PERSONNEL FILE: Huddleston Bolen lawyers named Best in America

HUNTINGTON -- Huddleston Bolen, a law firm with offices in West Virginia and Kentucky, has announced that 17 of their lawyers have been honored with the distinction of "2009 Best Lawyers in America."

For the second year in a row, more than half of Huddleston Bolen's partners were recognized in this prestigious publication.

Partners Fred Adkins, Richard Bolen, Jim Cleveland, Tom Gilpin, Jan Holbrook, Angela Konrad, Luke Lafferre, J.H. Mahaney, Robert Massie, Thomas Murray, Kevin Nelson, Christopher Plybon, Mary Sanders, Bruce Stout, Jim Turner, Marc Williams and Andrew Zettle were recognized in the prestigious publication. To be selected, attorneys are reviewed by an extensive jury of their peers from across the nation.

Published by Woodward and White since 1983, the annual publication is among the most respected references for lawyers in the United States.

The attorneys were recognized for accomplishments in their respective practice areas.

Adkins was recognized for his efforts in mass tort litigation, personal injury litigation, and railroad law.

Bolen's area of focus is natural resources law.

Cleveland, based in Ashland, Ky., was honored in the area of railroad law.

Gilpin's area of focus is bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights law.

Holbrook was credited for her work in bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights law.

Konrad was listed for her railroad law work.

Lafferre was recognized for his efforts in railroad law.

Mahaney's focus areas are commercial litigation and mass tort litigation.

Massie was honored in three categories, including insurance law, personal injury litigation, and product liability litigation.

Murray was credited for the 12th consecutive year in his specialties of banking, corporate, and securities law.

Nelson, based in Charleston, was named for his contributions in labor and employment law.

Plybon was recognized for his work in real estate law.

Sanders' areas of focus are insurance law and product liability litigation.

Stout was credited for his contributions in trusts and estates.

Turner's area of focus is railroad law.

Williams was honored in five areas, including commercial litigation, legal malpractice law, mass tort litigation, personal injury litigation, and product liability litigation.

Zettle was listed for his work in environmental law.

"We always are honored to be recognized by the Best Lawyers publication," said Tom Gilpin, chair of the firm's Management Committee. "Our entire firm is committed to providing outstanding service and results for our clients. We especially are proud that, for the second year in a row, over half of our partners were named to 'Best Lawyers in America.'

"Our lawyers are some of the best in America and we are proud to demonstrate that to our clients."

Huddleston Bolen provides their clients with legal expertise through their many practice groups. The 131-year old firm represents clients in a breadth of areas including litigation; transportation law; corporate business law; wills, estates and trusts; health care; bankruptcy; banking and finance; real estate; mediation; appellate law, and others.

Huddleston Bolen operates through offices in Huntington and Charleston in West Virginia and Louisville and Ashland in Kentucky.

More information about Huddleston Bolen can be found at www.huddlestonbolen.com.