commercial groups of Babst Calland. His practice is focused on real estate and mineral title matters for corporate clients within the commercial and oil and gas industries. He has experience in examining and certifying mineral titles in counties throughout West Virginia. Mr. Saffer has also represented property owners in commercial real estate transactions including leasing, acquisitions a...

Steven R. Hardman is a partner in the Parkersburg office and a member of the Real Estate Group. He concentrates his practice on commercial, corporate, real estate, and oil and gas law and also has significant experience in civil litigation, particularly product liability and the defense of mass litigation. Mr. Hardman has served as counsel to numerous banks and businesses, and has been involved in significant commercial transactions and commercial litigation. For more than 10 years, he has re...

Area of Emphasis Robert Stonestreet focuses his practice on land, energy, and environmental law. He has a wide array of regulatory and courtroom experience, including representation of clients in matters involving lease and land disputes, environmental permitting, enforcement actions, serious personal injury/wrongful death, land contamination, toxic torts, and complex commercial disputes. During his more than 20 years in practice, Mr. Stonestreet has tried multiple cases to verdict before sta...

A member of DiTrapano Barrett DiPiero McGinley & Simmons, PLLC, Tim DiPiero spent six years (1977–1983) as an assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia in Charleston, WV before entering private practice. Prior to his tenure with DiTrapano Barrett DiPiero McGinley & Simmons, PLLC, he was a Member of DiTrapano & Jackson which he joined in 1983, and also DiTrapano Barrett & DiPiero, PLLC. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame i...

Melissa Foster Bird is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Railroad Law. Melissa Foster, who practices law in Huntington, West Virginia, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Melissa Foster is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Howard Seufer, Jr. has spent his professional life working with public school leaders to solve public school problems and improve public education in compliance with state and federal school laws. A partner in the regional commercial, energy and defense law firm of Bowles Rice LLP headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia, Howard has advised and represented all 55 of West Virginia’s county boards of education, all of its regional education service agencies, the West Virginia School Boa...

Ellen L. Maxwell-Hoffman is a partner in the Charleston office of Bowles Rice. She concentrates her practice in the areas of general corporate and commercial law, including acquisitions and finance, corporate governance, compliance programs and training, business ethics and economic development. She frequently provides legal counsel regarding the West Virginia Governmental Ethics Act, federal and state election law, in particular as to the administration and operation of political action comm...