Attorney Paul O. Clay, Jr. has been serving southern West Virginia since 1976. A native of southern West Virginia, Paul O. Clay Jr. was born in 1951 in Charleston, West Virginia. He graduated from West Virginia University in 1973 with a B.A. in Political Science and minors in both History and English with honors, and was a member of the Honorary Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honorary Society. Additionally, he served in the Student Legislature and was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi social fraternity. Mr. Clay attended Washing and Lee University School of Law, graduating in 1976 with his Jurist Doctor. During law school he was in the Legal Research Association, Western State Legal Aid Association, and served as a legal research assistant for the Virginia Polytech Institute Water Research Project. He also met and married his wife Linda during this time. Since his graduation from law school and subsequent admittance to the State Bar of West Virginia in 1976, Mr. Clay has gained experience in insurance defense, litigation, residential and business real estate transactions, business transfers, as United States Trustee in Bankruptcy, and in major coal transactions (including leases, coal sales agreements, and business transfers). Mr. Clay is admitted to practice in the West Virginia Supreme Court and the Circuit Courts of the State of West Virginia; United States District Court of the Southern Districts of West Virginia; United States District Court of the Northern District of West Virginia; and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has served as a District Committee Chairman for the Character Committee of the State Bar, and Chairman of the Fayette County Public Defender Association. Additionally, Paul is proud husband to Linda Clay, a Fayette County teacher. He is the father of Christopher, Nathan, Katherine, and Rachael. He has remained actively involved in his local church, Doggett Chapel, where he serves as Lay Leader and church pianist.
Personal Injury, Personal Injuries & Property Damage, Corporate & Business, Automobile Accidents, Real Estate Business Law Estate Planning Wills and Powers of Attorney Business Organizations, Real Estate, Alternative Dispute Resolution.
He has represented clients in the purchase and sale of various business entities, including significant transactions in the purchase and sale of coal mining rights, coal mining companies, and mineral rights and interests, as well as medical clinics, whitewater rafting companies and other businesses. Further, Mr. Clay has tried cases in many different areas of personal injury, real estate, and business law, primarily in Nicholas County, Raleigh County, and Fayette County, West Virginia, although in exceptional circumstances he has tried cases in Mercer County, Greenbrier County, Wayne County, Kanawha County, Webster County, Wyoming County, Monroe County, and Summers County.
Mr. Clay continues to perform real estate title examinations and to represent parties in the purchase and sale of real estate, including preparation of deeds, trust deeds, notes and contracts. These real estate transactions have often involved complicated real estate and tax issues, including IRS section 1031 real estate exchanges, owner financing, and bank financing.
From his office located in downtown Fayetteville across the street from the Fayette County courthouse, Paul Clay provides legal advice, assistance and representation for a broad variety of personal and business legal issues, including accident and personal injury litigation and trials, contract law, bankruptcy, real estate and child adoption. Mr. Clay has been trusted by the Fayette, Raleigh and Nicholas County communities for decades.
Medical Malpractice
He has served as lawyer for many clients in medical malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, including car wrecks, truck wrecks, and motorcycle wrecks. In the area of business law, Mr. Clay has provided counsel to various businesses, including corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships, as well as sole proprietorships, in various areas of business as diverse as the coal mining industry and the tourist industries, including whitewater rafting business, and real estate development businesses.