PERSONNEL FILE: 7 Bowles Rice attorneys named Lawyers of the Year

CHARLESTON – The newly released 2015 edition of Best Lawyers in America recognizes seven Bowles Rice attorneys as “Lawyers of the Year” in seven different practice areas, including energy, litigation and  banking.

Charleston attorneys Julia A. Chincheck, Leonard B. Knee and Sandra M. Murphy were selected as  “Lawyers of the Year” for the area that encompasses southern West Virginia.

Chincheck was named for her work in Litigation - Bankruptcy. She concentrates her practice on creditors’ rights and bankruptcy law, with additional emphasis on complex commercial transactions and business work-outs for banking and other commercial lenders, and commercial litigation.

Knee was recognized in Energy Law. He is leader of the firm’s Environmental Practice Group. His experience encompasses all facets of environmental law and litigation.

Murphy was honored for Banking and Finance Law. She focuses her practice in banking,
commercial and financial services, and securities law. Her practice includes representing clients in all aspects of business transactions, and assisting clients with various compliance, corporate governance and other legal issues that arise in the operation of banks and other businesses.

Four Bowles Rice lawyers were recognized as Lawyers of the Year in northern West Virginia, including Martinsburg lawyers Michael E. Caryl (Mergers and Acquisitions Law) and David A. DeJarnett (Litigation and Controversy - Tax).

Caryl’s primary areas of practice are tax planning and tax controversy work at all levels – federal, state and local. He served as West Virginia State Tax Commissioner from 1985 to 1988 and was president of the 12-state Southeastern Association of Tax Administrators, 1987-1988. In 2009, he was named a West Virginia Bar Foundation Fellow.

DeJarnett concentrates his practice in trusts and estates law, federal and state taxation, and corporate, LLC and partnership law. He serves as president of the West Virginia Tax Institute.

In Morgantown, attorneys Kimberly S. Croyle (Education Law) and Robert W. Dinsmore (Natural Resources Law) also were recognized.

Croyle is a member of the firm’s Energy and Real Estate Development Practice Group. In addition to substantial work in energy law, she provides assistance to boards of education in formulating policies and providing in-service training to faculty and staff. Croyle offers advice and guidance to school boards throughout the state on education law issues.

Dinsmore concentrates his practice in mineral law, real estate and commercial law. He is a
member of the American Bar Association and he was nominated as a Fellow by the American Bar Federation in 2013.

Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this accolade particularly significant.

According to Best Lawyers in America, receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism and their integrity.

Bowles Rice is a regional law firm with more than 140 attorneys and eight offices. Firmwide, 54 lawyers were named to the 2015 edition of Best Lawyers in America in 50 practice areas.