Mr. Kinney’s primary areas of practice are toxic torts, chemical exposure (including benzene, C-8, carbon black and perchloroethylene), class actions, mass torts, general litigation, construction litigation and alternative dispute resolution.

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Education

• University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1992
• University of San Diego School of Law, Summer Program in Paris, France
• American University, B.A., with honors, 1988
• American University, Semester in Bonn, Germany

Experience

• Defending nationwide, regional and local class actions in environmental, toxic tort, chemical exposure and consumer cases, including air and water emissions
• Defending and pursuing construction claims
• Litigating cases of employer deliberate intent, wrongful death and catastrophic injury
• Representing clients in insurance coverage disputes, including declaratory judgment actions for determination of coverage and claims against payment and performance bonds
• Former American Arbitration Association neutral

Distinctions

• Distinguished™ Peer-Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Named the Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation - Construction in Charleston, W.Va., 2024
• Nominated by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Litigation – Construction and Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions – Defendants
• West Virginia State Bar's Mediator Training Courses
• University of Virginia School of Law, National Trial Advocacy College

Admissions

• United States Supreme Court
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Virginia State Bar
• West Virginia State Bar
• United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia

Memberships

• Co-Chair, Products Liability Litigation Committee, American Bar Association, 2021 - present
• Member, Planning Committee of the American Bar Association, Products Liability Committee
• Past Chair, Membership Diversity & Inclusion Subcommittee and Chemical Products Subcommittee of the American Bar Association, Products Liability Committee
• American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry
• West Virginia Bar Association
• Virginia Bar Association

Publications & Presentations

• Contributing author, Construction Checklist: A Guide to Frequently Encountered Construction Issues, Second Edition, American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Law, 2022
• Panelist, “Products Liability Year in Review,” ABA Environmental & Energy, Mass Torts and Products Liability Litigation Joint CLE Seminar, January 2019
• Editor and Contributing Author, “Toxic Exposure Claims; A Fifty-State Survey,” ABA Publication, 2016
• Author, "Construction Checklists - A Guide to Frequently Encountered Construction Issues," ABA Publication, 2008
• Author, "Issues in Construction Bidding," West Virginia Executive, Fall 2006
• Contributor, "W. Va. Law," Design-Build Deskbook, ABA Publication, 2004
• Moderator, "Panel Discussion on Recent Trends in Environmental, Toxic Tort, and Mass Tort Cases," 7th Annual Regional Seminar, ABA Section of Litigation, Spring 2013
• Moderator, 4th Annual Regional Seminar, ABA Section of Litigation, Fall 2009

Community Involvement

• Election Commissioner, 2020 General Election
• FIFA pre-registered soccer agent
• Kanawha-Charleston Soccer Foundation Board Member and South Hills Soccer Association Past President
• Past President, Charleston Chapter, University of Virginia Alumni Association
• Past Chair, Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation Independent Scholarship Committee
• Blessed Sacrament Parish