CHARLESTON – Partners of the law firm Bowles Rice LLC have elected attorney Ronda L. Harvey to its executive committee.
The executive committee oversees the firm’s overall governance. As a member of the committee, Harvey will serve to provide strategic guidance and direction for the firm. In addition to having many responsibilities, the committee acts as a policy-making authority on all matters impacting the firm’s several regional offices. Her term runs from Feb. 1 through Jan. 31, 2021, according to a press release issued by the firm.
Earning a second term is an honor and a humbling experience for Harvey. She previously served on the committee from 2006 to 2010.
Ronda L. Harvey
“Having served on the committee previously, I am proud to have earned the confidence of my peers and fellow partners to take on this responsibility once again,” Harvey told The West Virginia Record. “This is an opportunity, at a very exciting time for our firm, to assist with strategic planning and other matters that can advance our growth and direction at every level.”
Also, Harvey is proud that her firm has chosen to add another woman to the committee.
“By adding another woman to the executive committee, Bowles Rice demonstrates its continued commitment to our diversity principles and to the advancement of women in firm leadership positions,” she said.
Though she has earned many accomplishments as an attorney, her career didn’t begin there. Born and raised in Fairmont, she earned a journalism/advertising degree from West Virginia University (WVU) in 1984. At first, she worked in advertising at the Dominion Post, and then, as the assistant director of the Convention & Visitors Bureau in Morgantown. Eventually, she returned to WVU for law school.
“I decided to pursue a legal career, mainly because I enjoyed writing and thought the courtroom would be a great workplace,” Harvey said.
After law school, Harvey joined Bowles Rice and has been a litigator with the firm for more than 20 years. As a member of the firm’s litigation department, Harvey’s practice area focuses on employment/deliberate intent, products liability, and insurance bad faith and coverage cases. Also, Harvey has defended several national clients, including pathology laboratories and manufacturers of medical equipment, aircraft, boom cranes and respirators in product liability litigation, according to the firm’s press release.
“One of my greatest accomplishments while at the firm was a trial that I won in front of a difficult and challenging judge,” Harvey said. “He almost always ruled against me and my clients in the case, but after the trial, he complimented me on my trial skills and also, praised me to others. So far, I have not appeared in front of him since the trial, but when I saw him in the community a few years ago, he spoke highly of my advocacy skills and trial presentation.”