CHARLESTON -– Jackson Kelly is pleased to announce that Larry W. Blalock, Samme L. Gee and Karen L. Johnston recently were elected to the firm's executive committee.
Blalock is the manager of the firm's Wheeling office. He is also the Leader of the Labor and Employment Practice Group. Blalock's practice is focused on the defense of industrial injury, employment and toxic tort cases. He has been involved in representing corporate defendants in numerous class actions in both the employment law and toxic tort/industrial accident arenas. Blalock also has many years of experience in representing employers in grievance and arbitration proceedings as well as in group unemployment compensation and strike-related matters. He is frequently asked by his colleagues or assigned by area judges to mediate disputes.
Gee is a member of the firm's Health Care and Finance Practice Group. Her practice is focused on tax exempt and taxable municipal bonds and related governmental and economic development financings as well as corporate trust, legislative services and governmental agency representation. In that capacity, Gee routinely serves as bond counsel, underwriter's counsel, trustee's counsel or issuer's or borrower's counsel. She has extensive experience in the financing and development of infrastructure projects with an emphasis on water, wastewater, highways and public facilities and economic development projects.
Johnston's practice focuses exclusively on occupational safety and health and related civil, criminal and administrative litigation. She handles issues related to the defense of safety and health cases involving both MSHA-regulated and OSHA-regulated facilities and is well-versed in issues arising under the Safe Explosives Act. Her practice also encompasses appellate proceedings. Johnston has also provided advice and counsel in numerous site accident investigations immediately following work-related events.
Jackson Kelly's executive committee is comprised of nine voting members from throughout the firm's 11 offices. Members of the committee are charged with short-term and long-term strategic planning for the firm as well as implementation of the plans. The role of an executive committee member also involves ensuring that business affairs are managed efficiently, balancing the interests of the firm and its clients.
Jackson Kelly is a national law firm representing 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.
