News

Three new associates have joined the firm's offices in Abingdon, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee.

Ashley B. Neese, a graduate of the Claude W. Pettit College of Law at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio, and Wesley B. Boggs, a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, have joined the firm's Bristol, TN office. Patrick R. Baker, a graduate of the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, VA has joined the firm's Abingdon, VA office.

Neese's practice will focus on workers' compensation law. Neese was the Dean's Scholarship Recipient at Ohio Northern College of Law. She was an Intern to U.S. District Judge Pamela Meade Sargent and an Extern to Virginia Court of Appeals Judge Elizabeth A. McClanahan. Neese graduated cum laude from Emory & Henry College, with a B.A. in Political Science.

Baker's practice will also focus on workers' compensation law. He earned the 100% Merit Scholarship at Applachian School of Law, and was on the Dean's List. Baker interned for Virginia Court of Appeals Judge Elizabeth A. McClanahan. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with a B.A. in History, and was a Dean's List Cadet.

Boggs will concentrate on general business and corporate law and transactions. Boggs was named to the Dean's List, with Honors, at the University of Tennessee College of Law, and was the editor-in-chief of the Tennessee Law Review. Boggs graduated summa cum laude from Emory & Henry College with a B.A. in History, and was also a Creed Fulton Scholar.

PennStuart Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America

PennStuart attorneys Michael Blair, Timothy Gresham, Wade Massie and Ramesh Murthy have been named to the The Best Lawyers in America 2008. Criteria for the recognition included outstanding reputations and distinguished work in areas of practice.

Blair is an Officer in the firm's Bristol, TN office. His practice focuses on the representation of employers in workers' compensation matters, and he is the leader of the firm's Workers' Compensation Practice Group.

Gresham, Massie and Murthy are Officers in the Abingdon, VA office. Gresham was recognized for his experience in the environmental law area. Massie was recognized for his work in the mining and energy industry and for his experience in product liability litigation. Massie leads the firm's Commercial Litigation Practice Group. Murthy's practice focuses on the defense of employers in employment and human resource issues and in workers' compensation matters.

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Inclusion is determined by more than two million detailed evaluations and votes.

Five PennStuart Lawyers Among Virginia Super Lawyers

Five PennStuart attorneys have been recognized as 2007 Virginia Super Lawyers by Law & Politics Magazine.  They are:

Super Lawyers are chosen by a survey of their peers and through publisher Law & Politics independent research. The annual Virginia Super Lawyers list is based on the results of a survey of more than 19,000 lawyers across the state and is designed to identify lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.  Only five percent of Virginia lawyers were named 2007 Virginia Super Lawyers.

Ladd Installed as President of Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys

Richard E. Ladd Jr., an officer in PennStuart’s Bristol, Tenessee office, was installed as president of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys (VADA) on Friday, October 20, 2006 at their fall meeting in Williamsburg. VADA is an organization of more than 800 civil defense attorneys practicing in Virginia. Formed in 1968, VADA is the pre-eminent statewide association of civil defense attorneys and is dedicated to assisting lawyers in the professional and ethical representation of their clients to promote fairness and integrity in the civil justice system.

Hall Joins Firm

PennStuart is pleased to announce that Joseph S. Hall has joined the firm as an associate in the firm’s Abingdon office. Hall is engaged in the practice of civil litigation focusing on commercial litigation and insurance defense matters. Hall graduated cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the College of William and Mary. He is a member of the Virginia Bar Association, the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, and the Defense Research Institute. Hall is a native of Smyth County and was a financial officer for Donnkenny Apparel in Wytheville prior to entering law school.

Lowe, Brooks, and Cox Join PennStuart Tennessee Office

PennStuart is pleased to announce that Timothy K. Lowe has joined the law firm as an officer, J. Randall Brooks, Jr. has joined as an associate, and Nannie R. Cox has joined as a paralegal. They will all reside in PennStuart’s Bristol, Tennessee office. Lowe, Brooks, and Cox were previously the firm of Timothy K. Lowe, P.C. in Kingsport, Tennessee. W. Bradford Stallard, PennStuart’s Managing Director explained “PennStuart has partnered with coal and energy clients for many years; the addition of these very experienced energy attorneys and paralegal solidifies a core legal group within the firm focused on transactions for the coal and energy industries. We now offer an additional layer of service to our clients who need higher-tier transactions assistance involving the purchase and sale of mineral rights, assets, subsidiaries, or entire companies. We are extremely pleased to offer this level of expertise and value to the companies in our region.” Lowe graduated from Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky., with a B.A. in political science, and received his J.D. from the University of Kentucky College Of Law in Lexington, Kentucky. He is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association and the Kingsport Bar Association. Lowe previously served as Senior Vice President and Corporate Counsel of AMVEST for 14 years. Brooks is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise in Wise, Virginia, where he earned a B.A. in history, and a graduate of the Regent University School Of Law. Before entering private practice, Brooks served as Special Counsel to the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia. He is licensed to practice law in Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Cox is a graduate of Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, where she has also taught Legal Assistant classes. She was a paralegal with AMVEST before joining Timothy K. Lowe P.C.

PennStuart is pleased to announce that Patricia C. Arrighi has become Of Counsel to the law firm and Wendy E. Warren has joined as an associate. Both will reside in the firm’s Richmond office, where their practices will focus on the representation of employers and insurers in workers’ compensation matters. Arrighi is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, where she earned a master’s degree in urban planning, and a graduate of the T.C. Williams School of Law of the University of Richmond. She is a member of the Virginia Bar Association, the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators, and the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys. Previous to entering private practice, Arrighi served as Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Richmond, and as Deputy Commissioner for the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission. Warren graduated cum laude from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, with a B.A. in political science. She received her J.D. from the Marshall Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary. Warren has previously served as Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Richmond.