Michael J. "Mike" Farrell

Mike is the founding and managing member of Farrell, White & Legg PLLC and public servant. He is a distinguished trial lawyer, author, lecturer, bar and educational leader.

A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, he continues to be recognized by Chambers USA as a Tier 1 outstanding litigator and was selected again by his peers as one of the TOP 10 Super Lawyers in West Virginia. He carries an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell. For more than twenty years, the Best Lawyers in America recognized Mike as a West Virginia Best Lawyer in both the Business Litigation and Defense of Personal Injury Litigation categories. He is licensed to practice in both West Virginia and Kentucky.

His current practice concentrates on complex litigation involving insurance coverage, cybersecurity, pharmaceutical, toxic tort, products liability, mass torts, legal malpractice, commercial and employment litigation. Mike has significant experience in complex litigation claims that involve architects and engineers.

He is admitted to the United States Supreme Court, the Courts of Appeal for the Fourth, Sixth and District of Columbia Circuits, plus the federal and state courts in West Virginia and Kentucky. Twice in his career, the West Virginia Attorney General appointed him Special Assistant Attorney General. He has appeared as Pro Hac Vice counsel in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Alabama, Virginia and North Carolina.

The last five West Virginia Governors have appointed him to multiple higher education governing and policy boards. His public service leadership stints presently include Chairman, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, Board Member of the West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority, Board Member, West Virginia Regional Technology Park and Board Member of West Virginia Community and Technical College System. Previously, he served as Interim President of Marshall University, Vice Chair and Member of the Marshall University Advisory Board, Vice Chair and Member of the Marshall University Board of Governors and Vice-Chair of the West Virginia Higher Education Interim Governing Board, Member of the University System of Trustees. He served two terms on the West Virginia University College of Law Visiting Committee including a year as Chairman.

He is an Adjunct Professor of Pharmacy Ethics and Law at the Marshall University School of Pharmacy. He has been and continues to serve as an Adjunct Assistant Professor for the Departments of Surgery and Family Practice at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.

His West Virginia Bar leadership positions have included President of the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia, President of the West Virginia ABOTA Chapter, Chairman of the Young Lawyers Section of the West Virginia State Bar, Member of the Boards of Governors for the West Virginia State Bar and Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia.

His significant body of trial court experience includes more than 125 jury trials to verdict, Liaison Counsel in the 65,000 case Pelvic Mesh MDL, Lead Counsel, West Virginia Perchloroethylene Litigation, Co-lead Counsel, Rezulin Class Action and Co-lead Counsel, St. Paul Fire & Marine Class Action trial (defense verdict).His appellate accomplishments include judicial adoption of modified comparative negligence and other significant decisions regarding forum non conveniens, legal malpractice, products liability, commercial litigation, class actions, mass torts, employment, medical malpractice and insurance bad faith.

His scholarly national and international publications include a recent chapter in the Defense Counsel Training Manual published by the International Association of Defense Counsel and a impending publication of a Chapter regarding Professional Healthcare Licensing Boards. Other book chapters include the Joint Defense Doctrine also published by the IADC Advocacy in the 21st Century, a featured article in the DRI’s Medical Malpractice Monograph, and multiple law review articles published in The Defense Law Journal, American Journal of Trial Advocacy and West Virginia Law Review. He is a frequent continuing legal education lecturer regarding evidence, legal ethics, products liability, professional liability and trial tactics.

Within the community, Mike served three terms as President of Guyan Golf & Country Club, more than a decade on its Board of Trustees and multiple terms as President of the Huntington YMCA Soccer and Little League Baseball.