MARTINSBURG – New Jackson Kelly attorney Susan R. Snowden has big plans for her position at the firm that involves helping clients in her beloved eastern Panhandle.
“First, I would like to assist Jackson Kelly with increasing its presence and scope of representation of clients in the eastern Panhandle region,” Snowden, who will be working from the firm's Martinsburg office, told The West Virginia Record. “On a larger basis, I am assisting Jackson Kelly with its development of an insurance litigation defense practice.”
Susan R. Snowden
Snowden said developing an insurance litigation defense practice for the firm will allow the representation and defense of insured parties in lawsuits with a variety of subject matters, as well as direct defense of insurance carriers on a statewide basis.
Snowden knows the eastern Panhandle well, having lived there her entire life.
She received a Bachelor of Science from Shepherd University and earned her law degree from Ohio Northern University’s Pettit College of Law. After law school, Snowden returned to her hometown “to practice law and help create and defend businesses and individuals” on the state and federal court levels.
“I believe that small business is the backbone of our country’s economy,” Snowden said. “Because of that belief, I am passionate about keeping people in business and assisting them proactively in compliance with state and federal laws/regulations, and when necessary defending them against lawsuits.”
Snowden said she loves where she lives and works.
“You can live in any county in the Panhandle and experience a small-town atmosphere with all the advantages of living an hour from a major metropolitan area,” she said.
In addition, Snowden said she knew when she returned to the area to begin practicing law that she wanted to give back through community service.
“I have served, and continue to serve, on local boards, nonprofit boards, chamber of commerce, United Way, my church and give back not just with time and treasure, but also with roll-up-the-sleeves, hands-on work,” Snowden said.
Snowden counts the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival, for which her family has worked since it was first held in 1979, as her favorite event.
Snowden’s family, including her husband, daughter, son and daughter-in-law, join her in her community service endeavors, handing out Thanksgiving dinners at Loaves and Fishes, shopping for Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) children and attending charity fundraisers and Main Street events.
Before joining Jackson Kelly, Snowden served as the director of litigation management and general counsel at Martin and Seibert LC.
Jackson Kelly said in a news release that Snowden has experience in fire investigation and safety, construction insurance law and litigation involving the administration of estates and appointment of guardians and conservators.
In her role as a fiduciary commissioner for Berkeley County, Jackson Kelly said Snowden has had the opportunity to administer hundreds of estates.
The firm said Snowden was appointed to the Board of Law Examiners of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. She is also a member of the West Virginia Bar Association, West Virginia State Bar, Berkeley County Bar Association, Defense Research Institute and the Board of Governors Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia.