Attorneys

Mary Roberta Brandt
Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel

Since arriving at WVU in November 1998, Ms. Brandt has served in various legal positions including: Associate General Counsel; Interim General Counsel (July 2001 through June 2002); and in her current interim positions of Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel since August 2008. Before joining WVU, she served as Senior Assistant Attorney General for the West Virginia Attorney General’s office located at the West Virginia Higher Education Office in Charleston, WV (1994-98); acted as legal consultant for an 8-A computer consulting firm in Phoenix, AZ (1993); clerked for the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia (1991-92) and also for the Department of Justice/Office of the U.S. Attorney in Wheeling, WV (1990). Prior to attending law school, Ms. Brandt worked for the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen in Washington, DC and at Honeywell Federal Systems Division in Fairfax, VA, where she held such positions as shop steward, programmer, senior system’s analyst, NASA Account Representative and editor/consultant. Ms. Brandt currently teaches Higher Education Law for the Educational Leadership Studies Program at the WVU College of Human Resources and Education.

J.D., West Virginia University College of Law, 1991; B.A. with Honors from George Mason University, 1988 having matriculated from the University of Maryland.

Phone: (304) 293-5841
Email: legalaffairs@mail.wvu.edu

Beverly D. Kerr
Deputy General Counsel

Ms. Kerr joined the General Counsel’s Office in 1993 and is primarily assigned to the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center. She also handles litigation, employment, real estate, and environmental issues. Prior to coming to WVU, Ms. Kerr was in private practice in Morgantown with Jackson & Kelly (1987-1993) and Ball & Dinsmore (1983-1987). Ms. Kerr is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, the Northern and Southern Districts of the United States District Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

J.D., West Virginia University College of Law, 1983; B.A. cum laude, West Virginia University, French and Spanish, 1969; also studied at Ohio State University and Utah State University.

Address:
1000 Health Sciences South
P.O. Box 9030
Morgantown, WV 26506-9030
Phone: (304) 293-7286
Fax: (304) 293-2284
Email: bkerr@hsc.wvu.edu

Shea Richard Browning
Associate General Counsel

Before joining the General Counsel’s Office in 2005, he served with the West Virgina University Office of Trademark Licensing Services from 2002-2005. Prior to that position, he served as a student intern in the WVU Office of Institutional Advancement and the President’s Office from 1999-2002. Mr. Browning’s areas of focus include West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Intellectual Property, Employment and Immigration Law. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for SteppingStones in Monongalia County.

J.D., West Virginia University College of Law, 2002; B.A., Political Science, West Virginia University Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, 1999.

Phone: (304) 293-5841
Email: legalaffairs@mail.wvu.edu

Gary G. Furbee, II
Associate General Counsel

Mr. Furbee began his legal career in 2003 as a private practitioner working with Berryman Law Offices in Morgantown, WV. In 2004, at first on an interim basis and later on a full time basis, Mr. Furbee began working for WVU’s Student Legal Services as the Attorney for Students where he provided legal service to the student community at large. In early 2007, he left WVU to accept the position as West Virginia State Counsel for one of the country’s top title insurance underwriters. In March 2008, Mr. Furbee returned to WVU in the Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel’s Office. He is licensed to practice law in West Virginia and in Pennsylvania; additionally, he is a member of the Monongalia County Bar Association; the Real Estate, Zoning and Land Use Committee of the West Virginia State Bar; the Real Estate Law Division of the West Virginia Bar Association; the National Association of University and College Attorneys; and the Sports Lawyers Association.

J.D., West Virginia University College of Law, 2003; B.A., Political Science, West Virginia University Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, 1999.

Phone: (304) 293-5841
Email: legalaffairs@mail.wvu.edu

Rossi E. Wiles
Associate General Counsel

Before embarking on a legal career, Mr. Wiles served as Vice President of Finance and Accounting for various business entities in the coal mining, farming, timbering and insurance industries for approximately six years. During this period, he achieved his Certified Public Accountant accreditation through the West Virginia Board of Accountancy. Mr. Wiles began his legal career in 2004, as an Associate Counsel with the firm of Steptoe& Johnson, PLLC, located in Morgantown, WV. During this time, he concentrated his practice in taxation, trust and estate administration and planning, real estate, and business formation. Before joining the Office of General Counsel in 2008, Mr. Wiles served WVU for 4 years as Associate Director of Contracting for the Department of Purchasing, Contracts, and Payment Services. Mr. Wiles areas of focus include Contract, Freedom of Information Act, Business and Finance, Construction law, and State and Federal governmental law.

J.D., West Virginia University College of Law, 2004, Order of Coif; B.A. Accounting, University of South Carolina, 1993; Certified Public Accountant, 1996, Becker Exam Award.

Phone (304)293-8473
Email: legalaffairs@mail.wvu.edu

Wendy B. Thomas
Assistant General Counsel

Before joining the Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel’s Office in 2008, Ms. Thomas began her legal career as a clerk for the WV Supreme Court of Appeals, 2002 – 2003. She gained valuable experience in the private sector as an Associate Corporate Counsel for an east coast retail chain from 2003-2004. Since 2004 she has been active in the Morgantown real estate community.

J.D., West Virginia University, College of Law, 2002; selected for membership in the Order of the Barristers. B.S., summa cum laude, West Virginia University, achieving top honors as one of the top eight graduates in her class inducted into the prestigious Order of Augusta.

Phone: (304) 293-5841
Email: legalaffairs@mail.wvu.edu

Amanda H. Williams
Assistant General Counsel

Before joining the Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel’s Office in 2008, Ms. Williams served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Rudolph Murensky, II, of the Eighth Judicial Circuit of West Virginia. Ms. Williams worked in a variety of legal areas during her law school career. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Williams worked for First Community Bank, N.A. as a branch manager and customer service representative.

J.D., West Virginia University College of Law, 2007; M.B.A., West Virginia University College of Business and Economics, 2007; B.A. Concord College, 2001.

Phone: (304) 293-5841
Email: legalaffairs@mail.wvu.edu