“What sets me apart is the personal touch I bring to my cases. I’m selective about the cases I take, but once I take on a client, I treat them like family.”
What inspired you to pursue a career in law?
For me, finding a career in law was a natural journey based on where I grew up and the field I thought I was going into. I grew up in the coal fields of southern West Virginia. My family has a long line of coal miners, and many of my friends and their parents were coal miners.
Initially, I was going to be a mining engineer—I even went to college on a mining engineering scholarship. But as I spent time in the mines, I saw the challenges people in my community faced. Workers were getting hurt because companies were cutting corners, and they were treated like numbers—discarded and left to navigate a difficult workers’ compensation system. It became clear to me that I wanted to help.
I’ve always wanted to give back to where I’m from, and I’ve never forgotten my roots. Even now, when people ask me where I’m from, I tell them, “I’m from Oceana, but I live in Charleston.” I proudly claim the coal fields.
The turning point for me was a conversation with my dad, a disabled coal miner. He sat me down and said, “Son, the top doesn’t care if you’re the guy running the place or the guy shoveling the tailpiece. If it’s going to get you, it’s going to get you. I’m proud of you for going to college, but why don’t you find something else to do?”
That conversation stuck with me. I talked to an advisor, decided to go to law school, and found my calling in helping the people from my community.
What sets you apart in your area of legal expertise?
What sets me apart is the personal touch I bring to my cases. I’m selective about the cases I take, but once I take on a client, I treat them like family. I give all my clients my personal cell phone number and tell them to call or text me anytime, day or night.
Choosing the right lawyer after a catastrophic injury is one of the most important decisions a person can make—it can determine the future well-being of their family. I’ve represented families across the country, even as far as Montana, but my work is rooted in understanding. My background in mining and mining engineering gives me a unique perspective. I know the processes, the equipment, and the challenges workers face.
I also ensure we have the resources to hire the best experts and dedicate the time to treating every case as if it’s the only one we have. That level of commitment and understanding sets me and my firm apart.
Could you describe the journey that brought you where you are today?
My legal journey has been one of growth and commitment. I started as a fresh law school graduate, joining my firm at the lowest level, and worked my way up to becoming a partner and owner. It’s something I take great pride in.
I’ve built my career around representing blue-collar working families, the backbone of West Virginia. This state was built on the hard work of men and women who rely on their physical strength to provide for their families. When companies cut corners and those workers are injured or killed, they deserve justice.
They’re not looking for extravagance—they want stability: dinner on the table, Christmas presents under the tree, a car they can depend on, and a roof over their heads. My work is about helping them rebuild that life after a catastrophic injury takes it away.
What do you consider your most significant achievement?
Personally, my greatest achievement is being a father to my two boys, who are 11 and 7. They’re the light of my life. Professionally, I take immense pride in the work I do for my clients. It’s not easy—being away from my family for work or putting in late hours at the office. But when I lay my head down at night, I need to know that the time I spend away from my kids is for a cause worth fighting for. Helping working families find stability after their lives have been upended makes it all worthwhile.
Can you share a case or client experience that had a profound impact on you and/or your career?
One case stands out. A young man in his late twenties was paralyzed from the chest down. He had a baby under a year old and lived in a rental property with 18 steps—completely inaccessible for someone in a wheelchair. At the time, I was a young father myself, so his situation hit close to home.
My goal was to ensure he and his family had stability. We were able to secure the resources for him to have an accessible home and the support his family needed. Even six years later, we remain close friends. Meeting him as a client and now calling him a friend is something I’m incredibly proud of.
If you weren’t an attorney, what alternative career path might you have pursued?
I honestly can’t imagine doing anything else. Perhaps I would have gone to medical school since I’ve always wanted to help people. But I feel blessed to be in this profession. I wake up every morning excited to go to work because I know I’m making a difference.
What advice would you give to aspiring attorneys who are going through law school right now?
My advice is twofold: first, put in the time to understand the real-world aspects of the cases you’ll handle. If you’re working on a mining case, learn how mining works. If it’s a logging case, understand the logging process. That subject matter expertise will set you apart.
Second, control what you can—your work ethic. You can’t change where you come from or how smart you are, but you can outwork anyone. That’s the approach I’ve taken, and it’s served me well.
What’s one thing about the legal profession that might surprise people?
I think people might be surprised by how long cases can take. Unlike TV dramas where everything wraps up in an episode or two, real-life cases often take months or even years to resolve. Clients sometimes get frustrated, but understanding this timeline is important.
Outside of practicing law, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy in your free time?
Outside of work, I love spending time with my wife and kids. We enjoy traveling, and I make time to work out five to six days a week. I’m also a long-suffering West Virginia Mountaineers fan and a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan as well.
What source of inspiration or motivation has been the most significant driving force in your professional career and in your personal life? (This could be a person, a quote, a book, a philosophy, etc.)
My motivation comes from knowing the impact of my work. For each case, it’s the one chance that the family has to be made whole. That responsibility drives me every day.
What’s your favorite movie or quote?
My favorite movie is Rocky—it’s a story about work ethic and perseverance. If I had to pick a quote, it would be, “Anything worth having is worth working for.”
