Hill
PHILADELPHIA -- Prominent Wheeling attorney Barry Hill has joined Anapol, Schwartz, Weiss, Cohan, Feldman and Smalley as its resident partner in West Virginia.
"It's a perfect match," Hill said. "We've been working together on joint projects for four years. I know them and I know their work ethic and their talents and they know me. We really know each other and know what we're getting."
Hill made the decision to join Anapol Schwartz because it would give him the opportunity to work with more lawyers and to expand his services.
"(I joined the firm) to expand the ability to represent more people in different types of cases," he said.
At its largest, Hill's firm had five lawyers. Now that it is combined with Anapol Schwartz, there will be more than 25 attorneys on hand.
"I'm honored to join such a well regarded firm that has a reputation for taking on high profile matters and successfully advocating on behalf of victims," Hill said. "Anapol Schwartz's extensive network and resources will benefit my existing clients and enable me to help even more individuals in need."
And he brings his strengths to the company as well, describing himself as "a reasonably well-known civil litigator with a working knowledge of law."
Anapol Schwartz is thrilled to welcome Hill to its team, shareholder Sol Weiss said in a news release.
"In working with him for many years, whether in Baycol, Vioxx, Gadolinium or consumer fraud litigations, we've been extremely impressed by his trial skills and case track record," Weiss said. "He is not only a tremendous asset to our client base –- but also complements our team which handles significant mass tort matters, and will play a crucial role in enhancing this practice."
Hill has served as special assistant to the West Virginia Attorney General in consumer protection and antitrust litigation, including a current false advertising case involving prescription drugs Risperdal and Duragesic.
He is former president of the West Virginia Association for Justice and sits on its board of governors, is a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the Litigation Counsel of America and is certified as a civil litigation specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and a medical malpractice trial specialist by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys.
Hill, who is listed in West Virginia's Super Lawyers, was born in Wheeling, the same city where he has lived since 1996 with "no intention of leaving."
He attended West Virginia University where he earned his undergraduate degree in journalism in 1968.
From there, he served in the military in Vietnam.
Upon his return, he managed a retail business in Morgantown for three years before attending law school.
In 1977, he earned his law degree from West Virginia University College of Law, then received a job opportunity in Weirton, where he lived for 17 years.
Hill is married to his wife, Lisa, who is a family practice physician in Wheeling.
The couple has a 15-year-old son, Gabriel, who is a freshman football and basketball player at Linsley School.
In his new role as resident partner, Hill plans to keep on serving clients as he always has.
"To continue doing exactly what I've been doing for the past 32 years," he said of his goal as resident partner.