Joseph S. Beeson
OF COUNSEL
 304-347-8326
 304-344-9566
 Charleston, WV

Areas of Practice

Litigation

Credentials

  • J.D., West Virginia University, 1974
  • A.B., cum laude, History, West Virginia Wesleyan College, 1968
  • Order of the Barristers
  • Order of the Coif
  • “Defense Lawyer of the Year” – Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia, 2015
  • “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants in Charleston, W.V. by Best Lawyers, 2014
  • “Lawyer of the Year” for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants in Charleston, W.V. by Best Lawyers, 2013
  • Best Lawyers in America, 2008 – Present
  • AV 5/5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
  • The Best Lawyers in West Virginia, Personal Injury Litigation

Bar & Court Admissions

Professional Affiliations

  • West Virginia Bar Association
  • Kanawha County Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia
  • Assistant Managing Member, Robinson & McElwee, 1998-2010
  • Former Chair, Litigation Department, Robinson & McElwee
  • Member, Robinson & McElwee, 1983-present
  • Partner, Love, Wise, Robinson & Woodroe, 1976-1983
  • Associate, James, Wise, Robinson & Magnuson, 1974-1975

Mr. Beeson primarily practices civil litigation in federal and state courts at the trial and appellate level, with an emphasis on toxic exposure cases, often involving mass torts and class actions.

Mr. Beeson, a founding member of Robinson & McElwee, has more than 40 years of experience as an attorney, including more than 30 years defending clients in asbestos cases. Mr. Beeson has also handled civil litigation cases involving mercury, lead, formaldehyde, silica, acrylamide, perchlorethylene and other toxic substances.

In addition to toxic tort experience, Mr. Beeson is knowledgeable and experienced in “deliberate intent” cases. Mr. Beeson also has extensive experience with regard to major class-action litigation.

Additionally, Mr. Beeson handles litigation in commercial, contract, personal injury, product liability and eminent domain cases.

Mr. Beeson typically represents corporations, including national corporate clients, as well as regional and local corporate clients. He has represented clients in many industries, including the chemical industry and coal industry; manufacturers of plastics and synthetic fibers and manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos-containing products.

Mr. Beeson is a member of the 2022 class of the West Virginia Bar Foundation Fellows.

  • Civil litigation of asbestos and other toxic exposure cases, including mercury, lead, formaldehyde, silica and acrylamide cases.
  • More than thirty years of experience litigating asbestos cases representing in excess of 25 different clients, including premises liability clients, manufacturers and suppliers of numerous products and installers of asbestos-containing products.
  • Extensive experience in the litigation of “deliberate intent” cases brought by employees against employers in an effort to avoid the employer’s workers’ compensation immunity, a type of personal injury action unique to West Virginia jurisprudence.
  • Successful representation of a chemical company in a major class action in federal court in West Virginia.
  • Experience in commercial and business-related litigation.
  • Litigation of asbestos, commercial, contract, eminent domain, personal injury, product liability, and employer-employee cases, including deliberate intent litigation.
  • Provides general counseling to various clients.
  • Former Chair of Robinson & McElwee Litigation Department.
  • Founding member of Robinson & McElwee.
  • “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants in Charleston, W.V. by Best Lawyers, 2014
  • “Lawyer of the Year” for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants in Charleston, W.V. by Best Lawyers, 2013
  • Best Lawyers in America, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2008 – Present
  • Defense Lawyer of the Year, Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia, 2015
  • AV 5/5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell.
  • Author,  Mitchell and its Progeny: An Analysis of Recent Developments in the Payment of Temporary Total Disability Benefits in Workmen’s Compensation Cases, 93 W.Va. L. Rev. 1, 1980
  • Author, The Expanding Role of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in the Review of Workmen’s Compensation Appeals, 81 W.Va. L. Rev. 1, 1978
  • Presenter at seminars covering various aspects of “deliberate intent” litigation in West Virginia that included written publication
  • Board of Directors Member, Executive Committee Member and Former Chair, Fund for the Arts of the Kanawha Valley
  • Former Chair, Board of Directors Member, West Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities
  • Former Chair, West Virginia University College of Law Development Council
  • Former Board Chair and Trustee, West Virginia Wesleyan College
  • Former Board Chair and Trustee, United Disciples of Christ Church
  • Former Chairman of the Board of Directors and current Board Member, Faith in Action of the Greater Kanawha Valley