Brian R Swiger

Brian R. Swiger is the Firm's Assistant Managing Member and Leader of the 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. His experience with regard to these matters involves coordinating initial investigations, defending federal and state regulatory investigations and serving as lead trial counsel during all phases of discovery and trial. Some of the clients he frequently represents include exploration and production companies operating in the natural gas industry, electric utility companies, various industrial operations and mining, trucking and compressed gas companies. In recent years, he has served as lead trial counsel for defendants involved in catastrophic loss litigation throughout West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky. The litigation Mr. Swiger routinely handles often involves multi‑party litigation in which issues related to punitive damages, premises liability, deliberate intent, indemnification, insurance coverage, products liability, work place safety, industrial and commercial accidents, motor carrier liability, public liability and OSHA, MSHA, NTSB, CSB and DOT (FMCSA and PHMSA) investigations must be addressed in order to successfully handle the matter. He also has successfully defended clients in cases involving class actions, toxic torts, complex litigation and mineral title disputes involving hundreds of thousands of acres. Mr. Swiger devotes a significant portion of his practice to the representation of clients operating in the oil and gas industry throughout the Appalachian Basin. He has served as lead trial counsel in numerous cases involving many issues that are unique to the oil and gas industry. His experience with these matters has involved advising clients with regard to regulatory compliance, various title issues, drilling activities, fire and explosion losses, contract and lease disputes, and environmental litigation. Mr. Swiger attended West Virginia Wesleyan College (Bachelor of Arts in government and legal studies 1988), where he graduated magna cum laude and as a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Delta Mu Delta. In 1991, he graduated from the West Virginia University College of Law after participating for two years in the Marlyn E. Lugar Trial Association and finishing first in the West Virginia Invitational Trial Competition. He is admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, United States District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia and the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. His professional affiliations include the West Virginia State Bar, West Virginia Bar Association, Kanawha County Bar Association, Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia and the Judge John A. Field, Jr. American Inn of Court. From 1998 to 2004, Mr. Swiger served as a member of the West Virginia Advisory Committee, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.