Lane O. Austin

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...

Area of Emphasis Ramonda Marling is a shareholder in the Energy and Natural Resources and Litigation groups of Babst Calland. Ms. Marling primarily represents clients in litigation and commercial matters. She has extensive experience in complex, high-dollar commercial litigation matters representing natural gas producers, midstream companies, coal companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, tobacco companies and other corporations. She has represented natural gas producers in litigation involvin...

James V. Kelsh is a partner in the Charleston office of Bowles Rice and leads the firm's Infrastructure and Public Utilities practice areas. He is involved with entities involved on all sides of broadband, utility scale solar, water, sewer, electric, telecommunications, natural gas, solid waste, local government, and motor carrier services. He focuses his practice on representing clients before the Public Service Commission of West Virginia. He also provides extensive assistance by advising c...

Education J.D., Brooklyn Law School (1986) Notes Editor, Brooklyn Law Review B.A., Yale University (1981) Bar Admissions West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals U.S. Court of Appeals of the 4th Circuit U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia Affiliations American Bar Association West Virginia State Bar West Virginia Bar Association Kanawha County Bar Association West Virginia Bankers Association Chair, PIECES Advisory Council Co-Chair, George Washington Hi...

Richard "Richie" Heath, Jr. concentrates his practice in the area of government relations and serves as leader of the firm's Government Relations team. Richie's practice also includes work in the hospitality, gaming and tourism industry, industrial hemp and medical cannabis fields, as well as the state's burgeoning renewable energy industry. Prior to joining the firm, he was Chief Legal Counsel and Chief of Staff for West Virginia Senate Presidents Mitch B. Carmichael and William P. Cole. He ...

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...

Robert M. Bastress III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Individuals and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Robert M., who practices law in Charleston, West Virginia, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Gabriele Wohl is an experienced litigator in the firm’s Charleston, West Virginia office, regularly handling complex civil litigation for national corporations. In addition to her practicing in the Litigation Group, she leads the White Collar Defense and Investigations team and chairs the Bowles Rice Diversity Committee. Gabe keeps in close contact with her clients and enjoys helping them navigate stressful and intricate legal issues. In her litigation practice, Gabe has years of experi...

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...