James M. Davis

James M. "Matt" Davis is a Member of the Business Law practice group and the Energy and Oil & Gas industry groups. He practices out of the Firm's office in Charleston, West Virginia. 

Matt's practice focuses on business litigation, mineral acquisitions and sales, and general commercial transactions. A former Assistant United States Attorney, Matt prosecuted over forty criminal cases in the Southern District of West Virginia. He has handled numerous civil matters as well, serving as lead counsel in partition actions, condemnations, and civil actions involving trespass and quiet title claims. Matt has also represented a number of public utilities, public service districts, and motor carriers in rate and certification cases before the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.

Matt is a former Marine Corps Captain, a 1999 graduate of Emory & Henry College, and a 2008 graduate of the West Virginia University College of Law.

• West Virginia University College of Law (J.D., 2008)
  
  • West Virginia Law Review (2007-2008)
• Emory & Henry College (B.A. in Political Science, 1999)

• West Virginia (2008)

• West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals (2008)
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of West Virginia (2017)
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit (2017)

•  Jackson Kelly PLLC (2019-Present)
• United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, Assistant United States Attorney (2017-2019)
• Jackson Kelly PLLC, Associate (2011-2017)
• Lane & Young, Associate (2011)
• Jackson Kelly PLLC, Associate (2008-2011)
• Jackson Kelly PLLC, Summer Associate (2007)
• Jackson Kelly PLLC, Summer Associate (2006)

• United States Marine Corps, Lieutenant/Captain (1999-2005)

Speaking Engagements

• Obtaining Government Records, February 10, 2023, National Business Institute, Charleston, West Virginia (presented remotely).
• Litigating Mechanics’ Liens – an Overview of the Law in Selected Appalachian States, October 20, 2022, National Association of Credit Management, Charleston, West Virginia.
• Ensuring Local Governments Comply with the Law, a West Virginia Guide, June 29, 2022, National Business Institute, Charleston, West Virginia (presented remotely).
• Ensuring Local Governments Comply with the Law, a West Virginia Guide, May 10, 2021, National Business Institute, Charleston, West Virginia (presented remotely).
• Easement Law from A to Z, March 3, 2017, National Business Institute, Charleston, West Virginia.
• Title Law in West Virginia, December 3, 2016, National Business Institute, Charleston, West Virginia.
• Creating, Enforcing, & Terminating Easements, February 8, 2016, National Business Institute, Charleston, West Virginia.
• Oil and Gas Title Law from A to Z, December 3, 2015, National Business Institute, Charleston, West Virginia.
• Title Examination Fundamentals & Curing Title Defects, December 4, 2014, National Business Institute, Charleston, West Virginia.
• Curative Measures for Common Title Defects, September 24-25, 2014, National Association of Landmen and Title Analysts, Nashville, Tennessee.
• Best Practices for the Preparation of Title Opinions, April 3, 2014, National Business Institute, Charleston, West Virginia.

Writings and Publications

• Certifier Beware: Certifications and Liability Under the False Claims Act, Pratt’s Government Contracting Law, Vol. 6, No. 7 (July 2020), co-authored with Alaina N. Crislip and Robert G. Tweel.
• Author, "Say What?  The Resolution of Ambiguous Written Agreements in West Virginia," W.Va. L. Rev.'s Energy Issue (Spring 2014)
• Article, "A Knife in a Gunfight: the Inadequate Protection Provided to West Virginia's Foster Children by Statutory and Common Law," 111 W.Va. L. Rev. 979 (Spring 2009)

• West Virginia State Bar Association
• Kanawha County Bar Association

• Member, Parish Council, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (2021-present)
• Mentor, Piedmont & Kanawha City Elementary Schools (2008-present)
• Covenant House, Board of Directors (2011-2016)

• Business Law
• Real Estate

• Energy
• Oil & Gas

• Top of the Tower 41
• Matt Davis Speaking at a Webinar on West Virginia Land & Water Law
• UPDATED Certifier Beware: Certifications & Liability Under the False Claims Act
• Certifier Beware: Certifications & Liability Under the False Claims Act