John J. Polak

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...

Tom Heywood has significant experience in health care, banking and corporate/commercial law, and is frequently called upon by clients and community leaders for advice on business matters related to acquisitions, divestitures and other transactional matters. An experienced facilitator, he regularly assists businesses and organizations in the strategic planning process. As a former Chief of Staff to the Honorable Gaston Caperton, Governor of the State of West Virginia, Tom has extensive experie...

Aaron C. Boone is a partner in the Parkersburg office at Bowles Rice and leads the firm's Insurance Defense Group. He is a trial lawyer who concentrates his practice in the areas of extra-contractual/coverage, liability claims, business disputes, and trust & estate litigation. Mr. Boone received his J.D. in 2002 from the West Virginia University College of Law, where he was a member of the Order of Barristers, the National Moot Court Team and the Marilyn E. Lugar Trial Association. He ear...

After practicing law for nearly 20 years in New Jersey and New York, Melissa “Missy” Luce returned to West Virginia to join Stuart Calwell’s firm, The Calwell Practice, LC. After serving as Managing Attorney for several years, in January 2019, Calwell ultimately joined together with Luce and another colleague, Dante’ diTrapano, as partners in rebranding the firm to Calwell Luce diTrapano PLLC to solidify its long-term growth. And Missy continues in her role as Managing...

Tony O'Dell 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. Tony, who practices law in Charleston, West Virginia, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tony is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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,...

Mark Simonton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Mark, who practices law in Huntington, West Virginia, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mark is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Gordon C. Lane, Sr. concentrates his practice on representation of businesses and business owners in the areas of general business law and taxation, including the purchase or sale of a business, structure of a business to maximize tax savings and asset protection, key employee incentive plans, and more. Gordon practices from the firm’s Charleston, West Virginia office. He also provides estate planning for high net-worth individuals and for business owners, where he provides one integrat...

Jody Offutt Simmons is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants and 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.