October’s Chamber Member of the Month: Law Offices of Vanover, Hall, Bartley, & Ward, PSC

You’ve probably heard of the personal injury attorneys Vanover, Hall, Bartley, & Ward on the radio, bringing you the latest traffic and accident updates, which is a very clever marketing strategy given the type of law they practice. However, they do so much more. Not only does the law firm help with personal injury and car accidents, but they also tackle workers comp cases, social security, medical malpractice, and nursing home abuse. Basically, if you’ve been wronged, Vanover, Hall, Bartley & Ward can make it right!

Walking into the law firm that’s located on Hambley Blvd right next to Tudor’s Biscuit World, I was expecting a busy office with uptight people rushing around in suits and stuffy business attire, so I was surprised to find how laid back and relaxed everyone was at the office. Alex Ward, one of the partners, was wearing sneakers and shorts; Tina Tackett, the Office Manager and her ladies were in jeans and t-shirts. I immediately felt at ease.

When Alex and I sat down to talk, he gave me an overview of who the partners are and what they all do. He laid out some basic facts about each one of the partners, like how Jim Vanover is a founding partner, Keith Bartley mainly works out of the Prestonsburg office, Adam Hall serves as Assistant County Attorney, and Alex worked for a large defense firm for 15 years before joining the firm. All of them have known each other for years, some since high school, and have been in eastern Kentucky their whole lives. 

Their roots in this region and each other run deep, and that’s how the firm has been so successful. Every case at the firm is handled personally by one of the partners, which is something that sets them apart from larger law firms. Their main priority is representing local folks when they need help, because they’re local folks, too. Their clients are their friends and neighbors, so in knowing the people they’re helping, they’re invested in getting them the justice they deserve, not because of dollar signs, but because these are people they care about.

At Vanover, Hall, Bartley, & Ward, they aren’t just law partners, they’re more like a big family, which explains the relaxed office atmosphere. Alex said, “We offer professional results with a family environment.” The thing that stands out as proof that they’re like a family is how long they have all known and worked with each other. Office manager Tina Tackett has worked with Jim Vanover and the partners for 21 years, and she’s not looking to retire anytime soon. 5 years ago, they brought on Tina’s sister-in-law Nolita. All four partners have practiced together for at least 6 years, some for way longer than that.  They’ve had time to develop strong relationships with each other and their clients.

When I visited the office, Tina, Nolita, and Krystal were sweet as honey and opened up to me about who they are, some of the struggles they’ve encountered, and how all of the partners and everyone at the firm have supported each other over the years. When Tina got sick with cervical cancer, the partners gave her ample time off to get better and focus on her recovery. There’s a picture on Tina’s wall of a peaceful beach scene with the message, “God is greater than your highs and lows.” I could tell that everyone in the office shares a deep and special bond, a bond that could only be made by getting through hard times together.

The office is so family-friendly, in fact, that they have an office dog named Gus! He has a bed in Tina’s office and sometimes clients will visit just to play with him! Alex initially got him for his family, but once he was introduced to the office staff, Tina now claims joint custody.  She told me about how he helped heal her heart after losing a longtime pet and how he helps with the stressors of everyday work.  She quipped, “He’s just a little spoiled but we love him.”

The focus at Vanover, Hall, Bartley & Ward is their desire to help their clients. Alex said, “Sure, we’ve had a lot of wins, but it’s not necessarily about that. The best feeling is when we’re able to help people who have been to 4 or 5 firms who haven’t been able to help.” And it’s not just that they want to help, it’s that they’re really good at it, too. They’re able to help people who have unique cases that even other law firms can’t do. Word of mouth is huge for the law firm, helping them get new referrals not just from past clients, but from other law firms as well.

The folks at this law firm are truly Appalachian in the sense that they believe strongly in helping their neighbor. They know how to take it easy, but they also know when to suit up and turn on the heat. Being Appalachian themselves, they know how to best help their own people, which is a big thing that sets them apart from larger competing law firms that span multiple states. They’re not your typical law firm, and I highly recommend you let Vanover, Hall, Bartley & Ward help you the next time you need representation for personal injury, workers comp, car accidents, and more.

For more information, visit them online at www.vhblaw.com or call 606.437.4003. Stay in the know by following them on social media.

 


Once a month, the Southeast Kentucky Chamber spotlights one Member business as a free promotion.  If your business is interested in being highlighted, please reach out to Katie Belt at 606.432.5504 or katie@sekchamber.com