About Us

The firm handles litigation that poses a substantial threat to the viability of an enterprise or that is crucial to the future welfare of a person or a family. Many of the firm's cases involve serious workplace injuries, particularly in coal mines, domestic cases in families with more than $1 million in assets, federal felony prosecutions both of individuals and corporations, defense and prosecution of class actions, environmental matters, commercial litigation including defense and prosecution of business torts and securities fraud, and prosecution and defense of casino liability cases.

Members of the firm regularly appear in both State and Federal courts outside of Charleston, particularly in Beckley, Huntington, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Lewisburg and Wheeling. Richard Neely is a Yale Law School graduate and Michael O. Callaghan was editor-in-chief of the West Virginia Law Review; both are experienced lawyers. Richard Neely is a former Chief Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, a former member of the West Virginia Legislature, and the author of seven books about law along with numerous articles, including "The Politics of Crime", which appeared as the cover story of the Atlantic Monthly.

Michael Callaghan is a former Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division in the Southern District of West Virginia, a former Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Environment Protection, and a former State Chairman of the Democrat Party. Early in his career he was law clerk to Chief U.S. District Court Judge Charles H. Haden II.

Back To Top

Support Staff

Neely & Callaghan has a support staff that includes a nurse and a masters' level professional investigator. However, Neely & Callaghan does not use young lawyers to handle the affairs of clients (although the firm frequently associates other experienced lawyers when a particular expertise is required.)

Back To Top

Hourly Rates

Because Neely & Callaghan must limit its case load, the firm charges premium rates that reflect the firm's commitment to personal attention and the fact that only experienced lawyers are handling client matters. Hourly rates are available on request.

Back To Top

Our Focus

Roughly half of Neely & Callaghan's work is litigation on the plaintiff's side done on contingent fee.

The firm focuses on:

1. Defense of Federal Felony Prosecutions
2. Environmental Law including the law of nuisance
3. Workplace – Related coal mine and industrial personal injuries
4. Complex Business and Commercial Litigation
5. Domestic Relations when the primary issue is division of property

Neely & Callaghan has shut down large coal mines because of road damage from coal haulage and Neely & Callaghan has forced coal companies to compensate families living near coal mines for road deterioration, annoyance, inconvenience and property damage.

Back To Top

In addition to the areas described above, Neely & Callaghan also accepts cases at the partners' hourly rates involving domestic relations, proceedings before the West Virginia Board of Medicine, as well as federal and state white collar criminal matters. Both partners regularly appear as expert witnesses.

Back To Top