Biography
Rob McKinney focuses on defending companies in high-risk litigation involving product liability, mass torts, premises liability, and toxic exposures. Rob’s professional experience includes both private practice and government service. His work, first as Counsel and later Acting Director of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia’s Division of Probation Services, continued his experience in labor and employment disputes and gave him the opportunity to work with West Virginia Supreme Court Justices and Judges throughout the state. He successfully represented the Court in numerous wrongful termination and disciplinary administrative appeals, wrote legal and operational policy relating to Probation supervision, Adult and Juvenile Drug Courts, and offender database creation and management, including complex privacy protections. He trained and advised Judges and judicial officers throughout the state on employment and disciplinary matters. Rob also had the opportunity to work with medical and law enforcement professionals as one of the judicial officials responsible for implementing and enhancing Drug Court programs to combat the opioid crisis in West Virginia. He continues to serve on the Family Drug Court Advisory Committee in Kanawha County, West Virginia.
He has extensive experience representing clients from the industrial manufacturing, automotive, insurance and financial industries before state and federal courts in West Virginia and Kentucky. He has defended clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases involving toxic exposures to asbestos, benzene, formaldehyde, and various chemicals. His practice presently includes handling over 100 cases per year in West Virginia’s asbestos litigation, where he has demonstrated his effectiveness at successfully coordinating the complex discovery and defense efforts of several clients. As part of this litigation, Rob has worked with pathologists, pulmonologists, industrial hygienists, and other experts to prepare persuasive testimony and reports in support of the firm’s clients. He has proven equally capable of the direct work of conducting discovery, examining witnesses, and preparing pleadings that have been instrumental in the firm’s clients’ victories in cases, as well as the strategic work of analysis, valuation, and negotiations.
Education
- Wake Forest University School of Law (J.D., 1995)
- Marshall University (B.A.S., 1992)
- Society of Yeager Scholars
Bar Admissions
Courts
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
Professional Affiliations
- Kentucky Bar Association
- West Virginia State Bar
Honors
- The Best Lawyers in America© (2024-2025)
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Presentations
- "Opioid Litigation 101," Webinar (June 2022)
- Presenter, "Introduction to Drug Courts,” West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, Division of Probation Services, and West Virginia Association Of Probation Officers Professional Education Development Conference, Charleston, West Virginia (November 9, 2017)
- Panelist and materials author, “Juvenile Justice Reform: Bringing Systems Together,” West Virginia Center for Children’s Justice Handle with Care Conference, Charleston, West Virginia (October 13, 2016)
- Presenter and materials author, “Juvenile Delinquency Law Update,” West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute Annual Meeting, Canaan Valley Resort, Davis, West Virginia (June 22, 2016)
- Presenter, “Discussion of SB371 and SB393: Criminal and Juvenile Reform Legislation,” West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, Division of Probation Services, and West Virginia Association Of Probation Officers, Professional Education Development Conference, Charleston, West Virginia (September 16-17, 2015)
- Presenter and materials author, “West Virginia’s Drug Courts,” West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute Annual Meeting, Stonewall Jackson Resort, Roanoke, West Virginia (June 26, 2015)
- Panelist and materials author, “Legislative Issues,” West Virginia Public Defenders’ Conference, Stonewall Jackson Resort, Roanoke, West Virginia (June 18, 2015)
- Prepared and conducted numerous trainings of Adult and Juvenile Drug Court Judges, Counsel, and Treatment Team members throughout West Virginia (2012-2018)
- Teaching faculty and materials author, “Challenges in West Virginia Insurance Coverage Litigation,” NBI Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Charleston, West Virginia (July 2001)
- Teaching faculty and materials author, “Insurance Coverage Law in West Virginia,” NBI Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Charleston, West Virginia (October 2000)