Bowles Rice is pleased to welcome Fred Earley, former president of Highmark West Virginia, and Keith Burdette, former Cabinet Secretary for the West Virginia Department of Commerce to the firm. Earley will lead Bowles Rice’s Health Care Team, and Burdette will serve as the firm’s business development director.
Earley brings nearly 30 years of experience in the health care and insurance industries to his law practice at Bowles Rice, which focuses on health care and government relations work for clients ranging from hospitals and health maintenance organizations to physicians and long-term care facilities.
“We are delighted to welcome Fred to Bowles Rice,” said Tom Heywood, the regional law firm’s Managing Partner. “Fred is universally respected as a leader in health care and insurance in West Virginia and the region, and he brings tremendous value to the table for our clients. Fred will serve companies and organizations throughout the region, continue to shape health care and insurance policy in our state, and help lead our growing health care practice in the years to come.”
Earley served as president of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia from 2009 to 2016, with responsibility for all market-facing functions of the company including sales and marketing, government and public relations and provider contracting and reimbursement. During his tenure, he oversaw the transitional period during the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Earley received his law degree from the Washington and Lee University School of Law.
Burdette formerly served as executive director of the West Virginia Development Office and chairman of the West Virginia Development Authority and the Jobs Investment Trust during the administration of West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin.
He will assist Bowles Rice clients and attorneys with business and economic development issues. He has experience spearheading projects ranging from major economic development projects and workforce training programs to expansion of manufacturing facilities and site selection for new construction. Burdette has significant working relationships with business leaders throughout the country as well as internationally, and has a keen understanding of government, local to federal. He is a skilled facilitator and liaison between government and industry and a powerful advocate for business and development in the Appalachian region.
“Keith has dedicated himself through public service to growing our state and region for many years,” Heywood said. “Our mission at Bowles Rice is to contribute to the success of our clients and vitality of our communities through advocacy, counsel, leadership and service and to improve lives and opportunities in the communities we serve. We look forward to Keith being a part of this work and to continuing to grow our state and region by helping our clients and businesses grow.”
Burdette began his career in public service in the West Virginia House of Delegates, where he served two terms. In 1982, he was elected to the West Virginia State Senate. Seven years later, he was elected the 42nd President of the State Senate at the age of 34, the youngest Senate President in the state’s history.
