Robert Sellards

For more than twenty years, Lonnie C. Simmons has fought on behalf of the little guys, ensuring they get their day in court. He started his legal career as a writ clerk at the West Virginia Supreme Court in 1982, before spending five years as a personal clerk for West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Thomas B. Miller. After completing his tenure with Justice Miller, Mr. Simmons began his career as a litigator representing injured plaintiffs. A significant portion of Mr. Simmons' caseload involv...

Grant Shuman focuses his practice in ERISA and employee benefit law, representing welfare benefit and pension plans, plan sponsors, and plan administrators in matters involving plan operation from design and plan drafting to compliance issues and termination. He practices from the Charleston, West Virginia office. With nearly 25 years of experience, Grant has provided trusted counsel to clients ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. He has represented plans and plan sponsors ...

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...

Area of Emphasis Joe Bunn is a shareholder in the Corporate and Commercial Group of Babst Calland. Before obtaining his law degree, Mr. Bunn worked for a Fortune 500 company and a middle market company where he served in numerous roles involving strategic planning, capital raises, acquisitions and divestitures. Armed with a deep understanding of the practical needs of business owners, he now assists clients in financial transactions, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Mr. Bunn also coun...

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...

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.

Benjamin Thomas focuses his practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions and commercial and financial services. He is experienced in advising businesses on various structural matters related to acquisitions and entity formation and general corporate governance matters. Ben's merger and acquisition practice involves structuring, documenting, and managing mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, and other corporate transactions. He also provides general corporate services to all sizes of bu...

Thomas M. Hancock is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Thomas M., who practices law in Huntington, West Virginia, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Areas of Emphasis Charles Saffer is senior counsel in the Energy and Natural Resources and Corporate and Commercial groups of Babst Calland. His practice is focused on real estate and mineral title matters for corporate clients within the commercial and oil and gas industries. He has experience in examining and certifying mineral titles in counties throughout West Virginia. Mr. Saffer has also represented property owners in commercial real estate transactions including leasing, acquisitions a...

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...