CHARLESTON, W.VA / AGILITYPR.NEWS / January 13, 2026 / Chip E. Williams, Jared C. Underwood, Kyle S. Ayers, Thad A. Bowyer, and Austin H. Johnson have joined Steptoe & Johnson PLLC’s Charleston, West Virginia office. The group, along with paralegals Sherri Persinger and Lisa Simmons, join the firm’s Litigation department with Williams and Underwood as Of Counsel, and Ayers, Bowyer, and Johnson as Associates.

“We are pleased to welcome this group of trusted litigators to our team,” said Christopher L. Slaughter, CEO of Steptoe & Johnson. “Chip and Jared are well-known for their decades of trial work, which will strengthen the firm’s litigation capabilities, particularly in complex cases. We are pleased to have Kyle, Thad, and Austin join them, and we look forward to the excellent service they will provide to clients.”

Williams has been litigating public entity cases in southern West Virginia for more than two decades. He is well-known and respected in the region, where he has fostered invaluable relationships with local and state government officials. Williams represents governmental entities, including municipalities, in a vast array of civil matters. He earned his law degree from West Virginia University College of Law and his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University.

Underwood has more than 10 years of experience representing individuals, businesses, and public entities in a wide array of litigation matters, with an emphasis on education law, employment law, and civil rights litigation. He earned his law degree from West Virginia University College of Law and his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University.

Ayers has experience in various types of civil litigation, including the defense of litigation against public entities. He assists with the representation of municipalities and governmental entities in cases involving negligence, discrimination, and other civil matters. He earned his law degree from Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law and his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University.

Bowyer defends clients in a variety of civil, criminal, and administrative matters. He assists in cases involving premises and product liability claims, among others. He earned his law degree from West Virginia University College of Law and his bachelor’s degree from Concord University.

Johnson represents clients in a wide range of litigation matters, with an emphasis on education law, employment law, and civil rights litigation. He assists with managing discovery, drafting pretrial motions, handling oral hearings, mediations, and trial preparations for state and federal litigation cases. He earned his law degree from Appalachian School of Law and his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University.