David A. Barnette is Of Counsel in the Business Law practice group, focusing primarily on commercial litigation. He practices out of the Firm's office in Charleston, West Virginia.
David has spent his entire career at Jackson Kelly since graduating from the University of Dayton School of Law In 1979. As part of the Firm’s Business Law practice group, David has represented many major corporations in litigation arising from disputes over contracts, technology, antitrust concerns, and construction. Since 1991, he has been the General Counsel to the West Virginia Broadcaster’s Association and regularly represents some of the state’s largest television and radio stations.
David has been the lead trial counsel for media clients in four significant defamation cases, and is a regular contributor and writer in the area of broadcast law. He is the co-author of Keeping It Legal, a guide for broadcasters published by the West Virginia Broadcasters Association, and author of a reporters’ shield law passed by the West Virginia legislature in 2011.
In addition to his work in the world of law, David is an active member of his community. He is chairman of the Board of Governors at Concord University, a member of the University of Dayton School of Law Board of Advisors, director and former chairman of the Concord University Foundation, trustee and secretary of the WSAZ Children’s Foundation, director of the West Virginia Broadcasters Educational Foundation and a member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. When David is not at the office you can probably find him on the water, enjoying some much-deserved R&R on his boat.