Julia Chico Abbitt is a Member practicing in the Firm's Morgantown, West Virginia, office. Her practice consists of general litigation including environmental litigation as well as toxic tort, pharmaceutical, mass tort and commercial litigation with a particular emphasis in employment law litigation. Ms. Abbitt represents employers in a wide range of employment and labor matters, including the defense of claims of employment discrimination; sexual and other unlawful types of harassment; workers' compensation; retaliation; and wrongful termination. Ms. Abbitt also represents coal industry clients in the defense of environmental tort and contract litigation claims. Closely working with clients' in‑house counsel, human resource representatives, managers and supervisors on employment policy issues is a feature of Ms. Abbitt's practice. These consultation services range from development and review of individual written policies to the development of employee manuals; education and training of management and employees on employment issues; and the preparation of employment agreements and severance and release documents. Ms. Abbitt regularly represents clients before the Circuit Courts of West Virginia and in the Federal Courts of the Fourth Circuit, as well as the West Virginia Human Rights Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the West Virginia Unemployment Compensation Commission. Ms. Abbitt earned her Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia University and her Juris Doctor from the West Virginia University College of Law.