Elizabeth "Beth" Amandus Baker is a Member in the Financial Services industry group, focusing primarily on bankruptcy, commercial litigation, and commercial restructuring. She practices out of the Firm’s office in Charleston, West Virginia.
Beth helps clients navigate bankruptcy issues whether as a bankruptcy debtor, a trustee, a creditor, or a third party interested in purchasing assets from a bankruptcy estate. She has also represented creditors’ interests in bankruptcy courts across the country, including West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Utah, and Delaware, and has represented clients in large 363 sales and appeals of bankruptcy court decisions in other jurisdictions. Beth enjoys getting to know her clients and their businesses and seeing how her work can make a tangible difference for them.
Beth is not only the first attorney in her family, but a first-generation college graduate. She graduated summa cum laude from Southern Connecticut State University in 2006 and earned her Juris Doctor from The University of Connecticut School of Law in 2009, where she was Administrative Editor for the Connecticut Journal of International Law. She was named a West Virginia SuperLawyers® Rising Star in 2018 and 2019 and was selected for the Generation Next: 40 Under 40 Class of 2018 published by The State Journal.
Beth assists with annual fundraising efforts for Daymark, Legal Aid of West Virginia, and the Charleston Clay Center and is a proud alumnus of Leadership West Virginia’s 2018 Class. Beth strives each day to put her best foot forward for Jackson Kelly, her family, and her community.
Awards
- Named to Generation Next: 40 Under 40 Class of 2018 by The State Journal
- Named in the 2017-2020 editions of West Virginia Super Lawyers® Rising Stars for Bankruptcy: Business
Notable Legal Experience
- Represent corporate debtors, trustees, and creditors committees in efforts to reorganize or liquidate businesses under Chapter 11 in the Southern District of West Virginia. Lead counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee of Hard Rock Exploration, Inc., achieving over $16MM in proceeds for the benefit of creditors. Drafted plans of liquidation and solicited votes to achieve plan confirmation
- Represent Chapter 7 Trustees in liquidating bankruptcy estates and recovering transfers of estate property for the benefit of creditors in the Southern District of West Virginia
- Represent clients bidding on estate assets
- Represent clients in appeals of bankruptcy court decisions
- Represent clients in contested matters and adversary proceedings regarding assumption and rejection of contracts and leases, adequate assurance payments to utility creditors, motions to lift the automatic stay, surrender and abandonment, cash collateral negotiations, adequate protection issues, non-dischargeability, fraud, equitable subordination, debt recharacterization, and avoidable transfers
- Prevailed in arguing in defense of an arbitration award before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia on behalf of a Chapter 7 Trustee
- Has served as the Firm’s counsel representing the Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority since 2015, a public agency that the Firm has represented since its creation in the 1970s
Work History
- Jackson Kelly PLLC (2009-Present)
- Jackson Kelly PLLC, Summer Associate (2008)
- Lawyers for Children America, Legal Intern (2007)
- West Virginia Legislature, Clerk of Senate Judiciary Committee (2006)
- Connecticut General Assembly, Intern for Senator John A. Kissel (2005)
Practices
- Bankruptcy
- Business Law
- Commercial Restructuring
- Commercial Litigation
Industries
- Financial Services
Education
- The University of Connecticut School of Law (J.D. in Law and Public Policy, 2009)
- Southern Connecticut State University (B.S. in Political Science, 2006)
Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of West Virginia (2013)
- West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals (2009)
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of West Virginia (2009)
Professional Organizations
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- The West Virginia State Bar
- The West Virginia Bar Association
- Women's Energy Network
Speaking Engagements & Publications
- Presented "Commercial Law Update" at WVUCLE on Commercial and Business Law, July 12, 2018
- Speaks on “Avoidance of Lender Liability” and “Bankruptcy Basics” in Commercial Lending Seminars
- “The Coal Mining Industry Restructured,” Joint Meeting of the Central Appalachian Section of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (CME/CAS) and West Virginia Coal Mining Institute (April 2017)
Community
- Leadership West Virginia, Class of 2018
- Legal Aid of West Virginia's "Just One" Fundraising Campaign (2017-2019)
- Co-leader of Jackson Kelly’s fundraising effort, raising over $40,000 both years (highest total among firms)
- Daymark, Inc., Board of Directors (2015-2019), Board Secretary (2017-2018), Vice-Chair (2018-2019)
- Carnaval Steering Committee, Member (2017-2020)
- Education Elevators (2009-2011, 2015)