Partner, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Twitter: @RSellards1
LinkedIn: Rob Sellards
Website: nelsonmullins.com
Written by Samantha Cart
As a successful lawyer in medical malpractice, health care, consumer finance and tax lien litigation law, it might be hard to imagine Robert Sellards racing ATVs, scuba diving and skydiving. Sellards leads an active lifestyle, and when he’s not in the courtroom, he can be found hiking or whitewater rafting in the beautiful outdoors of West Virginia.
Born and raised in Point Pleasant, Sellards spent his childhood traveling with his parents, Michael and Betty, and sister, Jennifer, which really solidified his commitment to family. He has spent a lifetime being compared to the man he was named after—his grandfather—which is what first inspired him to study law. “My grandfather always wanted a lawyer in the family,” says Sellards. “My father always encouraged me to go into law as well. By the time it was my turn to pick a career path, law was my focus.”
Sellards, a partner with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, has enjoyed great professional success early in his career; however, he believes his greatest success is maintaining the family values of his youth. After attending law school in Pittsburgh, he moved back to West Virginia to be close to his family. “Too often, jobs and geography take family members away from each other. I believe the core values of family are so important, and I was willing to sacrifice a legal career in a larger metropolitan area to come back so I could continue my family growth and ultimately raise children in Huntington, where I went to college.”
Sellards’ personal commitment to family extends beyond his immediate relatives and into his community. He is very active with the United Way of the River Cities (UWRC), serving in the past as an ambassador, board member and, for the past two years, the resource development chairperson for the United Way Executive Committee. As the chairperson, Sellards has helped raise more than $2 million for the agency. His firm was named UWRC’s 2015 Small Business of the Year for having a 100 percent volunteer participation rate due to Sellards’ encouragement.
“Community service is something I take very seriously,” he says. “I can recall as a young kid my mother encouraging my sister and me to give half of our Christmas toys to a local toy drive. I can still hear her explanation on why it is better to give than receive—and she was right. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve begun to appreciate that simply donating money, while vitally important, isn’t the limit of what needs to be done to help others. In response, I sought out organizations that are results- and outcome-driven and began donating my time as well.”
In addition to the UWRC, Sellards has performed hundreds of hours of pro bono legal work for local police officers and firefighters in Huntington. His volunteerism led to the initiation of a program called Wills for Heroes, through which a number of attorneys, paralegals and support staff from his firm have volunteered to serve the heroes of their community by drafting wills and medical power of attorney documents free of charge.
Sellards says it’s the support of his wife, Valerie, that has allowed him to work hard and participate in civic activities. “She’s my best friend, and it wouldn’t have been possible without her,” he says.
While his spirit of giving was inherited from his parents and encouraged by his wife, he is inspired to give back by the people of the Mountain State.“There are two kinds of people in this world,” he says. “One kind runs toward those in need and the other kind runs away from them. West Virginia is not perfect, but it has still done more for me than I have done for it. I owe the people and the spirit of the state. There is work to be done here, and I want to be a part of a place where I can help.”
What is your favorite … ?
Color – Black
Food – Pizza
Cartoon Character – Homer Simpson
Ice Cream – Rocky Road
Animal – Cats
Book – “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas
App – eBay
Midnight Snack – Nutella on a spoon
TV Show – “Night Court” and “Game of Thrones”
Movie – “The Princess Bride”
Smell – Jasmine or cookies in the oven
Sport Team – Marshall University Thundering Herd
Car – 1965 Shelby Cobra
Pet – My dog, Pearl
Place – The beach
Season – Summer
Local Restaurant – La Famiglia in Huntington
Era – Civil War era
