25 Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers® 2027 and Four Firm "TopListed" Distinctions

We’re proud to celebrate 25 Flaherty attorneys recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® — along with four Best Lawyers® “Top-Listed” distinctions recognizing the depth of our team in key litigation practices.

Flaherty is Top-Listed for having the greatest number of recognized lawyers in:

• West Virginia – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, with 8 lawyers
• Charleston, WV – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, with 6 lawyers
• Charleston, WV – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, with 5 lawyers
• Charleston, WV – Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, with 4 lawyers

These distinctions reflect the strength and depth of experience our attorneys bring to clients across West Virginia and beyond.

Standing out among this group, James W. Lane, Jr. (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law), Peter T. DeMasters (Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants), Salem C. Smith (Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants) and Alonzo D. Washington (Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants), earned the distinction of Best Lawyers 2027 "Lawyer of the Year" in their respective communities—an honor granted to just one lawyer per practice area

Best Lawyers is compiled annually by geographic region and practice area.  Lawyers are reviewed by their peers based on professional experience and ability. “Ones to Watch” are recognitions given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

Flaherty attorneys acknowledged in 2027, and the practice areas for which they were recognized are:

Charleston Office

• Erica M. Baumgras – Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law
• Michael Bonasso – Bet‑the‑Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Christopher A. Brumley – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Construction; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• J. Dustin Dillard – Litigation – Health Care; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• J. Tyler Dinsmore – Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants
• Thomas V. Flaherty – Appellate Practice; Bet‑the‑Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants; Mediation; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Sam Fox – Health Care Law; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• William Hanna – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants; Transportation Law
• Amy R. Humphreys – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Richard D. Jones – Litigation – Health Care; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• James W. Lane, Jr. – Banking and Finance Law; Litigation – Real Estate; Real Estate Law; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Edward C. Martin – Health Care Law; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Bryan Price – Banking and Finance Law; Litigation – Banking and Finance; Consumer Protection Law
• Mark A. Robinson – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Salem C. Smith – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• James C. Stebbins – Litigation – Insurance
• Jeffrey M. Wakefield – Bet‑the‑Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Morgantown Office

• Peter T. DeMasters – Litigation – Construction; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Tiffany R. Durst – Appellate Practice; Insurance Law; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants 
• Richard R. Marsh – Litigation – Trusts and Estates
• Alonzo D. Washington – Commercial Litigation; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Margaret Droppleman Wassick – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants

Wheeling Office

• David S. Givens – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants

Ones to Watch – Charleston

• Evan Aldridge – Construction Law; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Transportation Law
• William Aubel – Insurance Law
• Eric M. Johnson – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Commercial Litigation