Stephen E. Hastings

Contact Stephen E. Hastings

214 Capitol St.
Charleston, WV 25301

Tel: 304-346-5500
Direct: 304-720-5520
Fax: 304-346-5515
Email: SHastings@handl.com

Steve takes a practical approach to providing advice to his clients.  Steve previously managed litigation for an S&P 500 energy company and served as an outside litigation manager for a FERC regulated natural gas company.  Having been on both sides of the attorney-client relationship, Steve values the importance of a client’s perspective. He takes great pride in representing his clients in an efficient and productive manner.

Steve has worked closely with executives and senior management, trained employees on corporate policies and risk mitigation, and provided business and legal risk analyses across all facets of corporate operations. He worked with corporate communications and governmental affairs personnel to help effectuate company objectives. Steve investigated and managed hundreds of claims and managed the formal litigation of hundreds of matters in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Virginia. He also managed several trial teams and coordinated strategies for multiple cases tried to jury verdicts.

Steve’s private practice experience includes the representation of a broad range of clients in complex litigation matters including commercial disputes, oil and gas law, personal injury, product liability, professional liability, property law, employment law, deliberate intent matters, toxic torts, construction law, and other general matters. He has been involved in multiple class actions and mass litigation matters. Steve has served as first-chair counsel in multiple arbitrations and jury trials and has been involved in multiple appeals.  He has also participated in the successful mediation or negotiation of hundreds of pre-suit and litigation matters.

Steve and his wife, Tiffany, have three kids that keep him busy outside of the office. In his spare time, Steve coaches youth soccer and helps with his wife’s businesses, Charleston Dog Lodge and Camp Critter Creek.

RECENT FIRST-CHAIR EXPERIENCE

• Commercial Loan Dispute – Jury verdict in favor of client in federal court trial in a matter brought by lender seeking over $8 million in loan principal, interest, and fees.
• Coal Supply Dispute – Represented coal producer in state court litigation against power generation company for breach of contract related to a coal supply agreement.  Confidential settlement reached.
• Attorney Fee Dispute – $8.5 million arbitration award in favor of law firm in fee dispute before the American Arbitration Association.
• Commercial Lease Dispute – Represented coal company in arbitration initiated by landowner claiming breach of lease agreement and seeking over $20 million in damages.  Arbitration award included a favorable finding that the landowner was not entitled to damages for an alleged failure to mine and limited damages to actual remediation costs, regulatory fines, and attorney fees.

EDUCATION

• J.D., West Virginia University College of Law, 2002
• B.S., West Virginia University, 1999

BAR ADMISSIONS

• Supreme Court of the United States
• Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
• United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia

AFFILIATIONS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Member, EMLF – Energy & Mineral Law Foundation
• Member, Board of Directors, The Education Alliance
• Board Member and Coach, Kanawha City Soccer Club