Charleston, W.Va. — Spilman Thomas & Battle (Spilman) announced that partner Clifford F. Kinney, Jr., has been elected a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (ABF), one of the legal profession’s highest honors recognizing attorneys whose careers exemplify exceptional professional achievement, leadership, and service.

Election as an ABF Fellow is reserved for one percent of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction. Fellows are nominated by their peers and elected by the ABF Board in recognition of their outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession and to the welfare of their communities.

“It is an honor to be elected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and to join such a distinguished group of legal professionals,” Kinney said. “I have been fortunate to work alongside exceptional colleagues, clients, and mentors throughout my career, and I share this recognition with them. I look forward to continuing to serve our clients and supporting the profession.”

At Spilman, Kinney serves as Chair of the Chemical, Medical Monitoring, Product Liability, and Toxic Tort practice groups. He also serves as Co-Chair of The Battle Group, Spilman’s high-stakes litigation response team. Throughout his career, he has built a national reputation representing clients in complex litigation involving industrial accidents, toxic torts, chemical exposure, products liability, mass torts, and construction disputes.

A longtime leader within the American Bar Association, Kinney currently serves on the ABA's Books Committee and has held various leadership positions in the ABA’s Products Liability Litigation Committee. His sustained leadership within the nation's largest voluntary association of lawyers reflects his commitment to advancing the legal profession beyond his client work. Kinney is also an active member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, one of the most respected legal organizations in the world.

Kinney earned his undergraduate degree from American University and his law degree from the University of Virginia. He also completed the National Trial Advocacy College at the University of Virginia School of Law and the West Virginia State Bar’s Mediator Training Courses.

About the American Bar Foundation
The ABF is a global honorary society that recognizes attorneys, judges, law faculty, and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession and to the welfare of their communities. ABF Fellows hail from nearly 40 countries and hold a wide variety of influential roles. Notable Fellows include Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr.

About Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC
Spilman Thomas & Battle is a full-service, super-regional law firm serving local, regional, national, and international businesses. Founded in 1864, Spilman has offices in Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, and Wheeling, West Virginia; Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Roanoke, Virginia; and Jacksonville, Florida.