Karen Tracy McElhinny

Member

Karen Tracy McElhinny became associated with the firm in 1997, and was elected as a member in January of 2003. Ms. Mcelhinny handles a number of types of cases for the firm, including insurance defense, medical and professional malpractice defense, and state and municipal government liability matters.

Ms. McElhinny attended the University of Virginia, where she pursued a double major in English and Sociology and received her Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction in 1994.  Ms. McElhinny continued her education at the Washington & Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Virginia, where she participated in Moot Court and the Alderson Legal Assistance Clinic.  While at Washington & Lee, Ms. McElhinny was chosen by the faculty to receive the award given for having made the most significant student contribution to the Alderson Legal Clinic and the award given for having made the most significant student contribution to the Moot Court program.  She also served on the Executive Moot Court Board, where she managed the Davis Moot Court Competition.

Ms. McElhinny has volunteered her time at the mentoring program at Glenwood Elementary and the tutoring program at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.  Ms. McElhinny also volunteers with the YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program where she provides pro bono representation to victims of domestic violence.

Ms. McElhinny has made her home in Charleston, West Virginia since 1997.  She is married and has two daughters.

Bar Admissions

• West Virginia, 1993
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of West Virginia, 1997         
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of West Virginia, 1998
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2007

Education

• J.D., Washington and Lee University School of Law
  • Honors: Member, Executive Moot Court Board
• B.A., with distinction, University of Virginia

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Bar Association
• West Virginia Bar Association
• Kanawha County Bar Association
• Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia
• Defense Research Institute

Representative Cases

• Standard Distributing v. City of Charleston, 218 W.Va. 543 625 S.E. 2d 305 (2005)
• Cooper v. City of Charleston, 218 W.Va. 279, 624 S.E. 2d 716 (2005)