PERSONNEL FILE: Jackson Kelly only firm in U.S. to receive mining law recognition

CHARLESTON -– Jackson Kelly has been named the first U.S. News – Best Lawyers Law Firm of the Year in Mining Law.

This is according to the recently-released U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers 2011-2012 "Best Law Firms" rankings.

Jackson Kelly is the only law firm to receive the national recognition in mining law which makes this award a significant achievement. The firm's ranking will be featured in U.S.News & World Report's Money issue, on newsstands Nov. 15.

In addition, the following practice groups were ranked tier one in Charleston: Administrative/Regulatory Law, Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Law, Criminal Defense: White-Collar – Litigation, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Employment Law – Management, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Government Relations Practice, Health Care Law, Information Technology Law, Insurance Law, Labor Law – Management, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation – Environmental, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Mining Law, Natural Resources Law, Oil & Gas Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Project Finance Law, Public Finance Law, Real Estate Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Tax Law, Water Law and Workers' Compensation Law – Employers.

According to U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers, Jackson Kelly has the most first-tier rankings in West Virginia in Criminal Defense: White-Collar – Litigation as well as Health Care Law.

In Morgantown, tier one rankings were given to: Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar – Governmental Investigations, Criminal Defense: White-Collar - Litigation, Health Care Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Public Finance Law, Real Estate Law, Tax Law, Trusts & Estates Law and Workers' Compensation Law – Employers.

In Lexington, Ky., the firm was honored with the following tier one rankings: Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants.

The firm's mining law group was also ranked tier one in Pittsburgh, Pa.

These rankings, which are presented in tiers, showcase 9,633 different law firms ranked nationally in one or more of 75 major legal practice areas and in metropolitan or state rankings in one or more of 119 major legal practice areas.

An important addition to this year's rankings is the naming of one "Law Firm of the Year" in each of the 75 nationally ranked practice areas.

According to the organization, law firms, such as Jackson Kelly, that received this designation had an impressive overall performance in research and are receiving the first award of this kind by U.S.News and Best Lawyers.

Jackson Kelly is a national law firm representing leading global corporations, national companies, entrepreneurs and individuals in areas of law such as environmental, business, labor and employment, federal and state workers' compensation, civil litigation and occupational safety and health. The firm has offices in Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.