PERSONNEL FILE: Robinson & McElwee names new members

CHARLESTON – Robinson & McElwee has announced the addition of Mark Hayes and Beth Goodykoontz as its newest members.

Both Hayes and Goodykoontz accepted the firm’s invitation to membership after previously serving in of counsel roles. Hayes has been with the firm for 13 years, and Goodykoontz has been with the firm for nine years.

Hayes’ practice primarily involves representing corporate defendants in product liability, toxic and mass torts, class actions, and other complex and serious personal injury actions. He earned his B.A. degree from Marshall University and his J.D. degree from West Virginia University, and has more than 28 years of defense experience.

For the past five years, Hayes has served as Chair of the West Virginia State Bar's Unlawful Practice of Law Committee. He is a member of the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia (Board of Governors; chair, Products Liability Committee), the Defense Research Institute (Toxic Tort and Environmental Law/Product Liability committees), ALFA International (Steering Committee, Products Liability Practice Group), the West Virginia State Bar, the Kentucky Bar Association and the Cabell and Kanawha County Bar Associations.

Goodykoontz, a member of the firm’s Litigation department, focuses her practice on mass tort litigation, toxic torts, and product liability. Goodykoontz earned a B.A. in English from Indiana University, a M.A. in English from West Virginia University, and her J.D. from West Virginia University.

In May, she will have over 20 years of experience as an attorney, including over 10 years involved in the defense of clients in asbestos cases. Goodykoontz is a member of the Kanawha County Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute and the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia.

Formed in 1983, Robinson & McElwee is a corporate and defense law firm based in Charleston with offices in Clarksburg and Wheeling, West Virginia, and Alliance, Ohio. The firm’s practice is multifaceted and includes litigation, corporate law, natural resources law, labor and employment law, utility law, bankruptcy, commercial real estate development, environmental law, state and local taxation, estate planning and administration, commercial transactions and government relations.