A native Huntingtonian, William L. “Bill” Bands returned to practicing law in the Jewell City when he joined with childhood friend Mark F. Underwood at Underwood Law Offices in November 2009. Having begun his legal career in Huntington, Bill then practiced for 16 years with the firm of Bell & Bands in Charleston before joining Underwood Law Offices.

Bill has spent his career representing individuals and businesses in virtually every federal and state court in West Virginia. Concentrating on litigation and trial practice, he has represented both West Virginians and companies in matters involving consumer fraud; motor vehicle warranties and “The Lemon Law;” personal injuries arising from motor vehicle accidents, utility failures, dangerous premises and work sites, dangerous and faulty products, and medical and dental negligence. He has also represented employees who have suffered wrongful termination and discrimination, and has worked extensively in the fields of insurance and contract law, while also having served as a lobbyist in the West Virginia Legislature in matters dealing with insurance legislation and regulation. He has added family law and the defense of criminal matters to his repertoire and actively practices in those areas as well. Additionally, Bill has prepared and argued numerous appeals at the state and federal court levels.

A graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Law, Bill received his Juris Doctorate in 1992. During law school, Bill also served as an extern and assistant law clerk for the Honorable William O. Bertelsman in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky at Covington. He is a graduate of the National Trial Advocacy College at the University of Virginia, and has served as a presenter at seminars for legal professionals and industry representatives in the areas of premises liability, insurance, and motor vehicle consumer warranty and fraud law.

A product of the excellent Cabell County school system and a graduate of Huntington High School, Bill went on to graduate with honors from Marshall University, receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in journalism/public relations, with minors in English, political science and marketing, while earning induction in the Omicron Delta Kappa, Gamma Beta Phi, Sigma Tau Alpha and Pi Sigma Alpha Honorary Societies and serving as a Student Senator. During college, Bill also took time off from his studies to engage in a variety of diverse endeavors, including serving stints as a “skipper” on the world-famous Jungle Cruise attraction at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and as a legislative information intern in the West Virginia Legislature’s Office of Public Information during the 1986 Legislative Session.

Bill serves on the Board of Directors of the American Diabetes Association of West Virginia. He and his wife, the former Debra Kay Larch of Nitro, West Virginia, reside in Charleston with their three “daughters”: a chocolate labrador named Abby; a sheltie-lab mix named Sophie; and a shi-tzu named Ellie. They also awake each morning to the singing of their peace dove, Richard.