The Charleston, West Virginia office of Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, PLLC maintains a broad, general practice serving businesses and individuals throughout West Virginia and adjoining states. In early 2009, Eckert Seamans and the well-known West Virginia firm of Hendrickson and Long, PLLC combined to form the office. The historic building that the office is located in, a 1900’s-era architectural structure situated in the middle of Charleston’s business and financial districts, has been preserved through a joint effort between the firm and the Charleston Renaissance Committee. The exterior of the building has been refurbished, while the inside has been transformed into modern, state-of-the-art office space. The result is a unique building ideally suited to meet client needs.

Our attorneys serve as counsel for individuals, local West Virginia businesses, national and international companies and is recognized as one of the most progressive legal establishments in the state. Our team is dedicated to and focused on expanding the firm's range of services in ways that meet clients' needs and expectations.

The Charleston office has experience in complex case management, the innovative use of technology, the coordination of multi-jurisdictional discovery efforts and document work, class-action litigation and the trial of consolidated cases. Our attorneys have served as national counsel to Fortune 100 companies in industry-wide litigation in state and federal trials, as well as the appellate courts in West Virginia and across the region.

Substantive areas of practice include:

Litigation and Commercial Law

The office's commercial law and litigation practice provides representation to a broad range of local, national and international clients in federal and state courts. Attorneys in the office have experience with a variety of alternative dispute resolution proceedings including arbitration, mediation and mini-trials. Our services go beyond traditional legal practice to include general business advice, input into business planning and development, risk assessment and advice on business strategies of many types. We give our clients practical advice in a timely, efficient manner to assist them in achieving their desired objectives. Our commercial litigation attorneys understand that a thorough knowledge of our clients' products and services and the surrounding business environment is essential to providing superior service.

Toxic/Mass Tort Litigation

Our broad experience includes virtually every type and size of lawsuit arising from the manufacturing, handling, sale and disposal of chemicals and other allegedly hazardous substances. Our Toxic Tort/Mass Litigation Group is adept at working with experts in matters ranging from complex forensic investigation to causation and responsibility for environmental contamination to the cross-examination of experts of opposing parties. Our case experience spans numerous types of facilities such as petroleum distillate processing sites, refineries, chemical plants, landfills, gasoline service stations and metal fabrication facilities. Our lawyers also regularly represent clients in proceedings involving tort and contract claims related to contaminated land.

On a local, regional and national basis, Eckert Seamans has defended lawsuits arising from exposure to numerous substances, including:

• Prescription and OTC medications
• Asbestos
• Benzene
• Silica

Product Liability

The Charleston office represents domestic and foreign manufacturers of diverse consumer and industrial products such as automobiles, buses, cables, game devices, media recording equipment, trucks, televisions and washing machines. The firm serves as lead trial counsel in national, regional and local counsel programs in defending product liability cases.
Our lawyers understand the nature of their relationship with in-house legal counsel. We understand that we are co-counsel to in-house counsel, and cases are litigated and tried pursuant to client guidelines and business realities.

Bankruptcy

Our attorneys have extensive experience in the representation of public and private clients, including secured and unsecured creditors, trustees, title insurers, issuers of surety bonds, creditors committees, debtors, purchasers of assets, landlords, executive employees and others in troubled company turnarounds, loan workouts, collections and bankruptcy proceedings. The firm is also proficient in representing such parties involved with restructurings in a non-bankruptcy setting.

We have the experience and knowledge to handle virtually any kind of bankruptcy or restructuring matter. We represent lenders and other creditors in debtor-in-possession financings, the purchase of debt and asset acquisitions from distressed entities and credit and business restructurings. An important part of our practice is structuring credit arrangements, acquisitions and other transactions to minimize the risks of bankruptcy, proposing and analyzing operational alternatives and advising clients of their remedies in bankruptcy, litigation and out-of-court matters.

Labor and Employment

The Charleston office’s employment practice provides representation to employers, executives and others in employment litigation and administrative agency proceedings as well as counseling and preventive assistance concerning routine and problematic legal issues arising in the workplace. Attorneys are frequently called upon to advise clients regarding personal policies, hiring, firing and termination issues and compliance with federal and state employment laws. The office’s attorneys have handled a wide variety of employment cases in federal and state courts. The office also handles labor issues arising from organizational drives and unionized workplaces.

Energy

We represent industrial and commercial clients in every aspect of energy use, from evaluating specific strategies, to negotiations, preparation of documents and approval at the appropriate government agency. We have provided advice and assistance in every energy and public utility area, including: Natural gas, electricity, water and sewer, coal, transportation, telecommunications, landfill and wind power.

The Charleston office is well-equipped to service the firm’s existing and ever-growing client base in West Virginia and the surrounding region.