Managing Member
Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC
Photo by Rick Lee.
By Samantha Cart
Growing up in Fairmont, WV, Michael Basile’s career goals in his youth included racing cars and playing golf professionally until a career aptitude test—and a very prudent father—steered him toward the study of law.
“I had a textbook, American-dream upbringing,” he says. “I had two great parents, two older doting sisters and no drama. I have only positive memories of fun-filled days riding bikes, fishing, playing tennis and summering in Grant Town, a small Marion County coal camp town where my paternal grandmother lived. While law did end up being my chosen profession, I played a lot of golf and tinkered with a lot of cars prior to receiving my degree.”
Basile, now the managing member of Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC, began his professional career in the Office of the West Virginia Attorney General in the appellate and tax divisions. Early on, he had the opportunity to work under several incredible mentors and argue appeals before the state Supreme Court while representing state agencies and constitutional officers and working as a special prosecutor on political corruption cases.
“Arguing before our Supreme Court of Appeals shortly after being sworn in as a practitioner is the most adventurous thing I’ve ever done,” he says. “That is the beauty of public service—early and often sink-or-swim opportunities. It was an incredibly fulfilling start.”
It was during this time that Basile first encountered the concept of servant leadership, a lesson that has stuck with him throughout his life. One mentor, Attorney General Mario Palumbo, not only taught him a great deal about the practice of law but also about what it means to be an inspirational leader.
“General Palumbo was a man of great grace and dignity,” says Basile. “He chose to contribute to our corner of society through his commitment to the public sector. His service was about giving back, not taking. He was the antithesis of ego driven—a true gentleman and a great servant leader.”
Today, Basile uses his role as managing member of Spilman to pay this type of mentorship forward.
“My goal as both mentor and parent is to be a solid role model,” he says. “Sometimes I live up to a self-imposed high bar, and sometimes I fall short. The goal is to try one’s absolute best in a sustained manner.”
Basile not only seeks to make his firm a better place to work but to make West Virginia a better place to live. This determination and dedication to the Mountain State drives him to contribute his time, talent and resources to a variety of organizations. He serves on the board of directors for the High Technology Foundation, Discover the Real West Virginia Foundation, Inc. and the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, where he is also a member of the executive committee. He is a founding member and past co-chair and board member for Vision Shared, and he has also served as a founding board member, executive committee member and chair of the Charleston Area Alliance; chair and member of the board of directors for the Interregional Chamber of Commerce; and member of the Young Presidents Organization.
While he has accomplished a great deal in both his career and community, Basile believes there is still much more left for him to do. “I would like to put a ‘ding in the universe,’ as Steve Ballmer of Microsoft once referenced,” says Basile. “I would like to leave a lasting impact on our state and region.”
Basile hopes his drive and determination, as well as his legal expertise, will help push his home state of West Virginia forward.
“Since winning the Golden Horseshoe in eighth grade, I’ve been completely intrigued by this state’s public policy,” he says. “I am predisposed to supporting the underdog. There’s a great boxing adage: ‘Good big man always beats good little man.’ West Virginia is the little man in the allegory. In order for our state to compete, we have to pass and implement smart, forward-looking public policy. I have contributed a bit, but I have much more to do.”
1990 Accepted an internship with Attorney General Mario Palumbo
1991 Graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law
1993 Hired as chief counsel for the WV Development Office
1994 Worked as associate general counsel in the office of Gov. Gaston Caperton
1996 Promoted to general counsel and deputy chief of staff to Gov. Gaston Caperton
1997 Joined Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC as an associate
2004 Elected managing member of Spilman Thomas & Battle
2004 Helped found the Charleston Area Alliance
2006 Joined the WV Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors and executive committee
2008 Began participating in the Young Presidents Organization
2009 Joined the Discover the Real WV Foundation, Inc.’s board of directors
2012 Elected chair of the Interregional Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors
2015 Joined the High Technology Foundation’s board of directors
