Andrew’s practice focuses on complex litigation, including contract and corporate governance disputes, class action defense and prosecution, oil and gas disputes, and other general business litigation.  Andrew is both a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a lawyer with significant trial experience in federal and state courts, which allows him to provide the firm’s commercial clients with comprehensive representation and support when commercial disputes end up in the courtroom.  

In addition to private practice, Andrew served as counsel to the West Virginia State Senate and the Senate's Committee on the Judiciary during the 2017 and 2018 legislative sessions. As counsel, Andrew negotiated and drafted legislation with the various members and stakeholders, presented legislation to the Judiciary Committee, and provided advice and counsel to members of the Senate.

A native of Charleston, West Virginia, Andrew earned a degree in accounting from West Virginia University and his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law.  Prior to law school, Andrew spent summers working on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, and in the coal mines of Pratt, West Virginia, where he operated heavy equipment and was part of the blasting crew.

  

Representative Matters

• Lead counsel in successful trial over the ownership of a fleet of coal trucks. Jury awarded the client the value of the truck fleet, disgorgement of profits, and punitive damages.

• Successfully tried case on behalf of banking client accused of fraud and predatory lending – the client was awarded judgment after having secured a jury verdict on all counts.

• Successfully tried—with only 6-days notice—a case on behalf of a well operator accused of environmental contamination.  Though prior counsel failed to disclose any witnesses, experts, or exhibits, the jury exonerated the client on all counts after only an hour of deliberation.

• Successfully tried case on behalf of medical sales representative alleging gender discrimination against national medical equipment provider.  In addition to economic and non-economic damages, the client was awarded maximum punitive damages.

• Successfully tried administrative case on behalf of natural gas producer.  Competitor attempted to shirk its responsibilities by making the client assume operations of a faltering utility system. As a result of the trial, the judge dismissed the client.

• Secured a $3,090,000 class action settlement in a Telephone Consumer Protection Act case and was appointed class counsel to administer the class-wide settlement.

• Defended receiver of defunct coal conglomerate in federal lawsuit alleging, among other things, fraud and violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) – secured dismissal as a matter of law.

• Prosecuted banking client’s breach of contract and tortious interference claims against national pipeline group that subverted funds due to the client under a complex third-party financing arrangement – secured multimillion-dollar settlement in favor of client.

• Defended national mortgage servicer in federal lawsuit alleging various unconscionable practices and violations of federal servicing standards – secured judgment for client on all counts.

• Prosecuted coal company client’s claims for breach of lease agreements, resulting in multimillion-dollar settlement to client.

  

Professional Background

• Associate, Bowles Rice LLP

• Counsel, West Virginia State Senate (2017 & 2018 Legislative Sessions)

• Certified Public Accountant (voluntarily inactive)

  

Admissions

• West Virginia

• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia

• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia

• U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of West Virginia

• U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of West Virginia