Jackson Kelly - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

Jackson Kelly attorney Michael D. Foster has been re-elected as managing member of the firm, while Brian R. Swiger has been re-elected the firm's assistant managing member.

Foster became managing member in 2007 after serving as assistant managing member starting in 2002 and as a member of the firm's executive committee for two separate terms. 

In 1989, Foster co-founded the firm's employee benefits group and has headed the group ever since.

Swiger also heads Jackson Kelly's industrial, environmental and complex litigation practice group. He has a regional practice focusing on representing clients in connection with a variety of high-risk matters including wrongful death, catastrophic injury, commercial and natural resources litigation. 

He frequently represents exploration and production companies operating in the natural gas industry, electric utility companies, various industrial operations and mining, trucking and compressed gas companies.

Louis S. Southworth II has been re-elected as chairman of the firm's executive committee. He is a member of the firm's public policy and regulatory affairs practice group, the tax practice group and the commercial law practice group. 

He joined the firm in 1968 and practices on administrative, business and commercial, business planning, leases, legislative services, mergers and acquisitions, securities and corporate law.

Samme L. Gee was elected as vice-chair. She is a member of the firm's health care and finance practice group. She practices tax exempt and taxable municipal bonds and related governmental and economic development financings as well as corporate trust, legislative services and governmental agency representation. 

She routinely serves as bond counsel, underwriter's counsel, trustee's counsel or issuer's or borrower's counsel. She has extensive experience in the financing and development of infrastructure projects with an emphasis on water, wastewater, highways and public facilities and economic development projects.

 James W. Thomas was elected to a three-year term on the executive committee. He is a member of the health care and finance practice group in the firm's Charleston office. 

He practices health care matters. He handles state and regulatory compliance issues and investigations, business acquisitions, reorganizations and cases before the West Virginia Health Care Authority.