“It was kind of bred into me that you have to work hard, be educated, and strive to win.”

What inspired you to pursue a career in law?

My uncle, Lee Javins, is an attorney, and I grew up wanting to be like him. He was my role model and is now my mentor and friend. I watched him represent people all my life, helping them in the worst types of situations and giving them a better life. That’s what I’ve always aspired to do. Luckily, the skills I have align well with what you need to practice law – writing, fierce advocacy, hard work, things like that.

What sets you apart in your area of legal expertise?

I’m ultra-competitive. I played football my whole life, including college football. What gets me up every morning is not only being able to help people but also that competitive drive you need as a lawyer to get the best outcome and beat the other side. You can’t just take no for an answer. I’m going to outwork you, out-grind you, stay as long as it takes, and take your call when necessary.

When we get to trial, that’s the fun part for me because of the competitive nature. It’s like a football game, the bright lights. I don’t want to just work nine-to-five and be done. I’ll do whatever it takes, whether that means staying up all night or working on weekends. I’ll make sure I get home to tuck my kid in, but I might come back to the office after he’s asleep.

Could you describe the journey that brought you where you are today?

I was born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia. My mother has a doctorate in education, my father was an accountant, and my uncle was a lawyer. I played sports my whole life and always wanted to be a lawyer. I ended up playing college football at Bethany College and then went to law school in North Carolina.

I’ve been interning at this firm since I was 17 years old. It started when my uncle tore his Achilles playing rec softball, and I began driving him to and from work. I’d sit in his office all day, drive to depositions, and they kept inviting me back every summer and Christmas break when I’d come home from college. By the time I got to law school, I already had five summers and five Christmas breaks of interning experience.

So, while I might be 33 years old now, I’ve been doing this in a roundabout way for about 16 years. It’s definitely set me apart from my peers.

What do you consider your most significant achievement?

Personally, being a father to my two young boys is what I take most seriously. They’re everything to me. Professionally, I’d say the trial we just had in March, where we won a $7 million verdict for a family who lost their daughter in a trucking accident in Ohio County. Being able to give that verdict to that family was a significant achievement.

Can you share a case or client experience that had a profound impact on you and/or your career?

There are several. The first case where I had a significant role was representing the State of West Virginia against McKesson Corporation in the opioid epidemic lawsuit. It opened my eyes to how many people are impacted in West Virginia and how people are often taken advantage of. It showed me how important it is for people to have representation to do what’s right.

The second case that had a big impact was the one we just went to trial for, where the family lost a loved one. Being a father myself, it made me cherish every moment I have with my kids even more. Seeing that family provide their testimony at trial and doing right in honor of their daughter made it clear to me that this is what I’m supposed to do – helping families, especially those who have lost loved ones.

If you weren’t an attorney, what alternative career path might you have pursued?

I’d probably be a basketball coach. I’ve coached youth sports in the community for about seven years. It started in law school when I needed community service hours, and I chose to be a volunteer basketball coach. I loved it and continued when I came back to West Virginia. I’ve coached various age groups and even led a team to a 54-0 record over three years. If I wasn’t practicing law, I’d be coaching basketball or football.

What advice would you give to aspiring attorneys who are going through law school right now?

The real answer is to get good grades so you can pay for school with scholarships and don’t have to face student loans. But beyond that, reach out in your community to somebody you can ask questions.

Law school teaches you some things about the law, but it doesn’t teach you about the practice of law. It doesn’t teach you about the hustle, networking, hard work, dealing with clients, or being sympathetic to people going through hard times. Find somebody who can teach you the practicality of everything and how it’s not just about people and numbers, but about dealing with clients, being responsible, and being available.

What’s one thing about the legal profession that might surprise people?

Not all attorneys make a lot of money and live some lavish lifestyle. It’s not as lavish as it may seem. A lot of it’s a grind that people don’t see, and not everybody lands the big case.

The stigma is that there are all these greedy attorneys who just make money, but that’s not necessarily the case. A lot of people do it for the right reasons, above the money, and they do it to help people, especially on the plaintiff’s side. They do it to help families who are struggling. Not everyone’s an ambulance-chasing, money-hungry attorney who doesn’t care about anything but getting a quick settlement.

Outside of practicing law, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy in your free time?

It might sound cliché, but I’m serious about spending time with my family. We like to go hiking and kayaking. I coach my kids’ basketball and T-ball teams. I play basketball with my buddies. I play Super Mario video games with my five-year-old. I just love spending time with my family outdoors and coaching youth sports.

What source of inspiration or motivation has been the most significant driving force in your professional career and in your personal life?

To be honest, I’ve always wanted to do what my uncle did because I looked up to him. But the person I really wanted to make proud was my grandmother, his mom. She passed away a few years ago, but a big motivation was honestly to make her proud and be successful. I’ve never done drugs because she was against it. I try to honor her memory with a lot of the decisions I make.

Part of it is also that I’m ambitious and competitive. I’ve always wanted to be successful based on that. My grandfather was an all-state football player, my uncle was a WVU football player, and I grew up in a sports environment. My mom, with her doctorate in education, is very ambitious. It was kind of bred into me that you have to work hard, be educated, and strive to win.