General Convention Information
Sponsorship, Exhibitor and Advertising Opportunities
Thursday, June 11
8:50 – 9:00 a.m.
Welcome
Kelly Reed, President
9:00 – 9:50 a.m.
Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied: Countering Defense Delay Tactics and Moving Your Case Forward
Jamie Bordas – Bordas and Bordas, Wheeling
9:50 – 10:40 a.m.
When the Defendant Declares Bankruptcy: Protecting Your Client’s Case and Preserving Recovery
Kevin Davis and Lucas Self – Caplin and Drysdale, Washington D. C.
10:40 – 10:50 a.m.
Break Sponsored by NFP Structured Settlements
10:50 – 12:05 p.m.
AI That Works: Practical Tools and Live Demos for Plaintiffs’ Lawyers
Guy D’Andrea – Laffey, Bucci, D’Andrea, Reich and Ryan, Philadelphia
12:05 – 1:15 p.m.
WVAJ Membership Meeting and Luncheon (WVAJ Members Only)
1:15 – 2:05 p.m.
Holding Big Insurance Accountable: Strategies for Bad Faith, Low-Ball Offers, and Other Unfair Claims Settlement Practices
Jordan Laird – Laird Law, Wheeling and George Sidiropolis – The Injury Rights Law Firm, Wheeling
2:05 – 2:10 p.m.
Break
2:10 – 3:00 p.m.
Breakout Sessions (Choose One)
Deposing Your Own Client Before the Defense Does: A Powerful Strategic Tool
Guy D'Andrea – Laffey, Bucci, D'Andrea, Reich and Ryan, Philadelphia and Jesse Forbes – Forbes Law Offices, Charleston
Consumer Law Claims Still Available Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act
Margot Saunders – Hurricane, retired senior counsel for the National Consumer Law Center
3:00 – 3:10 p.m.
Break Sponsored by Rice Real Estate Appraisal and Consulting
3:10 – 4:00 p.m.
Successful Fee Petitions: Strategies for Maximizing Court-Awarded Attorneys’ Fees
John Einreinhofer – Law Offices of John Einreinhofer, Charleston; Jeffrey Mehalic – Mehalic Law, Morgantown; and Kristina Thomas Whiteaker – Grubb Law Group, Charleston
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Simplifying Law Firm Operations: What Matters for Law Offices of All Sizes
Micki Love – Co-Founder of Xcelerator Law Firm Consultants and CEO and President of cj Advertising, Nashville
Friday, June 12
8:25 – 8:30 a.m.
Welcome
Taylor Downs, WVAJ President-Elect
8:30 – 9:20 a.m.
From Intake to Verdict: How AI Cuts Case Time without Cutting Corners
Levon Keusseyan - Supio
9:20 – 9:25 a.m.
Break
9:25 – 10:15 a.m.
Breakout Sessions (Choose One)
Mind Games: Managing Neuropsych Exams, Protecting Your Client, and Challenging the Defense
Timothy C. Bailey – Bailey, Javins, and Carter, Charleston and Doug Spencer – Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee and Deitzler, Charleston
New Lawyers Division The Second Chair Doesn’t Mean Second Fiddle: How to Become Indispensable and Add Real Value to Your Firm
Alex McLaughlin – Calwell, Luce, diTrapano, Charleston; Taylor Norman – Bailey, Javins, and Carter, Charleston; and Megan Southern – Warner Law Offices, Charleston
10:15 – 10:20 a.m.
Break Sponsored by The FORGE Companies
10:20 – 11:10 a.m.
The View from the Top: West Virginia Supreme Court Update
The Honorable Haley Bunn, Chief Justice – Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
11:10 – 12:00 p.m.
The Credibility Crisis: Increasing the Trust and Credibility of Your Experts with Juries
Mark Kitrick – Kitrick, Lewis and Staley-Sladek, Columbus
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
WVAJ Board Meeting and Luncheon (WVAJ Board Only)
1:30 – 2:45 p.m.
View from the Bench: What I’ve Learned As a Judge That I Wish I’d Known As Litigating Attorney
The Honorable Tom Fast, Judge – 15th Circuit Court; the Honorable Richard Lindsay, Judge – 8th Circuit Court; and the Honorable Chad Lovejoy, Judge – 6th Circuit Court
2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
Professional Responsibility Beyond the Basics: Hidden Risks, Best Practices, and What to Do If a Complaint Is Filed
Lonnie Simmons – DiPiero, Simmons, McGinley, and Bastress, Charleston
CLE
This program is worth 14.4 CLE hours, including 2.4 in ethics and law office management. In states with 60-minute credit hours, the program is worth 12 hours, including one hour of ethics and one hour of law office management.
Convention Materials
Convention materials are provided to registrants electronically with a download link.
General Convention Information
Embassy Suites is located at 300 Court Street, Charleston. A special rate of $149 is available through May 19. The hotel’s complimentary breakfast and manager’s reception are included with your room. Regular room rates will apply after May 19. You must use the code 92W when you make your reservation to receive the discounted rate. Make Your Hotel Reservation Online or call (304)347-8700.
All cancellations must be provided to WVAJ in writing. For a refund, minus a $25 processing fee, your request must be received no later than May 22. Requests received May 22 – June 2 will receive refunds of 50 percent. There are no cancellations after June 2, but you will receive convention materials. To cancel, email Debra Lee.
Questions?
Have questions about the 68th Annual WVAJ Convention and Seminar? Email Debra Lee.
Wednesday, June 10
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
WVAJ Institutional Abuse and Neglect Practice Section
Embassy Suites, Salon C
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Welcome Happy Hour at Short Story Brewing (open to all registrants, presenters, sponsors, and exhibitors)
186 Summers Street
Gold Sponsor - Filevine
Thursday, June 11
8:15 – 8:45 a.m.
WVAJ New Lawyers Division Coffee, Connections, and Conversation: How to Get the Most Out of the Convention and Your WVAJ Membership
12:00 – 1:15 p.m.
WVAJ Membership Meeting and Luncheon (WVAJ members only)
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
WVAJ Annual Convention Party (open to all registrants, presenters, sponsors, and exhibitors)
Gold Sponsors- Apex Applied Science & Engineering; Eve Legal
Bronze Sponsor - West Virginia University College of Law
Friday, June 12
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
WVAJ Board Meeting and Luncheon (WVAJ board members only)
Apex Applied Science and Engineering
CKT Legal Nurse Consulting
Edgewood Productions
Emotion Trac Legal
Eve Legal
Expert Institute
Filevine
The FORGE Companies
Hype Legal
Justice Legal Video
MD Timelines
NFP Structured Settlements
Rice Real Estate Appraisal & Consulting
Ringler
Robson Forensic
Sage Settlement Consulting
Sargent’s Court Reporting
Smart Advocate
Sunshine Nurse
Supio
West Virginia State Bar
West Virginia University College of Law
Sponsorship, Exhibitor, and Advertising Opportunities
Showcase Your Products and Services. Build Relationships. Grow Your Business
Want to get your products and services in front of West Virginia’s top lawyers and paralegals? You don’t want to miss the 68th Annual West Virginia Association for Justice Annual Convention and Seminar. Our conventions are the biggest and best place for all businesses that work with civil plaintiffs’ attorneys. WVAJ offers sponsorship, exhibiting, and advertising opportunities. We can work with you to find the best options for your business and marketing goals.
Download Our Sponsorship, Exhibitor, and Advertising Information Package
Questions? Email Debra Lee.
No ”Suitcasing:” Promoting Products and Services Prohibited If You Are Not a Paid Participant
WVAJ is committed to protecting the financial investment made by our event sponsors, exhibitors, and affinity partners. Attendance, marketing products and services, and soliciting business at a WVAJ event when you are not a paid sponsor, exhibitor, and/or affinity partner is prohibited. This includes both onsite and offsite locations; hotel rooms or hospitality suites without prior association approval; as well as the public areas at the event venues. Download Our Policy
Kelly Reed, 2025 – 2026 WVAJ President
Convention Chairs
Tammy Bowles Raines
Ambria Britton
John Einreinhofer
Wes Prince
George Sidiropolis
Emilee Wooldridge
WVAJ AFFINITY PARTNERS
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CONTACT WVAJ
Telephone: (304) 344 - 0692
Fax: (304) 343 - 7926
WVAJ OFFICE
208 Capitol Street, Suite 100
Charleston, WV 25301
QUICK LINKS