Charles Town, WV

Stephen Skinner

Attorney Stephen Skinner was born and raised in Charles Town, West Virginia. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1986. During high school, he attended Mountaineer Boys State and the West Virginia Governor’s Honors Academy. He attended West Virginia Wesleyan College, graduating with honors in 1990. After working abroad for one year in London, he attended the West Virginia University College of Law, from which he graduated in 1994. Stephen is a former President of the Board of Trustees of the Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University. He was appointed to and served on the West Virginia Commission on the Arts by then Governor Manchin and served as a member of the Shepherd University Foundation Board of Directors. From 2012-2016, Stephen served two terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates, where he held leadership positions. Stephen began his legal career by working in Charles Town with his father, John Skinner, from 1994 until 1999. He then moved to New York City, where he represented aviation disaster and other catastrophically injured victims, including victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks. He traveled extensively with his New York firm before returning to West Virginia in 2004. He has handled personal injury, wrongful death, consumer rights, and products liability suits across the country. He is a member of the American Association for Justice, the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., the West Virginia Association for Justice, the Maryland Association for Justice, Public Justice, and the National Trial Lawyers. In 2014, the West Virginia Association for Justice honored Stephen with the “Stanley E. Preiser Member of the Year Award.” Stephen was recognized by his peers as a West Virginia Super Lawyer for being a top-rated personal injury lawyer in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Stephen has litigated high-profile cases including Jefferson County Commission v. Tennant, a congressional redistricting case ultimately decided by the United States Supreme Court. Most recently, Stephen successfully represented governmental entities in national opioid litigation. The West Virginia Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission honored him with its Living the Dream Award for Human and Civil Rights in 2011. In 2014, WVWC awarded Stephen its Alumni Achievement Award. He was also honored with the Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award for the Arts in 2014. In 2024, Stephen honored to be an Above and Beyond Award receipient from the American Association for Justice.

Andrew Skinner

Andrew C. Skinner grew up in Charles Town, West Virginia. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1988 and then attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, from which he received a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1992. Andrew participated in the ROTC program at William and Mary and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. Andrew was on active duty in the Army for four years, serving as a tanker and then a logistician in the 4th Infantry Division. After coming off of active duty, Andrew studied at the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, one of the top-ranked law schools in the nation. Andrew graduated with honors from the University of Texas and moved to Chicago, where he took up practice with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, one of the largest law firms in the country. His primary practice involved product liability lawsuits. Andrew returned home to West Virginia in 2003 and joined his father’s practice at Nichols & Skinner, which has since been renamed Skinner Accident & Injury Lawyers. Andrew focuses on personal injury law. Exceedingly important to Andrew are cases that seek to protect the public. For instance, Andrew believes that one of the most effective approaches to stopping drunk driving and protecting our community members is to bring lawsuits against drunk drivers and the bars that over serve them. These so-called “dram shop” cases ensure that bars and patrons act responsibly by forcing them to compensate victims who are injured in drunk-driving crashes. Being deeply involved in the community is very important to all the Skinners, including Andrew. He has served on the Board of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, including as president, where he worked to improve the local business community by providing opportunities for businesspeople to network, by providing educational opportunities, and by showing off what wonderful business opportunities exist in the Eastern Panhandle. In the same vein, Andrew is also a former member of the Board of Directors of the Jefferson County Development Authority. Andrew continued his military career after coming off of active duty by serving both in the National Guard and the Reserves, including two more years mobilized on active duty. He has served in Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Germany, and South Korea, along with posts throughout the United States. Andrew served for a total of thirty years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. As an Army Reserve Soldier, one of his favorite jobs was as an instructor of a graduate-level course for Army officers seeking to become battalion commanders and high-level staff members. He enjoyed teaching doctrine, history, and leadership. Learning how to be a leader has long been part of Andrew’s life. It started with Andrew being the student government president in high school, continued with ROTC in college, and intensified during his thirty years of military service. Wanting to share the leadership skills and lessons he has learned throughout his life, Andrew founded Leadership Jefferson, a program of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. Andrew spends innumerable hours every year guiding approximately 20 current or future leaders through a ten-month-long course. Leadership Jefferson covers how Jefferson County operates and helps build leadership skills. Creating and running Leadership Jefferson has provided him with insight into the workings and character of this community. Andrew is married to Kathy Skinner, who was elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 and 2022 to the Jefferson County Board of Education. Kathy is a Board member of Charles Town Now, an organization dedicated to improving economic opportunities and conditions in the historic downtown of Charles Town. Additionally, she is a board member of both the Jefferson County Development Authority as well as the James Rumsey Technical Institute. In addition to his Jefferson County-based leadership roles, Andrew is a member of the American Association for Justice and the West Virginia Association for Justice, for which he serves as a board member.

M. Alexandra Hazel

Attorney M. Alexandra “Alix” Hazel joined Skinner Accident & Injury Lawyers in April 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a passion for personal injury law. With a strong track record of success and extensive trial expertise, Alix is a knowledgeable advocate dedicated to securing justice for victims of harm and injustice. After earning her undergraduate degree at Harvard University, Alix graduated from Elon University School of Law and began her legal career in the Shenandoah Valley as a Prosecuting Attorney in Fauquier County, Virginia. She later served as a Prosecutor in Loudoun County, Virginia, where she handled a wide variety of complex cases, including first-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, complicated DUIs, white-collar crimes, and dangerous dog cases. After moving to West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle with her family, Alix joined the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, further honing her skills in litigation and trial advocacy. At Skinner Accident & Injury Lawyers, Alix contributes her expertise to the firm’s personal injury practice, focusing on delivering exceptional legal representation and achieving the best possible outcomes for clients. Her background as a prosecutor has provided her with invaluable experience in handling high-stakes cases and advocating for justice. In addition to her legal career, Alix is actively involved in her community and has served on the boards of several organizations, including the Fauquier Free Clinic and the American Conservation Film Festival, where she held the position of President for both. An avid runner, she has completed eight marathons, including the Boston Marathon, the New York City Marathon, and the Marine Corps Marathon. Alix resides in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia with her husband and children.

Sam Byrer

Sam Byrer is a trusted advisor and experienced trial lawyer focusing on personal injury, wrongful death, wills and estates, real estate law, and other litigation. He has obtained multiple seven-figure verdicts and settlements for his clients. Mr. Byrer is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in West Virginia, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

Bryan Ogilvie

Attorney Bryan Ogilvie, previously Attorney Bryan Gray, obtained her B.A. in English from Wake Forest University, graduating Cum Laude in 1992, before attending George Mason University School of Law, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1998. A Dean’s Scholar, she was also an instructor for the 1L Legal Research and Writing students. After Law School, Bryan worked for Wiley Rein & Fielding, now Wiley Rein, focusing on defense of insurance companies in cases involving environmental and Y2K matters along with amicus briefs for trade association of insurance companies. After time out to focus on her family, Bryan worked in development and education before joining Skinner Accident & Injury Lawyers. Attorney Bryan Ogilvie manages a large portion of the firm’s pretrial litigation in personal injury and consumer litigation along with appellate writing. Bryan also handles Social Security Disability cases. Outside of the firm, Bryan enjoys spending time with her son and husband in their home in Winchester. She also regularly volunteers at her church as a youth leader and Sunday school teacher and participates in their feeding ministry programs.

S. Andrew Arnold

S. Andrew Arnold is a Partner focusing on Criminal Defense and Divorce. He was admitted to the West Virginia bar in 1992 and is also admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National College of DUI Defense Lawyers.

James T. Kratovil

James T. Kratovil has been practicing law in West Virginia since 1976. He served as an assistant prosecutor and magistrate before founding the firm in Charles Town in 1991. He has extensive experience in criminal defense, bankruptcy, personal injury, business law, and family law, and is admitted to practice in West Virginia and Maryland.