Shareholder, Babst Calland
By Jackie Whetzel
Tim Miller, shareholder in the energy and natural resources litigation group at Babst Calland, didn’t envision becoming a lawyer. He dreamed of being an astronaut or a jet pilot, but his poor eyesight and lackadaisical interest in math were not a good fit.
Since space and flying weren’t in the cards for the Morgantown native, Miller decided to study business management at West Virginia University (WVU). He graduated with his undergraduate degree in 1977 and with his Juris Doctor from the WVU College of Law three years later.
Miller began his legal career as an intern in the Marion County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and later worked at a Charleston law firm doing administrative and environmental law. His focus eventually turned to energy and environmental litigation, which ultimately became his legal specialty.
“A few of my mentors were already fully occupied with other areas of the law in the mid-1980s, and by default I started getting more of the energy litigation work,” says Miller. “I have been on gas well drilling and construction sites, in underground coal mines and power and manufacturing plants and involved in natural disasters, catastrophic events and accident investigations in numerous fields. I am also consulted on contract disputes and legal implications of business decisions and government regulations. The breadth of knowledge and experiences you obtain via the practice of law is what is interesting and makes each case different.”
Miller is not just an energy and environmental lawyer. He also serves on the board of governors for the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia and as a member of the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF), a business advisory council member for the University of Charleston and a volunteer for the United Way of Central West Virginia.
“In all the groups I have been involved with, I have learned there are many good people who are dedicated and willing to serve but would prefer not to be in a leadership position,” says Miller. “If you are willing to lead, you will meet many dedicated, intelligent and inspiring people and be the better for it.”
Miller is most proud of his service as a former EMLF president.
“Being named president of the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation meant a lot to me because it is dedicated to the study of energy law and generating revenue to provide scholarships to law students interested in careers in the energy field,” he says. “Over the course of 20 years, we have provided up to $50,000 per year to students throughout the country, including the WVU College of Law, and have built up endowments for scholarships that exceed $1 million.”
Despite the accolades, Miller remains humble about his professional contributions to his home state of West Virginia.
“I don’t know that I have impacted the legal industry, but I do feel I have helped my clients navigate heavily regulated fields and resolve complex legal entanglements so they can operate properly and provide good jobs for West Virginians,” he says. “My clients trust me to provide them good advice and advocate for them. That is rewarding.”
