Atkins
Oblak
MORGANTOWN -- Bowles Rice is pleased to announce that Billy Atkins and Rebecca J. Oblak have joined the firm as partners in the Morgantown office.
"Billy and Rebecca are talented, experienced lawyers, and active community leaders," Managing Partner Tom Graff said. "We are delighted to welcome them to Bowles Rice as we expand our service to clients in North Central West Virginia and in the energy industry."
Atkins has practiced law since 1970 in North Central West Virginia and has extensive experience in the areas of civil litigation, commercial law and workers' compensation. Billy is active in numerous civic and community organizations, including serving as President of Cheat Lake Rotary, President-Elect and a member of the Board of Directors of both the Greater Morgantown Community Trust and the Monongalia Health System.
He is a member of the West Virginia State Bar, the West Virginia Bar Association, American Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, West Virginia Bar Foundation and West Virginia Defense Trial Counsel. He has served on the Board of Governors for the West Virginia State Bar and the West Virginia Defense Trial Counsel. He is currently serving on the West Virginia College of Law Visiting Committee.
He is a former member of the City of Morgantown Building Commission, the Ward Boundary Commission and the Monongalia County Development Authority. He is also a former chairman and board member of the Greater Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce. He has served as president of the Mon County Habitat for Humanity and as a United Way volunteer.
Oblak is an experienced coal mine health and safety lawyer, with an extensive background in administrative law, litigation, workers' compensation and corporate law.
She practices in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia before state and federal agencies representing mine operators with alleged federal and state safety and health violations and mine fatalities.
Oblak received her bachelor of science and master's degrees from Ohio University and her doctor of jurisprudence degree from the Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. She is a member of the American Bar Association, West Virginia Bar Association, Monongalia County Bar Association and is active various civic and community activities.