WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

CHARLESTON - Kay Casto & Chaney PLLC announced Dec. 27 that Rebecca A. Betts, Pamela C. Deem, R.Terrance “Terry” Rodgers and Karen Speidel Rodgers recently joined its Charleston office.

“We are extremely pleased and excited,” said Michael T. Chaney, a member of the law firm’s management committee. “They bring a wealth of experience and expertise. We are proud to have them join us.”

“Strategically, this growth is an asset for our entire firm and our clients,” said Chaney. Previously, Betts, Deem, T. Rodgers, and K. Rodgers were a part of Betts Hardy and Rodgers PLLC.

Betts is a former U.S. Attorney. In private practice, she concentrates on major corporate defendants in mass tort and class action litigation involving personal injury, antitrust, securities, and other claims. She has represented corporate defendants in regulatory investigations and claims brought by the West Virginia Attorney General and West Virginia Securities Commissioner. She is recognized by Chambers & Partners for her work in mass litigation, and was named a "Local Litigation Star" in the Benchmark Litigation Guide, and has for several years been named a Best Lawyer and Super Lawyer in West Virginia.

This year, Betts was named Benchmark's WV Litigator of the Year. Betts graduated from Dickinson College magna cum laude and received her J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law.

Deem began her legal career as a law clerk at the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. Additionally, she served as a law clerk for the Honorable K. K. Hall, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and as a clerk for the Honorable Dennis R. Knapp, Senior United States District Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia.

Her practice includes all areas of complex commercial and business litigation, including representing corporate clients in claims brought by the West Virginia Attorney General. Although her practice is primarily defense work, Deem also has represented individuals and corporate entities that are plaintiffs in commercial and business disputes. She is a graduate of Wittenberg University and received her J.D. from the WVU College of Law. Deem was recognized in the 2012 Super Lawyers for Business Litigation in

Terry Rodgers’ areas of practice include banks and banking, bankruptcy, and commercial law. He represents corporations and individuals in a variety of litigation and non-litigation matters. His practice focuses primarily on representing banks, mortgage lenders, mortgage loan servicers, and other financial institutions, as well as, debt collectors. He helps clients with claims under the WV Consumer Credit and Protection Act and certain federal statutes.

Rodgers began his career as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of West Virginia. He served as counsel for the WV Commissioner of Banking, the WV Board of Banking and Financial Institutions, and the WV Lending and Credit Rate Board. Before leaving government for private practice, Rodgers was Deputy Commissioner of Banking for the State of West Virginia. Rodgers graduated from King College in Bristol, Tenn., with a bachelor's degree in 1978, and received his J.D. degree from West Virginia University.

Karen Speidel Rodgers' practice areas include commercial litigation. Her focus is on on research and writing, including preparing appellate briefs submitted to The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. In addition to her work as an attorney, Ms. Rodgers served as a hearing examiner for the Kanawha County Board of Education for student disciplinary matters and limited employee grievances.

She served as law clerk to the Honorable John T. Copenhaver, Jr., United States District Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia. In 1973, Ms. Rodgers received her bachelor's degree from Indiana University. In 1979, she received her J.D. from WVU College of Law. While at WVU, she earned the Order of the Coif. Additionally, Ms. Rodgers received a master's degree in Socio-Legal Studies from the University of Sheffield, England.