John R. McGhee, Jr.
(Charleston, WV) Kay Casto & Chaney was well represented at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the West Virginia State Bar during a two-day conference (April 17-18) at Glade Springs Resort.
John R. McGhee, Jr. was sworn in as President-Elect of the WVSB Board of Governors. McGhee is a member of the firm and focuses his practice of law in the areas of insurance defense, products/premises liability defense, deliberate intent cases, and insurance coverage, as well as in federal criminal defense work.
Shannon P. Smith, a member in the firm’s Morgantown office, received the “Young Lawyer of the Year” award. This award is given to the outstanding young lawyer who has brought honor and distinction to the legal profession through a commitment to community service and the citizens of West Virginia.
In addition, Smith was elected as Secretary of the West Virginia State Bar Young Lawyer Section, having recently served on the Executive Committee of the Young Lawyer Section, representing District 14 (Marion and Monongalia Counties). The Young Lawyer Section provides a means for personal and professional growth for young lawyers by encouraging participation in the activities of the Bar.
At Kay Casto & Chaney, Smith’s practice is dedicated to the areas of insurance defense, energy and natural resources, commercial law, and general litigation.
Christian Capece, an alumnus of Kay Casto & Chaney, received the Bar’s Citizen Soldier Award. Lieutenant Colonel Capece recently left the firm to become the Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Capece received the award because of his record of outstanding military service and his service to the citizens of West Virginia as a member of the Air National Guard, his commitment and resolve in defending the indigent in West Virginia as a public defender, as well as his active efforts on the State Bar’s Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.
Ann L. Haight, a member of the firm’s Charleston office, delivered a presentation to attendees on the new rules of professional conduct. Haight also serves on the Bar’s Board of Governors, representing District 8 in Kanawha County.
At the firm, Haight’s primary practice area is civil defense litigation, which includes medical malpractice, professional liability, employment law, commercial litigation, general litigation and insurance defense. Additional areas of practice include adoptions, entertainment law, mediation, and equine law.
Debra Scudiere, a member of the firm’s Morgantown office, was recognized as a Past-President of the Bar, in addition to serving as West Virginia’s delegate to the American Bar Association. Scudiere wrapped up her term serving as a member of the Board of Governors, representing District 14 (Marion and Monongalia counties).
Scudiere is an experienced trial attorney whose practice deals with all areas of civil defense litigation. A large part of her practice is also devoted to alternative dispute resolution, including service to other attorneys and their clients as a mediator and an arbitrator. Scudiere’s long experience as a mediator has led to her selection to the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals.
For more information, such as attorney profiles, practice area narratives, and recent news, visit the firm’s new website: www.kaycasto.com.
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Contact: Kathryn E. Brown
Director of Marketing
304.345.8900, ext. 145