Mr. Pizatella's primary areas of practice are general corporate law, business expansion and economic development, administrative law, energy and public utilities. Mr. Pizatella also practices in the area of government relations.

Education

• West Virginia University, B.A., Political Science, summa cum laude, 2004
• West Virginia University College of Law, J.D., 2007

Experience

• Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, 2017
• President and Chief Executive Officer, Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce, 2016
• Acting Cabinet Secretary, West Virginia Department of Administration, 2014 - 2015
• Acting Cabinet Secretary, West Virginia Department of Revenue, 2013
• Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Legislative Affairs, Office of West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, 2011 - 2013
• Deputy State Tax Commissioner, West Virginia Department of Revenue, 2010
• Counsel, West Virginia State Senate Committee on Finance and Committee on Government Organization, 2009 - 2010
• Participating in M&A legal teams in moving transactions forward to closing
• Assisting with drafting and preparing letters of intent and subsequent binding definitive agreements (e.g. stock purchase and sale agreements or asset purchase and sale agreements) and related exhibits
• Assisting in due diligence in securities offerings
• Drafting private placement memoranda, investor questionnaire and subscription materials
• Advising clients regarding federal and state securities law issues
• Assisting and advising clients in all aspects of the energy and leasing of coal, oil and gas, and timber assets
• Appearing before the Public Service Commission of West Virginia representing clients in cable television, natural gas, landfill, sewer, and acquisition matters
• Monitoring regulatory developments affecting clients and their industries
• Drafting and promoting legislation and administrative rules before various government agencies, including the West Virginia Legislature

Distinctions

• Forty Under 40, The State Journal, 2017
• Adjunct Faculty, West Virginia University College of Law, 2017 - present
• Young Gun, West Virginia Executive Magazine, 2015
• Henry Toll Fellow, National Council of State Governments, 2014
• Leadership West Virginia, 2012

Admissions

• West Virginia State Bar
• United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Memberships

• Member, West Virginia Board of Law Examiners
• Former Member, Consolidated Public Retirement Board (Governor's Representative)
• Former Chair, Public Employees Insurance Agency Finance Board
• Former Member, Enterprise Resource Planning Board (Governor's Representative)
• Former Member, Parkways Authority (Governor's Designee and Chair)
• Former Member, Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council (Governor's Designee and Chair)
• Former Member, Regional Jail and Correctional Facilities Authority
• Former Chair, State Personnel Board
• Former Member, Capitol Building Commission

Publications & Presentations

• Co-Author, "Section 404 Permits, Valley Fills and In-Stream Ponds: What's Next?" Energy & Min. L. Inst. 262, 2008
• Author, "Separation of Powers and the Governor's Office in West Virginia: Advocating a More Deferential Approach to the Chief Executive from the Judiciary," 109 W.Va. L. Rev. 185, 2006
• Associate Editor and Executive Business Editor, West Virginia Law Review

Community Involvement

• Eucharistic Minister, Lector and Usher, Basillica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart