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Lawyer Profile

Image of Melody A. Simpson

Melody A. Simpson

Bowles Rice LLP
  • Recognized Since:
    2010
  • Recognized in:
    Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
    Nonprofit / Charities Law
  • Website:
    http://www.bowlesrice.com
  • Firm's Phone Number:
    (304) 347.1100
  • Location:
    600 Quarrier Street
    Charleston, WV 25301
"I have had the honor of working closely with Melody Simpson over the past 10+ years on very complicated public pension and tax matters. Ms. Simpson is very diligent and thorough in her research and legal recommendations. I routinely throw various curveball situations her way, and her response always hits it out of the park. "

-Terasa Miller (West Virginia Consolidated Public Retirement Board), Charleston

"Melody Simpson is extremely responsive to requests for her advice and counsel. She makes sure that she has completely researched the problem or concern and provides us with legal alternatives to deal with them."

-Becky Ceperley (The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation), Charleston

Read More Client Comments
  • Lawyer Bio
  • Client Comments
  • Firm Details

Lawyer Bio

Melody Simpson serves as Special Counsel in the Charleston office of Bowles Rice and is a member of the Benefits Group.  Ms. Simpson practices in the areas of employee benefits, executive compensation, ERISA and tax-exempt organizations, with particular emphasis on qualified retirement plans (including governmental plans) and executive compensation, including 409A non-qualified deferred compensation issues.

A cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, she practiced law at a Charleston law firm from 1983 – 1992, serving two of those years as Partner.  A Vermont native, she received her undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont, where she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, with a concentration in accounting.  She passed the C.P.A. exam in 1978, and subsequently worked two years for Arthur Andersen & Co. in Boston, Massachusetts before attending law school.

Ms. Simpson was named by Best Lawyers in America as the 2012 Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law Lawyers of the Year for the southern West Virginia region. Best Lawyers has also recognized her in the area of non-profit/charities law. 

She is active in community organizations, and is a volunteer reader and former board member for Read Aloud West Virginia.  She currently is serving a three-year term on the board of directors of the Westminster Foundation of West Virginia, a Presbyterian campus ministry foundation.
Read more on firm website
  • Education
  • Bar Admissions
  • Award List
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge

Education:

  • University of Vermont, graduated 1978

Bar Admissions:

  • West Virginia, The West Virginia State Bar

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for:

  • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Charleston, WV (2021)
  • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Charleston, WV (2016)
  • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Charleston, WV (2012)
 

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
  • Nonprofit / Charities Law
 

Awards:

  • Named "2012 Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law Lawyer of the Year" for Charleston, West Virginia by Best Lawyers in America
  • Named to Best Lawyers in America (Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; Non-Profit/Charities Law)
 

Lawyer Client Comments

"I have had the honor of working closely with Melody Simpson over the past 10+ years on very complicated public pension and tax matters. Ms. Simpson is very diligent and thorough in her research and legal recommendations. I routinely throw various curveball situations her way, and her response always hits it out of the park. "

Terasa Miller, West Virginia Consolidated Public Retirement Board, Charleston

"Melody Simpson is extremely responsive to requests for her advice and counsel. She makes sure that she has completely researched the problem or concern and provides us with legal alternatives to deal with them."

Becky Ceperley, The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, Charleston

"Melody Simpson is extremely knowledgeable with a high level of experience. She has an excellent standing in the community and legal profession."

Becky Ceperley, The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, Charleston

"She has been our lawyer for over five years. She has a wonderful understanding of our legal situation. She is very timely in her responses to us. She is one of only two lawyers in the state with significant experience in nonprofit law. She is extremely ethical. She and Lesley Russo are the only lawyers I would recommend a nonprofit use."

Becky Ceperley, The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, Charleston

Firm Details

Image for Bowles Rice LLP View Firm Profile
Bowles Rice LLP
http://www.bowlesrice.com
 
Headquarters
600 Quarrier Street
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 347.1100
7 Office Locations
in 1 Country

United States

United States

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

Canonsburg, PA

Southpointe Town Center, Suite 200

1800 Main Street

Canonsburg, PA 15317

United States

(724) 514.8915

Get Directions

Virginia

Virginia

Winchester, VA

480 West Jubal Early Drive, Suite 130

Winchester, VA 22601

United States

(540) 723.8877

Get Directions

West Virginia

West Virginia

Martinsburg, WV

101 South Queen Street

Martinsburg, WV 25401

United States

(304) 264.4200

Get Directions

Morgantown, WV

University Town Center, Suite 400

125 Granville Square

Morgantown, WV 26501

United States

(304) 285.2500

Get Directions

Parkersburg, WV

United Square, Fifth Floor

501 Avery Street

Parkersburg, WV 26101

United States

(304) 485.8500

Get Directions

Wheeling, WV

1217 Chapline Street

Wheeling, WV 26003

United States

(304) 230.1800

Get Directions

 
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