Attorney at Law, Hendrickson & Long PLLC
Photo by Mike Winland Studios
By Megan Bevins
David Hendrickson, attorney at law at Hendrickson & Long PLLC, has made a significant impact on the legal field through his dedication, resilience and community service.
Hendrickson was born in Massillon, Ohio, where his family settled after his father returned home from serving in World War II. His father then passed away when Hendrickson was just seven years old. After this tragic loss, his mother decided to move the family back to Ritchie County, WV, and eventually to Parkersburg.
Hendrickson worked various jobs from the age of 13, including mowing lawns and working at the Wilmar Cafeteria. As a child he was a fan of the TV show “Perry Mason,” which sparked his interest in law and fueled his ambition to become an attorney.
Hendrickson attended West Virginia University (WVU) on an Army ROTC scholarship, where he graduated with honors in history. He then decided to attend the WVU College of Law.
When applying for law school, Hendrickson was nervous his LSAT scores would prevent his acceptance. Nonetheless, he was admitted, but financial constraints required him to work 20 hours per week as an academic advisor and complete his difficult coursework at the same time. Knowing he could not afford school without working, he stuck it out.
“I was warned by one of the professors that I could not do both and complete a law degree,” Henrickson says. “Needless to say, fear motivated me, and the rest is history.”
After graduating in 1982, Hendrickson fulfilled his military commitment as a prosecutor and trial defense lawyer in the U.S. Army. As few lawyers were on the trial docket, Hendrickson had the opportunity to try numerous cases during his military career. This experience helped solidify his decision to practice trial law.
“Although I spent, like everyone else, three years in law school and three months at the Judge Advocate General School learning military law, I still felt that while I could spot legal issues, I didn’t have the skill set necessary to mechanically solve problems,” he says.
Hendrickson considered a long-term military career, but the prospect of limited courtroom opportunities led him to transition to the private sector where he could continue his passion for trial work. His return to the private sector began with a brief stint in Hilton Head, SC, before homesickness for West Virginia drew him back.
“While there may be bigger opportunities outside the state of West Virginia, I think the quality of life here is unmatched anywhere in the country,” he says.
He began working at Kay Casto & Chaney in Charleston, where he worked alongside experienced lawyers and took inspiration for how to run his own law firm. This firm provided him with his first major clients, many of whom remained with him throughout his entire career.
After leaving Kay Casto & Chaney, Hendrickson joined Spilman Thomas & Battle PLLC, working alongside Scott Long, who would eventually become his business partner. In 1994, he and Long co-founded Hendrickson & Long PLLC.
For the past six years, Henrickson & Long PLLC has been named a Tier One law firm by U.S. News and World Report. Hendrickson has been named Lawyer of the Year and has also been inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a prestigious honor only few lawyers receive.
Along with these accolades, Hendrickson notes that another aspect of his impact on the legal industry has been his relationships with other lawyers. He has tried cases in 16 different states, serving clients in the West Virginia Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the Fourth Circuit. He mentions that some decisions from those cases have had a part in shaping the law in certain industries, and his hard work and dedication through owning his own law firm has inspired others to start their own firms as well.
“We have had the privilege of working with some really talented lawyers and staff,” Hendrickson says. “I have tried several cases in a vast array of disciplines. I carried over what I had learned from the law firms of Kay Casto and Spilman Thomas to our own firm. A lot of our folks have been employed with us for more than 20 years. The biggest lesson I have learned here is to never give up.”
Running and managing a small law firm has come with challenges, such as navigating 2008’s financial crisis, COVID-19 and the coming and going of clients. However, Hendrickson credits his staff, saying they were the ones carrying the firm during these times.
Throughout Hendrickson’s career, two mentors have been particularly influential to him. Eugene Hague, an attorney from Parkersburg, taught Hendrickson the lesson that the reasonable answer to any problem, 99% of the time, will be the legal solution as well. This notion is something Hendrickson has found to be true many times over the years. He also credits South Carolina attorney Bruce Shaw, who helped keep him connected to a major client and gain experience litigating outside of West Virginia.
“I tried a tremendous number of cases for this and other major corporations,” Hendrickson says. “With his help and guidance, it expanded my career.”
Aside from his professional life, Hendrickson is involved in many community service endeavors. He has served as president of the WVU Alumni Association and on the Athletic Council. He has also served as the chairman of the Higher Education Policy Commission and the chairman of the West Virginia Regional Tech Park in South Charleston.
Hendrickson has also influenced the next generation of legal professionals through mentorship and offered pro bono work ranging from criminal defense to financial assistance. He notes the significance of spending 42 years working as an attorney in a small state, where he has gotten to know people from different backgrounds and learn from the experience of working
with them.
“All of those are important to me, and the reason they are important to me is because I have been blessed by being able to have this degree and been blessed by being able to have a legal career, be part of this tremendous firm and have the opportunity to give back,” Hendrickson says.
Hendrickson remains deeply connected to his roots in the Mountain State. He splits his time between Charleston and Morgantown and is an avid supporter of WVU sports. His personal interests include jogging, walking and golfing.
“I have enjoyed all of my friendships and people that I have known,” Hendrickson says. “I have enjoyed being part of WVU. I have enjoyed being part of Charleston, Parkersburg, Morgantown and the military. I have been blessed with great friends and partners, all of which have helped me to any successes I have enjoyed in life.”
