CHARLESTON — Two of the four new members appointed to the board of the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia (DTCWV) are looking forward to serving on the board.
Jane Harkins, of Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe in Beckley, was on the DTCWV board several years ago and is returning to the position. The group promotes the interests of civil defense attorneys in West Virginia.
"As a board member, I will participate in meetings of the board and in activities designed to educate and support my fellow counsel," Harkins said in an interview with the West Virginia Record.
Patricia Bello
| Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith attorney photo
Harkins said working as an attorney is sometimes challenging, but goals are important.
"The more I can participate in things that advance the profession, among our membership and the legal community, and in the public eye, the better," Harkins said. "Being a leader in an organization which embraces those goals is important.
"I am honored to have been nominated and elected by the membership of DTCWV to again serve on the board."
Patricia Bello, of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith in Charleston, is a new board member, and is excited for the opportunity to serve.
"Board members for DTCWV serve many functions focused on elevating the standards of legal practice within the state of West Virginia," Bello said in an interview with The West Virginia Record. "Members of DTCWV regularly prepare and publish articles focusing on recent judicial decisions, speak at a wide variety of seminars and conferences, and undertake actions to serve our communities and citizens."
Bello said this position provides her with an opportunity to work with and learn from many talented attorneys in West Virginia.
"I have served as a member of the DTCWV organization since 2011 and I am grateful for the opportunity to now become more involved with the organization as a member of the board," Bello said.
DCTWV announced the new board members, along with the new president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, executive director and immediate past president, at its annual meeting, which was held at Stonewall Resort in Roanoke in May.
Erik W. Legg of Farrell, White & Legg in Huntington was named president, Mark H. Hayes of Robinson & McElwee in Charleston was named vice president, Teresa Dumire of Kay Casto & Chaney in Morgantown was named treasurer, Todd Mount of Shaffer & Shaffer in Madison was named secretary, Jill McIntyre of Jackson Kelly in Charleston was named immediate past president and Peggy L. Schultz was named executive director.
The other new board members are Mychal Schulz of Babst Calland in Charleston; and Nate Kuratomi of Jenkins Fenstermaker in Huntington.