William E. Robinson

Biography

A seasoned employment litigator, Bill brings more than 35 years of experience to the table for natural resource, health care, manufacturing, commercial, and service industry clients faced with complex labor and employment issues.  Throughout his career, he has focused his practice on representing management in single and multiple plaintiff and class action employment litigation before state and federal courts, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, and the West Virginia Human Rights Commission.  Bill has defended clients in a broad array of matters, including claims of sex, race, disability, age, safety, and other employment discrimination; wrongful discharge; sexual and racial harassment; breach of employment contract; workers’ compensation claims; and violations of ERISA and the FMLA.  He also has more than three decades of experience litigating West Virginia’s unique deliberate intent employment actions, having represented employers in cases arising from serious workplace injuries and toxic tort/workplace exposures.  Bill also routinely counsels management regarding workers’ compensation issues, non-competition agreements, employment policies and procedures, employment handbooks, supervisor training, hiring and firing issues, and disciplinary actions.

Bill's long career as an employment and labor litigator is built upon a combination of vast defense experience and client relationships grounded in an understanding of each client and its business.  The client’s best interests and objectives, combined with the development of legal solutions and strategies that serve them effectively and efficiently, are always at the forefront of his efforts.

Education

  • West Virginia University College of Law  (J.D., 1983)
  • West Virginia University  (B.S., 1980)

Bar Admissions

  • West Virginia

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky

Affiliations/Memberships

  • West Virginia State Bar, Employment Law Committee
  • West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Human Resources Committee
  • Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia, Employment Committee
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Energy & Mineral Law Foundation
  • American Bar Association
  • Kanawha County Bar Association
  • Children's Home Society of West Virginia, Board of Directors, officer 
  • Goodwill Industries of the Kanawha Valley, Board of Directors
  • Glendale Pool, Inc., past president and board member
  • United Way of Central West Virginia, Capitol Club

Distinctions

  • Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers® 
    • Employment Law - Management (2021-2024)
  • America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators®
  • West Virginia Super Lawyers® 
    • Employment Litigation - Defense (2021)