- Managing Member: Michael J Basile
- Member in Charge of Lawyer Administration: David P Ferretti
- Member in Charge of Client Relations: Eric W Iskra
- Number of members: 58
- Number of other lawyers: 67
FIRM OVERVIEW: Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC was formed in 1864 - one year after West Virginia became a state - and has been serving the legal needs of its clients ever since. Today, the firm has more than 200 attorneys and professional support staff dedicated to providing outstanding legal services and helping clients achieve their business goals. As one of the region’s largest law firms, Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC offers a full-service legal practice and is proud of the diversity of its client base - one that includes Fortune 500 companies with thousands of employees and family-owned businesses that are just around the corner. The firm’s attorneys have been carefully trained to serve as an extension of its clients’ management team - working with them as one to prevent problems before they occur and guiding them carefully and successfully through the legal process. That has been the firm’s tradition for more than a century and continues to be its guiding force today.
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Corporate & Business Law: The firm’s business attorneys are skilled in virtually all areas of a commercial business practice and are prepared to meet the needs of multi-million dollar public corporations as well as closely held private entities. Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC is proficient in all aspects of corporate governance, including formation, board and shareholder issues, and liquidation and dissolution. The firm also performs work for partnerships, limited liability companies, and limited liability partnerships. In addition, the firm handles all types of corporate issues including banking and finance law, bankruptcy, business expansion and development, consumer debt regulation and collections, federal/state/local taxation, immigration and naturalization, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, natural resources, public finance, real estate, securities, and venture capital finance.
Litigation: Whether the case is simple or complex, the firm’s goal is to manage the litigation as efficiently and effectively as possible. Spilman utilizes an early case assessment (ECA) for virtually every new litigation matter. The ECA reflects the firm’s philosophy to proactively identify and quantify the risks in order to ensure that clients achieve their goals. The firm has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict in various jurisdictions and legal avenues, including almost every substantive area of the law. These include antitrust, appellate, asbestos, banking, bankruptcy, commercial and business litigation, construction, creditors’ rights and foreclosures, consumer protection, environmental, federal black lung, healthcare, insurance, intellectual property, personal injury, product liability, Public Service Commission, real estate, shareholder and partnership disputes, toxic tort, white-collar crime, and workers’ compensation. In 2009, Spilman was recognized in Corporate Counsel Magazine as a ‘Go To’ law firm in litigation matters.
Labor & Employment: The firm’s lawyers regularly counsel, advise, and represent clients on every legal issue arising out of the employment relationship. The firm’s goal is to work with clients to avoid employment litigation. Nevertheless, the firm’s lawyers are often retained to defend employers against an ever increasing array of employment litigation matters. The firm’s labor and employment lawyers are trial lawyers who have developed best-in-class strategies, not only for single-plaintiff litigation, but also for class actions and administrative agency maintained actions. Spilman also provides counsel and represents management in connection with union organizing campaigns, salting attacks, collective bargaining negotiations, arbitration pursuant to collective bargaining agreements, representation in unfair labor practice proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, injunction proceedings to halt unlawful union picketing and violence, and lawsuits in federal and state courts against labor unions based on union member misconduct and damage to the company. Most recently, Spilman was named as the ‘Go To’ law firm in Corporate Counsel Magazine in labor and employment matters.
Energy: The Spilman Energy Group is comprised of attorneys from varied practice areas. From acquisitions to litigation to government relations, the firm’s dedication to providing outstanding legal counsel to the energy industry is founded on a commitment of furthering this growing industry. The Spilman Energy Group is well versed in issues that most impact energy clients, including regulatory issues, contract negotiations, litigation, and labor and employment. The firm’s goal is to keep its clients well informed about trends and changes in the industry, and to help clients stay one step ahead of the multitude of other issues that arise in business every day.
Environmental: The goal of the firm’s Environmental Practice Group is to resolve the environmental challenges that face clients in a cost-effective manner using negotiation, mediation, compliance planning, regulatory or legislative changes, and, where necessary, litigation. Attorneys provide environmental counseling to a wide range of businesses and industries, including manufacturing, mining, oil and gas development and transmission, forestry, banking and lending, and retail establishments.
Healthcare: Spilman has a large and diverse practice in the area of healthcare law. During the past 30 years, the firm has represented nearly all of the general acute care hospitals in West Virginia. The firm also represents healthcare systems, nursing homes, home health agencies, physicians, and other healthcare providers. The experienced lawyers that focus on the healthcare industry are continually contacted to serve as speakers, authors, and advisors on a multitude of healthcare issues, including certificates of need, contracts, corporate reorganizations, due diligence investigations, Health Care Quality Improvement Act, integrated delivery systems, internal investigations, Medicare and Medicaid fraud abuse, rate review, and reimbursement issues.
Government Relations: Since West Virginia was formed, Spilman has effectively represented clients before the West Virginia Legislature and within state and local government. Numerous Spilman lawyers have held elected and appointed positions within the legislature and state and local government, equipping the firm with the experience and insight to effectively assist clients. And, the firm continues to maintain strong contacts and access with government entities, which are the keys to a successful government relations practice.