Cline & Pickens to Lead Public Policy, Advocacy & Reform Group

Charleston, W.Va. — The law firm Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC (Spilman) announced today that Jane L. Cline and Mary Jane Pickens have joined the firm’s Charleston office.

Cline joins the firm as Director of Public Policy. In this role, she will be a key leader of the Public Policy, Advocacy and Reform Group and will also be actively involved in government relations.

Prior to joining Spilman, Cline served as West Virginia Insurance Commissioner for 10 years. In that position, she was responsible for regulating the insurance market in the state and gained unparalleled knowledge of the insurance industry on the national and international levels. Cline is the immediate past president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and was a member of the executive committee of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors.

Pickens joins Spilman as Counsel. She will be an instrumental contributor to the Public Policy, Advocacy and Reform Group and will also support Spilman’s government relations team.

Prior to joining the firm, Pickens worked at the Offices of the West Virginia Insurance Commissioner for more than 10 years, serving eight years as General Counsel and Director of the Legal Division for the agency. In these roles, she gained vast experience assisting with insurance-related legislation, the workers’ compensation system and run-off of state legacy claims.

Under their leadership in the past decade and with a broad coalition of support, the State of West Virginia passed and implemented several crucial legislative reforms. Such measures led to the successful privatization of the state workers’ compensation systems, as well as other positive reforms to the state’s insurance laws and regulations. Cline and Pickens look forward to offering their experience and capabilities to Spilman clients, insurance carriers, corporations, general counsel, trade associations and professional organizations.
 

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About Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC
Spilman Thomas & Battle is a full-service law firm with more than 140 attorneys. Founded in 1864, Spilman has offices in Charleston, Morgantown and Wheeling, W.Va.; Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, Pa.; Winston-Salem, N.C.; and Roanoke, Va.