Steven K. "Steve" Wellman

Dante' diTrapano began his career in the legal industry in 1990 as an investigator for his late father's law firm, DiTrapano & Jackson. His father, Rudolph L. DiTrapano (1928-2017), was a highly respected and successful lawyer in West Virginia who inspired Dante' to go to law school through a number of high-profile trials, including a case the elder DiTrapano successfully argued before the United States Supreme Court. Dante' attended John Marshall Law School, where he graduated summa cum ...

Lesley Russo is Of Counsel in the Charleston office of Bowles Rice and the leader of the Employee Benefits Group. She is a member of the firm’s Retirement Plan Investment Committee and also administers the firm’s retirement plans, overseeing all aspects of the firm’s qualified retirement plans. Ms. Russo has extensive experience in the qualified retirement and employee benefits area, representing numerous clients in all aspects of qualified and non-qualified retirement plan ...

S. Brooks West II is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. S. Brooks practices law in Charleston, West Virginia Best Lawyers has recognized S. Brooks West II since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which S. Brooks West II is held by other lawyers.

J. Mark Adkins is a partner in the Charleston office of Bowles Rice and a member of the Business Litigation Practice Group. His primary areas of practice include business litigation, commercial and contract disputes, financial services/banking litigation, energy litigation, construction litigation, election law and products liability litigation. A native of Salt Rock, West Virginia, Mr. Adkins received his J.D. in 1997 from the West Virginia University College of Law, where he was a member of...

Stuart A. McMillan is a partner in the Charleston office of Bowles Rice LLP and leader of the firm’s Mass & Toxic Torts Practice Group. His primary practice areas include civil trial and appellate litigation and he tries cases in both federal and state courts throughout West Virginia. He has tried numerous cases to verdict, including libel, defamation, trespass and bodily injury lawsuits. Mr. McMillan is experienced in and frequently lectures on issues pertaining to civil litigation...

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...

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 lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Railroad Law. Melissa Foster practices law in Huntington, West Virginia Best Lawyers has recognized Melissa Foster Bird since 2012. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Melissa Foster Bird is held by other lawyers.

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 ...

Rodney A. Smith is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Employment Law - Individuals. Rodney A. practices law in Charleston, West Virginia Best Lawyers has recognized Rodney A. Smith since 2018. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Rodney A. Smith is held by other lawyers.