CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The law firms of Eckert Seamans Cherin and Mellott LLC and Hendrickson & Long PLLC have announced that they combined their respective practices effective Jan. 1. All 12 attorneys from Charleston-based Hendrickson & Long joined Eckert Seamans, giving the firm an expansion in West Virginia and an important Charleston presence.

Joining Eckert Seamans as members were David K. Hendrickson, R. Scott Long, Jeffry H. Hall, Dwane L. Tinsley, Josef A. Horter and Stephen M. Schwartz. Joining the firm as associates were Apryll H. Boggs, Stephen E. Hastings, Lora A. Dyer and H. Jerome Sparks. Joining Eckert Seamans as special counsel were Barbara Allen Samples and J. Miles Morgan.

Hendrickson has more than 25 years' trial experience. His practice focuses on product liability, toxic torts, medical malpractice, insurance defense and general business litigation. He was a founding partner of Hendrickson & Long. He is a member of The International Academy of Trial Lawyers. A former captain in the U.S. Army, he earned his bachelor's degree at West Virginia University and his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law.

Long was a founding partner of Hendrickson & Long and concentrates his practice on product liability, personal injury, medical malpractice, toxic tort and asbestos defense. He serves plaintiffs and defendants, including clients that range from individuals and privately held entities to Fortune 100 companies. He has particular experience with class action litigation. He received his bachelor's degree from Wake Forest University and his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law.

Hall focuses his practice on product liability, insurance defense and toxic and mass tort litigation. He has more than 20 years' trial experience in both state and federal courts. He earned a bachelor's degree from West Virginia University, a master's degree from Marshall University and his law degree from the Thomas M. Cooley School of Law in Michigan.

Tinsley, an accomplished trial attorney, focuses his practice on insurance defense litigation, including automobile accidents, personal injury, premises liability, product liability, insurance fraud and criminal defense. He is president of the West Virginia Bar Association. Formerly, he was managing trial attorney for Nationwide Insurance Trial Division, assistant prosecuting attorney in Fayette County, W.Va., and assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. He is a certified agent for the National Football League Players Association and serves as a mediator for the U.S. Postal Service and through the West Virginia State Bar. He earned his bachelor's degree from Davis & Elkins College, his master's degree from Howard University and his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law.

Horter concentrates his practice on insurance defense, coverage opinions, insurance law and general defense litigation. He has also built his practice on employment litigation, insurance subrogation and creditor bankruptcy. He received his bachelor's degree from West Virginia University and his law degree from Ohio Northern University School of Law.

Schwartz concentrates his practice on product liability, environmental law, workers' compensation, business law, administrative law, general defense litigation and intellectual property law. He serves as West Virginia local counsel for the Home School Legal Defense Association. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He received his bachelor's degree from the Colorado School of Mines and his law degree from the University of Arkansas.

Boggs' practice focuses on product liability, toxic tort defense, silica litigation, insurance defense and general defense litigation. She earned her bachelor's degree at the University of Kentucky and her law degree at the West Virginia University College of Law.

Dyer practices in the areas of toxic tort, product liability, insurance litigation, securities regulation, creditor rights, bankruptcy and general civil defense litigation. She served as law clerk to Judge Jams C. Stucky of the 13th Judicial Circuit, and she interned at the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. She received her bachelor's degree from Marshall University and her law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law.

Sparks' practice is centered on toxic tort defense, insurance defense, product liability and general defense litigation. His bachelor's degree is from the University of Charleston. He earned his master's degree from West Virginia Graduate College and his law degree from Tulane University.

Hastings represents plaintiffs and defendants in cases that involved personal injury, product liability, professional malpractice, nursing home liability, breach of confidentiality/invasion of privacy, employment relations, wills, property law, toxic torts and other general areas of litigation. He received his bachelor's degree from West Virginia University and his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law.

Samples focuses her practice in the areas of product liability, toxic tort and asbestos defense. She is also experienced in family law and personal injury law. She earned her law and bachelor's degrees from Wake Forest University.

Morgan's practice focuses on medical malpractice, personal injury, employment discrimination, product liability defense and federal criminal litigation. He was law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Irene Keeley of the Northern District of West Virginia. He received his bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University and his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law.

Eckert Seamans maintains its Charleston office at 214 Capitol Street in Charleston's business and financial district, the same location where Hendrickson & Long has been located. Hendrickson & Long worked with the Charleston Renaissance Committee to renovate the building, preserving its historic charm while upgrading the facility to accommodate state-of-the-art office space.

Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC (www.eckertseamans.com), a national law firm with 10 offices throughout the eastern United States, provides a full range of legal services nationwide to businesses of all sizes, institutions, municipalities, colleges and universities, government agencies and individuals. In addition to its newest office in Charleston, Eckert Seamans has offices in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, West Chester and Southpointe, Pa.; Wilmington, Del.; Boston; Washington, D.C.; and White Plains, N.Y.