History

PennStuart’s long-standing tradition of providing outstanding service and legal expertise began with the Firm’s founding in 1890.  Over the past 115 years, we have grown into the largest firm in the region.  Across practices areas and offices, our lawyers share a common commitment – provide unparalleled service in meeting our client’s legal needs and exceed our reputation for excellence.

PennStuart's history is not about events in the annals of the firm.  Rather, it is about the accomplishments and legacies of its attorneys.  We are where we are today because of our exceptional ancestors who founded the firm and created a lineage that speaks of service, leadership and excellence.  We are proud that so many PennStuart attorneys have served society and the legal profession through their memberships in charitable, professional and civic organizations, as leaders of the bar, members of the judiciary, and through their involvement in state and local government. 

Past and present members have served the judiciary at many levels -- as judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia on the federal level, and on the state level as judges of the Circuit Court, Court of Appeals of Virginia, and the Supreme Court of Virginia.   PennStuart attorneys have served as Attorney General of Virginia and as Chief Deputy Attorney General, and a former member was elected to the United States House of Representatives.  Former members have served in the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate, and current and former firm members have served as presidents of the Virginia State Bar, Virginia Bar Association, the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, and the Virginia State Board of Education. 

Five years after James L. White and John A. Buchanan founded PennStuart in 1890, Buchanan was elected as judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia.  At that time, White partnered with George Penn.  William A. Stuart joined the firm in 1923.  An Oxford University Rhodes Scholar, Stuart’s reputation and grasp of the law attracted many new, prestigious clients to the firm.  Stuart’s arrival at the firm came at a time when growing companies in the mineral-rich region of southwest Virginia were beginning to spur the growth of our extensive energy law practice.  Transportation law and corporate litigation needs followed those first coal and railroad clients.   From that point forward, PennStuart became the law firm of choice for nearly all the mining and energy related businesses in the region.    Client demand, especially in the energy industry, fueled the firm’s decision to expand in the 1970’s and 1980’s.  William W. Eskridge and James P. Jones led the growth initiative for the firm.  Eskridge is now the senior partner of the firm and Jones received a presidential appointment in the 1990’s as District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia.

PennStuart’s steady growth has been built upon a foundation comprised of the principles of hard work, uncompromising standards and an unwavering commitment to client service. We are proud that our clients are among the leading businesses and industries in southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, central Kentucky, the region and the nation. Today we have three strategically located offices that serve our clients through numerous practice areas.

PennStuart's attorneys appear in the state and federal trial and appellate courts of Virginia, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky. We also practice before numerous administrative and regulatory bodies, including The Department of Labor, Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, Virginia Gas & Oil Board and the Virginia Employment Commission. We believe we are uniquely positioned to serve the diverse requirements of our clients by offering geographic and practice specific expertise that is unparalleled in our region.

We recruit the best and brightest attorneys, paralegals and support staff. We utilize the latest technology for client communication, trial preparation and litigation management. We re-evaluate our resources regularly to ensure we are providing our clients with the best possible service as we constantly strive to become more efficient, more effective and more pragmatic in addressing their needs.