PERSONNEL FILE: Jackson Kelly's Workers' Compensation practice honored

CHARLESTON -- Jackson Kelly's Workers' Compensation practice was ranked the number one workers' compensation practice in the nation in Woodward and White's The Best Lawyers in America 2008.

Also, eight Jackson Kelly workers' compensation attorneys were individually recognized in Best Lawyers:

They are Robert J. Busse, Timothy Huffman, Ann Rembrandt and Douglas Smoot of the Charleston office; William Mattingly, George Roeder and Kathy Snyder of the Morgantown office; and Mary Jane Curran of the Clarksburg office.

In total, 51 Jackson Kelly attorneys were listed in the 2008 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. In addition to the firm's top national ranking in workers' compensation, four practices -– corporate law, environmental law, personal injury litigation, and workers' compensation –- were listed as number one practices in West Virginia.

"It is an honor to be recognized by our peers in Best Lawyers ©," said Huffman, manager of the firm's Workers' Compensation Department. "Our lawyers aggressively represent the Firm's clients in state workers' compensation matters in West Virginia and Kentucky.

"Beyond this, we work closely with our clients, the business community, and legislators to formulate rules and policies that will improve the region's business climate."

Jackson Kelly's Workers' Compensation Department also features a preeminent Federal Black Lung Practice. This group, led by William Mattingly and based in Morgantown, represents coal industry clients across the country.

"Our FBL Practice Group is unique in scope," Mattingly said. "We represent clients throughout the United States, with lawyers in three different offices.

"Jackson Kelly's Federal Black Lung Group provides representation not only at the initial administrative and trial levels, but throughout the appellate process including the United States Circuit Courts and the Supreme Court."

Jackson Kelly's Workers' Compensation Department is one of the oldest and largest in West Virginia. Attorneys in the practice represent clients from a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, mining, energy, health care, and retail. Further, the firm represents clients who are self insured as well as those who are represented by BrickStreet Mutual Insurance.

Best Lawyers is considered by many in law to be one of the best lawyer-rating publications in the United States. Some 24,000 attorneys from throughout the country participated in this year's process and cast more than a half million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their areas of specialization.

Jackson Kelly's 175 lawyers are based in 10 offices in West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Washington, D.C. For more information on Jackson Kelly, visit the firm's Web site at http://www.jacksonkelly.com.