Jeffrey M. "Jeff" Wakefield

Area of Emphasis Jennifer Hicks is a shareholder in the Litigation, Energy and Natural Resources, Employment and Labor, and Environmental groups of Babst Calland. Ms. Hicks has represented clients in a wide variety of litigation matters in state and federal courts throughout West Virginia. These include complex class actions, breach of contract, coal and natural gas royalty disputes, lease termination disputes, condemnation, employment, nuisance, trespass, property damage, premises liability,...

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...

Jody Offutt Simmons is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Jody Offutt, who practices law in Huntington, West Virginia, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jody Offutt is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ken Webb is a partner in the Charleston office of Bowles Rice and a Leader of the Business Litigation Practice Group. His primary practice areas include business litigation, shareholders’ rights litigation, construction disputes, insurance coverage disputes and professional liability defense. He has represented all types of business entities in a variety of legal disputes including the disassociation of lawyers, doctors and dentists, banking litigation, restrictive covenant and non-comp...

Tom Lane is a partner in the Charleston, West Virginia office of Bowles Rice and is licensed to practice law in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. He practices primarily in the areas of natural resources, coal, oil and gas, commercial real estate, zoning and land development This practice ranges from complex transactions of mineral property and companies to complex litigation of natural resource issues. He also engages in lobbying and government relations, particularly on issues affecting the mi...

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...

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...

Amy J. Tawney is a partner in the Charleston office of Bowles Rice and a member of the firm’s Commercial and Financial Services Practice Group and the Financial Services Litigation Practice Group. Ms. Tawney focuses her practice on banking and mergers and acquisitions. Her banking practice involves advising clients on compliance with federal and state regulations, corporate governance issues, compliance with securities laws and drafting loan documentation for corporate loan transactions...

Marvin W. Masters has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from West Virginia University and a Law degree from West Virginia University. He is licensed and has presented cases to the West Virginia Supreme Court, most West Virginia circuit courts in the surrounding counties, and the United States Supreme Court, as well as the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and United States District Court for the Southern and Northern Districts of West Virginia. He is experienced in litiga...