PENNSTUART - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / Office
Andrew is an Associate in PennStuart's Bristol, Tennessee office and is a member of the firm's Workers' Compensation and Business practice groups. Following law school, he served as law clerk to Honorable Michael L. Moore in the 29 th Judicial Circuit of Virginia, in Russell County. Andrew is a native of Honaker, Virginia and enjoys spending his free time outdoors, hiking and fishing. He is also an avid reader and film enthusiast.
Andrew's practice is focused on the defense of workers' compensation claims and Federal Black Lung claims. He appears regularly in courts and administrative bodies throughout Virginia and before the Department of Labor.
Andrew is an Officer in PennStuart's Bristol, Tennessee office and serves as leader of the firm's Business practice group. His practice includes both civil litigation and commercial transactional work in Virginia and Tennessee. He has extensive experience in general insurance defense matters, commercial litigation, commercial real estate transactions and financing, and real estate litigation. He regularly handles the defense of personal injury cases on behalf of insurance companies and their insureds. He provides guidance related to local government development, opportunity zone projects, and tax increment financing. He assists clients with business entity selection and formation and handles the preparation of operating agreements and shareholder agreements. He also handles bankruptcy matters.
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Officer / Office
- Officer in PennStuart 's Abingdon
Byrum L. Geisler is an Officer in PennStuart's Abingdon, Virginia office and is a member of the firm's Estate Planning practice group. His practice is devoted to estate planning and administration matters and related litigation. His work emphasizes tax planning in conjunction with the drafting of wills and the establishment of trusts. He counsels and advises clients through the preparation of various estate planning documents including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, and advance health care directives. He also has extensive litigation experience in guardship matters, estate disputes, legal malpractice cases, and municipal law matters.
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Officer
- Founder and Co - Owner of Wolf Hills Brewing Co
- Officer / Office
Cam is a founder and co-owner of Wolf Hills Brewing Co., an award-winning craft brewery and live music venue in historic Abingdon. As a small business owner, Cam understands firsthand the many issues that businesses face on a daily basis and is available to advise on issues that affect your business.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- of Counsel / Office
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Officer / Office
- Officer in PennStuart 's Abingdon
Ashby is an Officer in PennStuart's Abingdon, Virginia office and is a member of the firm's Workers' Compensation practice group. Ashby was born in Morgantown, West Virginia and grew up in Buffalo, New York. He is an avid racquetball player and part owner and President of Abingdon Racquetball. He is a ballroom dancer and teaches classes locally and at Emory & Henry College. Ashby has been a Director of the Washington County Public Library Foundation since 2003 and currently serves as its President.
Ashby's practice is focused on the defense of workers' compensation, Federal Black Lung claims, and occupational hearing loss litigation. He has extensive experience representing employers and insurers before the Workers' Compensation Commission and the Virginia Court of Appeals.
Before joining PennStuart, Ashby served as a U.S. Army JAG Officer and Military Judge. After 20 years of service in Vietnam, Germany, and Italy and various locations stateside, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel and relocated to Abingdon where his late father had been an engineer with Westinghouse.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / Office
- Associate in PennStuart 's Bristol
Anderson is an Associate in PennStuart's Bristol, Tennessee office and is a member of the firm's Commercial Litigation and Business practice groups. His practice includes general business matters, commercial real estate transactions, and commercial litigation in federal and state courts. Prior to joining PennStuart, Anderson served as law clerk to the Honorable Cynthia Richardson Wyrick of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Anderson is a native of Dandridge, Tennessee and outside of work, he enjoys exploring East Tennessee and cheering for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Officer / Office
- Officer in PennStuart 's Richmond
Jesse is an Officer in PennStuart's Richmond, Virginia office and is a member of the firm's Workers' Compensation practice group. Jesse lives in Richmond with his wife, JenniferLee, and their three boys, Bodie, Dylan, and Wyatt. He enjoys numerous outdoor activities with his family and plays the guitar.
John is an Officer in PennStuart's Bristol, Tennessee office and serves as a Practice Group leader for the Workers' Compensation and Employment Law Groups. John has a strong interest in small business development in the Tri-Cities region and currently serves as counsel to the Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, an economic development facility created by the Town of Abingdon and Washington County, Virginia.
John's practice is focused largely on the defense of workers' compensation claims and employment law matters on behalf of employers and insurers in Virginia and Tennessee. As a trial attorney with more than 26 years of experience, he regularly advises insurance claims representatives, human resources managers, and employers on complex issues of liability and exposure. He has extensive experience trying cases before the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, the Tennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the U.S. Department of Labor.
John's employment practice includes matters related to workplace harassment, medical leave, wages and overtime, workplace disabilities and accommodation, and employment contract disputes. John also represents employees in complex employment matters and plaintiffs in personal injury claims as well as general litigation matters. John has been a frequent presenter on matters related to his areas of practice and interests.
Prior to joining PennStuart, John served as County Attorney for Washington County, Virginia and was a partner in the law firm of Ely and Martin. John served in the United States Army as an Intelligence Analyst and was later deployed to Saudi Arabia in Operation Desert Storm.
John is an Officer in PennStuart's Bristol, Tennessee office and is a member of the firm's Workers' Compensation practice group. He lives in Kingsport with his wife and their two children. He enjoys spending time with his family and in the out-of-doors.
John's practice is focused on the defense of Federal Black Lung claims throughout the coal fields and beyond. He regularly advises employers and insurance claims representatives on complex issues of liability and exposure under the Federal Black Lung Act. He has extensive experience trying claims before the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Administrative Law Judges and is proficient in appeals to the Benefits Review Board and the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Third, Fourth, and Sixth Circuits.
Prior to joining PennStuart, John served as law clerk to Hon. Glen M. Williams in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia and as intern to Hon. Elizabeth A. McClanahan in the Virginia Court of Appeals.
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Associate in PennStuart 's Richmond
- Officer / Office
Beth is an Associate in PennStuart's Richmond, Virginia office. She is a member of the firm's Workers' Compensation practice group. She focuses her practice on the defense of workers' compensation claims, including claims against uninsured employers. Beth lives in Richmond with her husband, Duggan, and his son. She enjoys playing various instruments and working on home improvement projects.
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Officer / Office
- Officer in PennStuart 's Richmond
Kari Lou is an Officer in PennStuart's Richmond, Virginia office and is a member of the firm's Workers' Compensation practice group. She also serves on the firm's Management Committee. She has represented employers and insurance carriers in thousands of workers' compensation claims over the past 18 years. Kari Lou works to meet the needs of each client by addressing and resolving issues before litigation becomes necessary, but preparing her clients for litigation when appropriate.
In addition to handling workers' compensation claims, Kari Lou provides advice to employers on workplace safety, including training, compliance, and investigations. She also represents and advises clients on compliance issues under Medicare Secondary Payer law and Mandatory Insurer Reporting regulations. Kari Lou strives to provide excellent and efficient representation, a personal connection, and a tailored plan for every case. This comprehensive approach values the relationships of the parties and finding creative solutions to complex problems.
Kari Lou is a frequent speaker on employment and workers' compensation issues throughout Virginia and has presented at conferences and seminars on a state and national level. Kari Lou also provides employer-specific training, and is available to provide customized training programs and safety audits for businesses in Virginia.
Kari Lou has lived in Virginia for almost 30 years and is proud to call Richmond her home. She enjoys spending time with her family, exploring museums, hiking, and is a big fan of a three-day weekend. Prior to joining PennStuart, Kari Lou worked for NASA Langley Research Center, where she was a graduate student researcher and content developer for several of NASA's award winning educational programs.
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Member of the Firm
- Officer / Office
- Officer in PennStuart 's Bristol
Karissa Range is an Officer in PennStuart's Bristol, Tennessee office. A native of Tampa Bay, Florida, Karissa was raised in a military family. She attended law school at the University of Tennessee and fell in love with the mountains of East Tennessee. Karissa loves to spend her free time with her husband, a Kingsport native, and their two dogs. She is an avid chef and enjoys hiking and yoga.
Karissa is a member of the firm's Commercial Litigation and Business practice groups. She is well-experienced in complex commercial litigation, both plaintiff and defense. She has jury and bench trial experience and regularly handles general corporate defense and professional liability defense matters. As a former federal law clerk, Karissa is well-versed in drafting pleadings, including motions to dismiss and complex motions for summary judgment.
Karissa's business practice includes the preparation of shareholder agreements and corporate bylaws, and handling business entity formations. She regularly prepares contract mining agreements, coal sales agreements, non-compete agreements, and energy leases. Her practice also involves a variety of commercial transactions, including sales of assets and stock purchases.
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Officer / Office
- Officer in PennStuart 's Abingdon
Kendra is an Officer in PennStuart's Abingdon, Virginia office and is a member of the firm's Workers' Compensation practice group. She is a native of Wise, Virginia. Kendra enjoys spending her free time with her husband and son. She is an avid reader and enthusiastic baker.
Kendra's practice is focused on the defense of workers' compensation claims and Federal Black Lung claims. She routinely represents clients in workers' compensation and occupational disease matters. Kendra appears regularly in courts and administrative bodies throughout Virginia and before the Department of Labor. She is also well-versed in alternative methods of resolution, including arbitration and mediation.
Lisa is an Officer in PennStuart's Richmond, Virginia office. She is a member of the firm's Workers' Compensation practice group, with extensive experience before the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission.
Lisa's practice is devoted to the defense of workers' compensation claims throughout the Commonwealth, including evidentiary hearings, appeals to the Full Commission, appeals to the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Virginia, as well as mediations. She regularly advises insurers, third-party administrators and employers on complex issues of liability and exposure, and spends time educating her clients in all areas of workers' compensation. She is a frequent presenter at statewide seminars on a variety of emerging workers' compensation topics, and has spoken at the Commission's Annual Virginia Workers' Compensation Conference, at the Annual and Spring meetings for the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, at the Fall meeting for the Workers' Compensation Section of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, and at the Virginia Workers' Compensation American Inn of Court Annual Conference. She is an Adjunct Professor of Workers' Compensation Law at the University of Richmond Law School and has also instructed classes for the Virginia Insurance Continuing Education Program. Lisa currently serves as President of the Virginia Workers' Compensation American Inn of Court.
A native of New York, Lisa remained in Richmond upon graduation from the University of Richmond Law School. She enjoys traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / Office
- Associate in PennStuart 's Abingdon
Luke is an Associate in PennStuart's Abingdon, Virginia office and is a member of the firm's Litigation practice group. His practice is focused on the defense of insurers at both the trial and appellate level. In his free time Luke enjoys golfing and skiing.
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Officer / Office
- Officer in PennStuart 's Bristol
Shaun Lundy is an Officer in PennStuart's Bristol, Tennessee office. He is a member of the firm's Commercial Litigation, Real Estate, and Energy practice groups with extensive experience in commercial real estate and energy transactions. Shaun is a native of Southwest Virginia.
Following law school, Shaun returned to Southwest Virginia in 2010 after practicing in North Carolina for several years. Shaun's practice regularly involves the determination of natural resource ownership interests, the negotiation and preparation of transactional documents, title opinions, and lender opinions, and the handling of leases, rights of way, easements, title insurance, permitting, and landlord/tenant matters. Shaun has extensive litigation experience in real estate, construction and contractual matters. He also handles general business matters, corporate financing transactions, and bankruptcy matters.
Shaun holds a Virginia title insurance license and is a Manager of PennStuart Land Title, LLC, a Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia title insurance agency representing Fidelity National Title Insurance Company and its affiliate brands. He currently serves on the Real Estate Section Council of the Virginia Bar Association.
Mark is an Officer in PennStuart's Bristol, Tennessee office and is a member of the firm's Commercial Litigation practice group. A native of Washington County, Virginia, Mark resides on land that has been in his family for over 200 years. Mark lives with his wife, Dana, and two geriatric Jack Russell Terriers. He is a devoted follower of the University of Virginia football team.
Mark has extensive experience in appellate work, state and federal condemnation, and energy law. He has written numerous appellate briefs to state and federal courts in Virginia and Tennessee and has successfully argued many cases at the appellate level.
Mark was previously a member of the U.S. Army JAG Corps and represented the United States in more than 150 appeals before the Court of Military Appeals and the Army Court of Military Review.
Mark is an Officer in PennStuart's Bristol, Tennessee office and is a member of the firm's Commercial Litigation practice group. He also serves on the firm's Management Committee.
Mark's practice focuses on commercial litigation and bankruptcy matters in state and federal trial and appellate courts in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. Mark has handled dozens of multi-million dollar commercial loan transactions representing lenders and borrowers. He has extensive experience in handling commercial transactions and disputes, real estate development and finance matters, loan transactions, acquisitions, equipment leasing, incentive-based financing, creditor's rights and bankruptcy matters, asset protection, franchise matters, business entity selection and formation, construction law matters, and general business matters.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / Office
- Associate in PennStuart 's Richmond
Noah is an Associate in PennStuart's Richmond, Virginia office and is a member of the firm's Workers' Compensation practice group. Noah focuses on the defense of workers' compensation claims and Federal Black Lung claims. Outside of the office Noah enjoys playing the trumpet and reading.
Rick is an Officer in PennStuart's Johnson City, Tennessee office and is a member of the firm's Business, Commercial Transactions, Employment, Litigation, and Real Estate practice groups. Rick is the firm's senior attorney in Johnson City, and with more than 37 years of transactional experience, he handles some of the firm's most complex commercial transaction matters.
Rick is a trial attorney with more than 35 years of trial and appellate experience in state and federal courts throughout Tennessee. He is also a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Mediator. Rick's practice consists of business representation (advising and consulting on business matters), business organizations (formations, mergers, acquisitions, consolidations, reorganizations and dissolutions), commercial real estate transactions (acquisition, development, financing, and leasing), commercial litigation, and estate administration. Rick's clients include real estate developers, banks, contractors, medical and other professional practices, and commercial and industrial enterprises. Rick has examined more than 10,000 real estate titles and has taught real estate law at East Tennessee State University for 18 years.
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Attorney Recruiting
- Officer / Office: Abingdon
- Officer in PennStuart 's Abingdon
Seth is an Officer in PennStuart's Abingdon, Virginia office and is a member of the firm's Commercial Litigation and Business practice groups. Seth is a native of Williamsburg, Virginia. After law school, Seth worked for a law firm in Danville, Virginia. Seth moved to Abingdon with his wife in 2012. He serves as Vice President of the UVA Club of Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee.
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Officer / Office
- Officer in PennStuart 's Abingdon
Steve is an Officer in PennStuart's Abingdon, Virginia office and is member of the firm's Commercial Litigation practice group.
Virginia Lime Co. v. Craigsville Distributing, Inc., 670 F.2d 1366 (1982)
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Managing Director / Office
Brad is the Managing Director at PennStuart. He is an Officer in the firm's Abingdon, Virginia office and is a member of the firm's Management Committee and Litigation, Insurance Defense, and Employment practice groups. He previously served as Chair of the firm's Litigation Section. Brad is an experienced litigator who has tried hundreds of cases throughout Virginia's state and federal courts. He is honored to serve as the current Chairman of the Litigation Section of the Virginia State Bar. Brad's proudest and most important moments are time spent with his wife, Lisa, and their two daughters, Sarah and Haley.
Brad regularly counsels companies, corporate and governmental boards, municipalities, elected officials, businesses, and insurance carriers on a broad array of issues including commercial and business disputes, civil rights and governmental liability, employment law, insurance defense, ERISA, and tort defense. He is frequently called upon to advise businesses and local governments on operational matters.
Brad's trial experience includes cases involving commercial, business, construction, and contract disputes. His employment law trial experience includes claims involving the ADA, ADEA, FLSA, Title VII, FMLA, EEOC charges, civil rights and constitutional torts, wrongful discharge, retaliation, and wage and hour laws. His insurance defense trial experience includes claims of premises liability, accidents, personal injury, property damage, and insurance coverage. His governmental trial experience includes cases involving school consolidation, use of force, false arrest and false imprisonment, zoning and land use, and SCC administrative matters.
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Officer / Office
- Officer in PennStuart 's Abingdon
Wade is an Officer in PennStuart's Abingdon, Virginia office and Chair of the firm's Commercial Litigation practice group. During his time with the firm, Wade has handled some of the firm's most difficult and complicated cases, including class actions, product liability, pipeline condemnations, and strike violence and misconduct. He has been lead counsel in over 200 cases in federal court in the Western District of Virginia and has appeared in over 20 different state circuit courts in Virginia. Wade has also tried cases in the state and federal courts in West Virginia and Tennessee, where he is also licensed.
In addition to work at the trial court level, Wade has briefed and argued numerous cases before the Supreme Court of Virginia and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He has also successfully represented clients before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia and the Court of Appeals of Tennessee.
In recognition of trial and appellate work, Wade was selected to be a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2000.
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Certified Instructor for the Virginia Insurance Continuing Education Program
- Officer / Office
- Officer in PennStuart 's Richmond
Wendy is an Officer in PennStuart's Richmond, Virginia office. She is a member of the firm's Workers' Compensation practice group and serves on the firm's Recruiting Committee.
With over 20 years of experience, Wendy firmly believes in the precepts of responsibility, reliability, and accountability, and those principles guide her throughout her practice. Wendy's legal practice focuses on the defense of workers' compensation claims. She regularly represents employers, insurers, and third party administrators before the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, the Virginia Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of Virginia. She also has extensive experience with resolving medical provider balance claims. Her cases are handled energetically, effectively, and efficiently for each client.
Wendy is a certified instructor for the Virginia Insurance Continuing Education Program and is a frequent presenter on workers' compensation topics, including legislative updates and risk management. Wendy previously served as Assistant Commonwealth Attorney for the City of Richmond where she successfully prosecuted a wide range of criminal offenses, from traffic citations to rape and capital murder. Wendy volunteers with the Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program.
Outside of the office, Wendy is a dedicated practitioner of yoga and a certified yoga instructor.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- of Counsel / Office
Bill is Of Counsel in PennStuart's Abingdon, Virginia office. He is a member of the firm's Insurance Defense and Professional Liability practice group with extensive experience in representing defendants in professional liability, commercial litigation, and product liability matters with an emphasis on medical malpractice defense. A former pharmacist, Bill puts his medical background to work representing doctors, hospitals, and medical professionals who rely upon his years of litigation, trial, and appellate experience.
Bill has litigated cases in the state and federal trial courts of Virginia since joining the firm in 1966. He has extensive appellate experience as well, having successfully argued numerous cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the Virginia Supreme Court. His lifetime of accomplishments and contributions to the legal profession have resulted in his election as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation, and the Virginia Law Foundation. He has lectured and presented on numerous topics including Medical Malpractice Prevention, Trial Tactics in Medical Malpractice Litigation, Avoidance and Defense of Medical Malpractice Claims, and Trial Tactics during Jury Arguments.