Rodney L. Bean | Member

PHONE (304) 598-8140

EMAIL rodney.bean@steptoe-johnson.com

LICENSURE WV

EDUCATION J.D. West Virginia University

For 25 years, Rodney Bean has provided practical, no-nonsense advice to help employers develop labor and human resources strategies that comply with the law and make good sense. 

“The reason I went to law school was so that I could do this work,” Rodney says. “My Dad was a railroad carman and the smartest guy I ever met, and I learned a ton about the basics of good labor relations from him. I try hard to apply those lessons every day.”   

Those early lessons provide the foundation of Rodney’s approach to the labor and employment issues he handles in his practice.  “The companies I work with know better than to take a scorched earth approach to their labor and employment problems,” he says. “They might be arbitrating against an employee today, but tomorrow, they’ll be back on the same team working side-by-side. We know how and when to be strategically aggressive without blowing up critical relationships.” 

Rodney spends much of his time counseling and training employers on most aspects of federal and state employment law. He embraces the more complex areas of employment law that many practitioners shun, such as wage and hour law and ERISA litigation.

He also has significant litigation and arbitration experience, having represented employers in countless cases before state and federal trial courts and administrative agencies, tried more than 50 labor arbitrations, and argued more than 30 cases before state and federal appellate courts.

“Much of my work comes from employers whose industries are highly regulated, like natural gas or health care,” Rodney says. “For several years, I’ve sat on the board of a large regional health care system, so I’m not only aware of the pressures borne by employers in heavily regulated industries, but I’ve also felt them myself.” 

But Rodney says one of the greatest things about being a labor and employment lawyer is that he can help almost any employer, no matter what kind of work they do.  “If you have employees, we can help you,” he says. “That means there’s always something new to learn, and that keeps me going every day.” 

Every legal matter is different.  The outcome of each legal case depends upon many factors, including the facts of the case, and no attorney can guarantee a positive result in any particular case.  Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Rodney L. Bean, Memberwww.steptoe-johnson.com

When he is outside the office and on leave from his annual war against the dandelions in his lawn, Rodney hones his skills as a small-time indie music producer and live sound engineer.  Inspired by his two daughters, both of whom study voice performance, he also is taking a class about the history of opera, an interest he developed over the last couple years which he says is now “on the verge of requiring treatment.”  

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCETried to decision more than 50 labor arbitration cases, including dozens of discharge and discipline cases, contract interpretation issues, work jurisdiction claims, and most other common grievances arising under collective bargaining agreements

Defended more than 30 cases before state and federal appellate courts involving a variety of labor and employment and other civil issues including allegations of wrongful discharge, employment discrimination, ERISA violation, wage and hour violation, and many others

Provide day-to-day labor and employment counseling and advice to public and private employers throughout the region

Serve as primary outside labor and employment counsel to a major natural gas utility

Defended a wage and hour case resulting in a landmark West Virginia Supreme Court decision for employer in prevailing wage case

Litigated dozens of charges before the EEOC and the West Virginia Human Rights Commission

Handled numerous unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board

WORK EXPERIENCESteptoe & Johnson PLLC1994

Law Clerk, The Honorable Charles H. Haden II, U.S. District Court1993-1994

Assistant Attorney General, State of West Virginia1992-1993

MEMBERSHIPS AND AWARDSPROFESSIONAL

Rated AV for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability (highest rating available) by Martindale-HubbellChambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (yearly since 2007)Best Lawyers® 2021 Morgantown, WV Employment Law - Management, Lawyer of the YearBest Lawyers® 2020 Morgantown, WV Labor Law - Management, Lawyer of the YearBest Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year for Employment Law – Management, Morgantown, West VirginiaBest Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year for Appellate Practice, Morgantown, West VirginiaThe Best Lawyers in America®West Virginia Super Lawyers (yearly since 2007)“Service Above Self” Award – Morgantown Rotary Club, 2003 & 2004

Every legal matter is different.  The outcome of each legal case depends upon many factors, including the facts of the case, and no attorney can guarantee a positive result in any particular case.  Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Rodney L. Bean, Memberwww.steptoe-johnson.com