Mt. Hope, WV

Vernon M. Williams

Pro-Bono Activities: American Judicature Society

Joseph E. Wolfe

Adjunct Faculty, Mountain Empire Community College, 1981 and 1983 Vice Chairman, Board of Trustees, Appalachian School of Law Member, Board of Visitors, University of Virginia, 1968-2002

Brad A. Austin

A native of southwest Virginia, Attorney Brad Austin has been practicing Federal Black Lung law with Wolfe Williams & Austin since 2013. In that time, he has handled thousands of cases before the District Director of the Department of Labor, Office of Administrative Law Judges, Benefits Review Board, United States Courts of Appeals for the 4th, 6th, 9th and 10th Circuits, and before the United States Supreme Court. Brad attended undergraduate school at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise where he majored in History and minored in Political Science and English. While there, he earned recognition on the Dean’s List, as a scholar-athlete baseball player, and as an Academic All-American. Brad then attended the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia where he was on the Dean’s List and won the 2013 Opening Statement Competition. As an attorney, he believes his greatest strength lies in his ability to connect with clients while fighting coal companies who would deny them their benefits. He currently resides in Norton with his wife and three children, just a quarter mile from the law firm. In his spare time, Brad enjoys hunting, fishing, sports, and spending time with family. His love of fishing helped inspire the Coal Miners Open Bass Fishing Tournament, an annual tournament WW&R hosts to honor coal miners who share in Brad’s love of the great outdoors. Brad not only grew up in coal country but comes from a family of coal miners, so is deeply motivated by personal experience. He witnessed his grandfather’s passing from complicated coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, or black lung disease, from more than 20 years working as an underground miner. Brad feels honored to use his law degree to help the working folks and struggling mining families get the benefits they desperately need and so richly deserve.