James E. "J.E." White, Jr.

J. Mark Adkins is a partner in the Charleston office of Bowles Rice and a member of the Business Litigation Practice Group. His primary areas of practice include business litigation, commercial and contract disputes, financial services/banking litigation, energy litigation, construction litigation, election law and products liability litigation. A native of Salt Rock, West Virginia, Mr. Adkins received his J.D. in 1997 from the West Virginia University College of Law, where he was a member of...

Rita Massie Biser is an experienced trial attorney and litigator. A Managing Member of the firm, she primarily practices in the areas of medical professional liability and personal injury defense. Ms. Biser has substantial experience defending hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers in actions brought under West Virginia's Medical Professional Liability Act (MPLA). Her litigation and trial experience also includes personal injury defense, nursing home litiation, premises liab...

Melissa Foster Bird is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Railroad Law. Melissa Foster practices law in Huntington, West Virginia Best Lawyers has recognized Melissa Foster Bird since 2012. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Melissa Foster Bird is held by other lawyers.

Lesley Russo is Of Counsel in the Charleston office of Bowles Rice and the leader of the Employee Benefits Group. She is a member of the firm’s Retirement Plan Investment Committee and also administers the firm’s retirement plans, overseeing all aspects of the firm’s qualified retirement plans. Ms. Russo has extensive experience in the qualified retirement and employee benefits area, representing numerous clients in all aspects of qualified and non-qualified retirement plan ...

S. Brooks West II is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. S. Brooks practices law in Charleston, West Virginia Best Lawyers has recognized S. Brooks West II since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which S. Brooks West II is held by other lawyers.

Area of Emphasis Joe Bunn is a shareholder in the Corporate and Commercial Group of Babst Calland. Before obtaining his law degree, Mr. Bunn worked for a Fortune 500 company and a middle market company where he served in numerous roles involving strategic planning, capital raises, acquisitions and divestitures. Armed with a deep understanding of the practical needs of business owners, he now assists clients in financial transactions, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Mr. Bunn also coun...

Dante' diTrapano began his career in the legal industry in 1990 as an investigator for his late father's law firm, DiTrapano & Jackson. His father, Rudolph L. DiTrapano (1928-2017), was a highly respected and successful lawyer in West Virginia who inspired Dante' to go to law school through a number of high-profile trials, including a case the elder DiTrapano successfully argued before the United States Supreme Court. Dante' attended John Marshall Law School, where he graduated summa cum ...

Charles B. Dollison is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Energy Law, Mining Law and Oil and Gas Law. Charles B. practices law in Charleston, West Virginia Best Lawyers has recognized Charles B. Dollison since 2020. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Charles B. Dollison is held by other lawyers.

Area of Emphasis Kip Power is a shareholder in the Energy and Natural Resources and Litigation groups of Babst Calland. Mr. Power helps clients comply with environmental laws and defend related litigation while keeping their businesses running profitably. He regularly represents companies when permitting and enforcement disputes arise and prosecutes civil actions and appeals challenging unlawful agency actions. Over the course of his career, he has successfully negotiated favorable resolution...

Corey Palumbo concentrates his practice in energy litigation, deliberate intent and general civil litigation. He has successfully tried several cases to verdict, including deliberate intent and other personal injury matters. In addition to his litigation work, Corey is a member of the firm's Alternative Dispute Resolution team. His years of experience searching for the middle ground as a public servant and advocating for clients make him uniquely qualified to handle meditations in multiple ar...