Jeffrey M. Wakefield

Jeff Wakefield brings 40 years of experience to Flaherty and serves as our General Counsel. His diverse practice includes business and commercial litigation, insurance coverage defense and bad faith, professional liability and class action cases. He also has extensive appellate experience, having briefed and argued numerous matters before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

What makes Jeff stand out? “As a result of my extensive experience in a wide variety of litigation, trials and appellate cases, I can analyze cases from a factual development standpoint, but also recognize and develop sophisticated legal issues.”

The majority of Jeff’s work today centers on sophisticated business/commercial clients in high-exposure cases. Some of his clients include a major university, a coal equipment company and large insurance carriers. He is committed to his clients and dedicated to achieving a positive outcome – as he did in each of these cases – recovering liquidated damages from a departing Division IA football coach, allowing a multimillion-dollar media rights contract to remain in place and saving an insurance company millions of dollars in successfully resisting a rate challenge.

“Listening to clients is the most important thing a lawyer can do. From listening, you learn about the client’s needs and expectations. Only then can you provide truly adequate representation.”

Outside of the practice of law, Jeff seeks out activities that allow him to grow personally and unwind from the stress of practicing law. He enjoys skiing, biking, golf and travel.

Professional Involvement

• Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia
• American Bar Association
• West Virginia State Bar Association, Member

Reported Decisions State & Federal District Court Cases

• Richards v Walker, 813 S.E.2d 923 (W.Va. 2018)
• State ex rel. Universal Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Wilson, 239 W. Va. 338, 801 S.E.2d 216 (2017)
• State ex rel. Biafore v. Tomblin, 236 W. Va. 528, 782 S.E.2d 223 (2016)
• Citibank, N.A. v. Perry, 238 W. Va. 662, 797 S.E.2d 803 (2016)
• Williams v. CMO Mgmt., LLC, 239 W. Va. 530, 803 S.E.2d 500 (2016)
• State ex rel. Ridge v. W.Va. Dep’t of Health & Human Res., 238 W. Va. 268, 793 S.E.2d 918 (2016)
• State ex rel. Perdue v. Nationwide Life Ins. Co., 236 W. Va. 1, 777 S.E.2d 11 (2015)
• Travelers Indem. Co. v. U.S. Silica Co., 237 W. Va. 540, 788 S.E.2d 286 (2015)
• Rich v. Simoni, 235 W. Va. 142, 772 S.E.2d 327 (2015)
• Erie Ins. Prop, & Cas. Co. v. King, 236 W. Va. 323, 779 S.E.2d 591 (2015)
• Lightner v. Riley, 233 W. Va. 573, 760 S.E.2d 142 (2014)
• State ex rel. Discover Fin. Servs. V. Nibert, 231 W. Va. 227, 744 S.E.2d 625 (2013)
• Va. Employers’ Mut. Ins. Co. v. Bunch Co., 231 W. Va. 321, 745 S.E.2d 212 (2013)
• Bluestone Indus., Inc. v. Keneda, 232 W. Va. 139, 751 S.E.2d 25 (2013)
• Va. Employers’ Mut. Ins. Co. v. Summit Point Raceway Assocs., 228 W. Va. 360, 719 S.E.2d 830, 842 (2011)
• State ex rel. Galloway Group v. McGraw, 227 W. Va. 435, 711 S.E.2d 257 (2011)
• Noland v. Va. Ins. Reciprocal, 224 W. Va. 372, 686 S.E.2d 23 (2009)
• Strawn v. AT&T Mobility, Inc., F.Supp2d, 2009, WL1544333 (S.D. W.Va. 2009)
• Osborne v. King, 570 F.Supp.2d 839 S.D. W.Va. (2008)
• West Virginia University Board of Governors v. Rodriguez, 543 F.Supp.2d 526 (N.D. W.Va. 2008)
• Rashid v. Tarakji, S.E.2d, 2008, WL 486677 (WV, November 5, 2008)
• Messer v. Hannah, 228 W.Va. 553, 668 SE.2d 182 (2008)
• Stand Energy Corp. v. Columbia Gas Transmission Corp., 521 F.Supp.2d 537 (S.D. W.Va. 2007)
• Strawn v. AT&T Mobility, Inc., 513 F.Supp.2d 599 (S.D. W.Va. 2007)
• State & County Mutual Fire Insurance Co. v. Young, 490 F.Supp.2d 741 (N.D. W.Va. 2007)
• Philips v. Larry’s Drive-In Pharmacy, Inc., 220 W.Va. 484, 647 S.E.2d 920 (2007)
• Kominar v. Health Management Associates of West Virginia, Inc., 220 W.Va. 542, 648 S.E.2d 48 (2007)
• State ex rel. Hamrick v. Stucky, 220 W.Va. 180, 640 S.E.2d 243 (2006)
• State ex rel. Hamrick v. Stuckey, 2006 WL 3455069 (W.Va. 2006)
• Stand Energy Corp. v. Columbia Gas Transmission Corp., 380 F.Supp.2d 748 (S.D. W.Va. 2005)
• Stand Energy Corp. v. Columbia Gas Transmission Corp., 373 F.Supp.2d 631 (S.D. W.Va. 2005)
• Branch Bank & Trust v. Engine Components, Inc., 394 F.Supp.2d 859 (S.D. W.Va. 2005)
• Columbia Casualty Co. v Westfield Insurance Co., 217 W.Va. 250, 617 S.E.2d 797 (2005)
• Calhoun v Traylor, 218 W.Va. 154, 624 S.E.2d 501 (2005)
• State ex rel. Medical Assurance of West Virginia, Inc. v Recht, 213 W.Va. 457, 583 S.E.2d 80 (2003)
• Hawkins v. Ford Motor Co., 211 W.Va. 487 566 S.E.2d 624 (2002)
• Bradshaw v. Soulsby, 210 W.Va. 682, 558 S.E.2d 681 (2001)
• Smith v. Animal Urgent Care, Inc., 208 W.Va. 664, 542 S.E.2d 827 (2000)
• Bower v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 206 W.Va. 133, 522 S.E.2d 424 (1999)
• DeVane v. Kennedy, 205 W.Va. 519, 519 S.E.2d 622 (1999)
• Gamblin v. Ford Motor Co., 204 W.Va. 419, 513 S.E.2d 467 (1998)
• Shiel v. Ryu, 203 W.Va. 40, 506 S.E.2d 77 (1998)
• Callow v. Jacob, 201 W.Va. 665, 500 S.E.2d 290 (1997)
• State ex rel. Mitchem v. Kirkpatrick, 199 W.Va. 501, 485 S.E.2d 445 (1997)
• McGraw v. St. Joseph’s Hospital, 200 W.Va. 114, 488 S.E.2d 389 (1997)
• State ex rel. Blankenship v. Richardson, 196 W.Va. 726, 474 S.E.2d 906 (1996)
• Raines v. White, 195 W.Va. 266, 465 S.E.2d 266 (1995)
• Dunn v. Kanawha County Board of Education, 194 W.Va. 40, 459 S.E.2d 151 (1995)
• Helmick v. Jones, 192 W.Va. 317, 452 S.E.2d 408 (1994)
• Whitlow v. Board of Education of Kanawha County, 190 W.Va. 223, 438 S.E.2d 15 (1993)
• Henderson v. Meredith Lumber Co., Inc., 190 W.Va. 292, 438 S.E.2d 324 (1993)
• State ex rel. Starr v. Halbritter, 183 W.Va. 350, 395 S.E.2d 773 (1990)
• Nutter v. Maynard, 183 W.Va. 247, 395 S.E.2d 491 (1990)
• Capital Fuels, Inc. v. Clark Equipment Co., 176 W.Va. 277, 342 S.E.2d 245 (1986)
• Perry v. Milton, 171 W.Va. 397, 299 S.E.2d 8 (1982)
• Star Furniture Co. v. Pulaski Furniture Co., 171 W.Va. 79, 297 S.E.2d 854 (1982)
• Wise v. Travelers Indemnity Co., 192 F.Supp.2d 506 (N.D.W.Va. 2002)
• Young v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 169 F.R.D. 72 (S.D.W.Va. 1996)
• Clark v. Milam, 830 F.Supp. 316 (S.D.W.Va. 1993)
• Crawford v. Hatcher, 804 F.Supp. 834 (S.D.W.Va. 1992)

Federal Appellate Decisions

• Palisades Collections LLC v. Shorts, 552 F.3d 327 (4th Cir. 2008)
• Strawn v. AT&T Mobility LLC, 530 F.3d 293 (4th Cir. 2008)
• Columbia Casualty Co. v Westfield Insurance Co., 416 F.3d 301 (4th Cir. 2005)
• Gray v. Farley, 13 Fd.3d 142 (4th Cir. 1993)
• Giancola v. State of West Virginia Dept. of Public Safety, 830 Fd.2d 547 (4th Cir. 1987)

Teaching & Lecturing

• Contracts Between "Friendlys": Covering the Risk and Protecting the Business Relationship Through Indemnification and Insuring Agreements, Presentation, 33rd Eastern Mineral Law Foundation Conference - EMLF, Lexington, KY (2008)
• Lecturer, Bad Faith Update, Insurance Law, West Virginia Continuing Legal Education (2002)

• AV Preeminent® Peer-Review Rated by Martindale-Hubble®
• Listed, Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial (2010 - 2024)
• Listed, The Best Lawyers in America© since 2003
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation (2010 - 2025)
  • Commercial Litigation (2006 - 2025)
  • Insurance Law (2012 - 2025)
  • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2011 - 2025)
  • 2025 - Lawyer of the Year - Charleston, WV - Insurance Law
  • 2017 - Lawyer of the Year - Charleston, WV - Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
  • 2015 - Lawyer of the Year - Charleston, WV - Insurance Law
  • 2014 - Lawyer of the Year - Charleston, WV - Bet-the-Company Litigation
• Listed, West Virginia Super Lawyers 
  • Insurance Coverage (2007 - 2024)