
When you need experienced trial counsel in West Virginia, look to Robert H. “Bo” Sweeney, Jr. at Jenkins Fenstermaker, PLLC. Bo’s practice is based in general civil litigation with a concentration in the defense of mesothelioma and asbestos claims, construction disputes, and deliberate intent suits brought under West Virginia Code §23-4-2.
With nearly three decades in private practice, Bo offers clients substantial experience as an asbestos claims defense attorney. He serves as National Coordinating Counsel for a West Virginia-based asbestos defendant and represents numerous local and national companies in asbestos claims defense. A veteran of the West Virginia Asbestos Litigation since 1991, he has been trial counsel in every asbestos trial group in West Virginia since 2003 and represents manufacturers, premises owners, and employers in the defense of asbestos claims throughout the state of West Virginia.
Bo also represents owners and contractors in construction litigation. He appreciates the complex nature of these cases and enjoys digging deep into documentation to analyze the root cause of the dispute. As a WV civil litigation attorney, Bo has experience in jury trials as well as in arbitration of construction claims and claims against sureties.
Experienced trial counsel like Bo Sweeney can make all the difference in the outcome of a case. Beyond his skill and experience, Bo works closely with his clients, viewing them as valued partners in his ideal attorney-client relationships.
Bo also plies his skill in employment litigation, defending employers in “Mandolidis” or deliberate intent claims. And he has handled matters involving the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), Truth in Lending Act and class action litigation and has tried over 20 cases to verdict.
Outside of his work as experienced trial counsel in West Virginia, Bo is active in the Cabell County community, serving as a board member of the Cabell-Huntington Health Department and the Huntington Urban Renewal Authority. When he’s not working for his clients or to better his community, you might find him playing bass with his band, “My Only Cab Ride,” or putting his woodworking skills to use building a Goat Island Skiff sailboat.
Education:
J.D., The College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law, 1989
B.A., University of Delaware, 1986
Bar Admissions:
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
Professional and Community Activities:
The West Virginia State Bar, Member, 1991 to Present
Cabell County Bar Association, Member
Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia, Member
Contractor’s Association of West Virginia, Member
Cabell-Huntington Health Department, Board Member, 2018 to Present
Huntington Urban Renewal Authority, Board Member, 2018 to Present
Presentations and Publications:
AIA Contracts, Lorman Education Services, 2007 to Present
Recognitions and Awards:
Super Lawyers, 2007 - 2010, 2013 - 2021
The Best Lawyers in America©, Commercial Litigation, 2013 to 2019
The Best Lawyers in America©, Litigation—Construction, 2012 to 2019
The Best Lawyers in America©, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action—Defendants, 2011 to 2019
Lawyer of the Year, Litigation - Construction, 2019