PERSONNEL FILE: Eight Huddleston Bolen attorneys, four practice areas honored

HUNTINGTON -- Eight Huddleston Bolen partners and four practice areas have been recognized in the recently published Chambers USA 2010 Guide: America's Leading Lawyers for Business.

Selected for individual recognition were:

* Richard Bolen, recognized for his work in natural resource law

* Tom Gilpin, recognized in the area of real estate law

* Angela Konrad and J. H. Mahaney, who were both recognized in the area of commercial litigation

* Thomas Murray, recognized for his work in corporate and commercial law as well as banking and finance

* Chris Plybon, recognized in both corporate and commercial law and real estate law

* Audy Perry, whose work in the area of corporate and commercial law was recognized

* Scott Sheets, recognized in the area of labor and employment law

This is the first year Konrad, Mahaney, and Perry have received the honor of being ranked by Chambers USA.

The practice areas recognized by Chambers USA are Corporate and Commercial Law, Real Estate Law, Labor and Employment and Commercial Litigation.

The firm's Real Estate Practice was ranked best in West Virginia. In describing the firm's Real Estate Practice, Chambers USA quoted a client, saying, "(Huddleston Bolen is) an exceptionally talented firm -- there are absolutely no gaps in its expertise."

The Guide also described the firm as possessing "a thriving corporate/commercial practice serving financial institutions, natural resources companies and manufacturing and commercial businesses in a wide range of matters."

Chambers USA offered similar praise for many of the firm's lawyers.

They noted, "Tom Murray is one of the most respected corporate/commercial and banking and finance lawyers in the state, handling the full range of work from M&A to federal securities compliance. He is particularly esteemed for his banking and finance regulatory and securities knowledge, with one source going so far as to declare that 'if he can't answer your banking and finance question, you may as well give up.'"

Tom Gilpin, who was recognized for his work in real estate law, was hailed as "the best real estate lawyer in Huntington -- someone whose years of experience shine through."

Chambers USA also noted that Audy Perry, who practices in corporate and commercial law "is turning a lot of heads in the market with his skill in bond finance and corporate organization."

Quoting a client, the publication described Chris Plybon as "perhaps the smartest man in the state (who) really gets into the trenches to do the deal."

In describing the firm's commercial litigation practice, Chambers USA noted that "John Mahaney has a very strong courtroom presence, great intellectual power and the important ability to be tough with his own client when necessary" and that Angela Konrad is "a confident litigator who stands her ground but is always reasonable."

Scott Sheets, who heads the firm's Huntington-based Labor and Employment practice, was described as being "... incredibly responsive and never fails to provide anything other than perfect service."

The publication described Richard Bolen as a "well-respected energy litigator whose expertise includes class actions relating to property rights and mineral royalties, as well as arbitrating on a range of natural resources issues."

Huddleston Bolen is a law firm with more than 50 attorneys practicing in offices located in Huntington and Charleston, West Virginia and Ashland and Louisville, Kentucky. The firm, founded in 1871, represents clients in many practice groups, including litigation, labor and employment, transportation, appellate, natural resources, health care, real estate, and banking and finance.

For more information, visit the firm's website at www.huddlestonbolen.com.