Dinsmore & Shohl LLP is pleased to announce J. Corey Asay, Charles E. Baverman III, Kelby T. Gray, Thomas J. Hayes, Jason W. Hilliard, Kerry O. Irwin, Katie P. Jacob, Alina Klimkina, Drew A. Linnenbom, Matt Lockhart, Sarah Mikowski McKenna, Anthony Pisano, Natalie H. Rauf and Arie M. Spitz have been elected to partnership effective Jan. 1. Pamela W. Bridgeport has been named partner of counsel.
“Each of these attorneys has demonstrated a passion for the practice of law along with a commitment to client service,” said Managing Partner and Chairman George Vincent. “We are proud to welcome them to the partnership and are confident they will continue to contribute to Dinsmore’s success.”
Partners:
Kelby T. Gray – Charleston
Gray has experience guiding companies through employment litigation, particularly involving allegations of age, race, gender, and disability discrimination. He has defended employers against deliberate intent claims and practiced before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the West Virginia Human Rights Commission and the West Virginia Unemployment Compensation Board of Review. He also has experience defending mining companies in Mine Safety and Health Administration matters. Gray is a past recipient of the firm’s Difference Maker Award in Honor of Alice J. Neeley and has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a West Virginia Rising Star. He received his J.D., with distinction, from Ohio Northern University.
Matt Lockhart – Huntington
With a litigation practice focusing on commercial, transportation, and general civil defense, Lockhart’s experience includes railroad litigation, corporate litigation, contract disputes, consumer credit protection claims, and professional liability defense. Lockhart has been recognized as a West Virginia Rising Star by Super Lawyers and is a recipient of the Generation Huntington award for his dedication to the community. Prior to receiving his J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law, he worked as a sports reporter for the Associated Press, MLB.com, and Charleston Daily Mail, where he was named West Virginia’s best sports columnist in 2006.
Arie M. Spitz – Charleston
A litigator with a broad range of courtroom experience, Spitz represents clients in cases involving claims, such as attorney malpractice, insurance coverage and bad faith, breach of fiduciary duty, wrongful termination, and sexual discrimination. His three primary client groups are fellow attorneys, insurance carriers and employers, and he has successfully litigated on their behalf before the West Virginia Supreme Court, as well as the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Spitz earned his J.D., cum laude, from Dickinson School of Law at Pennsylvania State University and has been recognized as a West Virginia Rising Star by Super Lawyers.
Associates:
Raymond L. Harrell, Jr. – Charleston
Dinsmore added Raymond L. Harrell, Jr. as an associate to the firm’s Charleston office. Harrell will practice out of the labor department as well as work with government relations. His experience includes employment law, workplace liability, consumer credit and protection and general litigation defense.
Harrell received his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, cum laude. While in law school, he served as president, competitor and student coach of the moot court team. He was elected vice president of student services for John Marshall Student Bar Association. He received his B.A. in political science from Marshall University, cum laude, where he served two terms as student body president and as a member of the Board of Governors.
Harrell is community service chair for the 2019 Defense Research Institute Civil Rights and Governmental Liability Seminar, as well as the young lawyers division chairman and executive council member of the West Virginia Bar Association. He is active in the community as a member of the Marshall University Alumni Association Board of Directors and volunteers with Legal Aid of West Virginia and Manna Meal.
