BIOGRAPHY
Emily L. Lilly joined the firm in 2016 as a member. Ms. Lilly’s practice is focused primarily on civil defense litigation. She has represented many state agencies, government entities, businesses, and individuals in various types of legal matters, including civil rights, contract disputes, products liability, negligence, wrongful death, premises liability, toxic tort, mass litigation, professional liability, and insurance law.
Ms. Lilly graduated summa cum laude from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy with a pre-law emphasis and minor in English. While attending the WVU College of Law, she was active in student government through her elected position on the College’s Ethics Committee. After earning her Juris Doctor degree, Ms. Lilly spent two years as a judicial law clerk to Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Tod J. Kaufman. Since that time, Ms. Lilly has worked in the private sector, engaging in civil defense litigation.
Ms. Lilly currently resides in Charleston with her family. She enjoys baking, traveling, and walking various local park trails with her family in her spare time.
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Education / Admissions
Bar Admissions
U.S. District Court Southern District of West Virginia
U.S. District Court Northern District of West Virginia
U.S. Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit
United States Supreme Court of Appeals
Education
J.D., West Virginia University College of Law
- Honors: Pro Bono/Public Service AwardB.A., West Virginia University
- Honors: Summa Cum Laude graduate, President’s List, Dean’s ListHonors, Awards, and Activities
Peer rated as Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent 2016-Present
Selected as Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2022
Selected as Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2021
Elected Chairperson of the WVU College of Law Ethics Committee, 2007
Elected Vice President of WVU College of Law Women’s Law Caucus, 2007
Elected Secretary/Treasurer of WVU College of Law Women’s Law Caucus, 2006
Elected Member of the WVU College of Law Ethics Committee, 2006-2008
Member Golden Key International Honour Society, 2005-present
Member Phi Beta Kappa Society, 2005-present
Daniel Boardman Purinton Scholarship Recipient, 2004
John Reginald Creswell Outstanding Senior Award Recipient, 2004
McKay-Coast Award for Academic Excellence Recipient, 2003
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Certificate of Achievement for Academic Excellence, 2003-2005
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Experience & Involvement
Professional Associations and Memberships
Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia
Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
Published Works
“No One Pays Sticker Price for Healthcare Anymore: A Multistate Analysis of Recoverable Medical Special Damages in Medical Malpractice”; MedLaw Update, Defense Research Institute, Volume 24, Issue 2, July 2019.
Speaking Engagements
Finding Your Voice - How to Recognize and Address Gender-Based Biases as a Young Lawyer, Women's Leadership Council and West Virginia Women Attorneys (March 2024)
Dental Liability Under the MPLA, Kanawha Valley Dental Society (September 2022)
Representative Cases
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources v. V.P., 241 W.Va. 478, 825 S.E.2d 806 (2019).
Eric F. v. Dalrymple, No. 14-1166 (W. Va. Supreme Court, January 29, 2016) (memorandum decision) (affirmed by Eric F. v. Dalrymple, 137 S.Ct. 63, 196 L. Ed. 2d 61 (2016)).
Grace v. Sparks, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 156323 (S. D. W. Va. 2015) (affirmed by Grace v. Sparks, 668 Fed. Appx. 499 (4th Cir. 2016)).
Woodruff v. Sparks, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 63489 (S. D. W. Va. 2014).
Kanode v. Swope, No. 12-0580 (W. Va. Supreme Court, May 3, 2013) (memorandum decision).
Sutton v. Brown, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19714 (S. D. W. Va. 2012) (proposed findings of fact and recommendations adopted by Sutton v. Brown, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19734 (S. D. W. Va. 2012)).
Jackson v. Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 152664 (S. D. W. Va. 2011) (proposed findings of fact and recommendations adopted by Jackson v. Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11990 (S. D. W. Va. 2012)).
PRACTICE AREAS
Civil Rights Litigation
Environmental Litigation
General Litigation
Long-Term Care & Nursing Home Litigation
Mass Tort & Toxic Exposure
Medical Malpractice
Products Liability
Professional Liability
Regulatory & Licensing Compliance
Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality
State, Municipal & Public Utility Litigation