James William Heslep - Clarksburg, WV
Attorney at Jenkins Fenstermaker, PLLC
Lawyers in Clarksburg, WV
215 S. 3rd Street Suite 400 Clarksburg, WV 26301
- 1 Super Lawyers®
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22
Years
Experience
Updated: 03/16/2026
Attorney Information
Overview
James "Mac" Heslep has practiced workers' compensation defense in West Virginia since 2004. He has extensive experience representing employers before the Workers' Compensation Office of Judges, the Workers' Compensation Board of Review, and the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Mac's experience includes representation of employers in civil cases involving allegations of deliberately intended injury and workers' compensation discrimination. In addition to his state workers' compensation practice, Mac has also developed a significant federal black lung practice over the past five years.
Mac is widely recognized throughout the workers' compensation community in West Virginia and beyond. He has previously been invited to speak on workers' compensation topics by the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner, the West Virginia Self-Insurers Association, the West Virginia University Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, and the SEAK National Workers' Compensation and Occupational Medicine Conference.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America (Workers' Compensation, Employers), 2013 - 2017
- 40 Under 40, The State Journal Generation Next (2008)
- Leadership Harrison (2007-08)
- Virginia/West Virginia SuperLawyers Rising Star, 2017
Other Sources of Feedback About James William Heslep
Included on the 2019 West Virginia Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2018 West Virginia Super Lawyers list
- 2017 West Virginia Super Lawyers list
Education
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Legal Education
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West Virginia University College of Law,
Morgantown,
West Virginia, 2004
J.D.
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West Virginia University College of Law,
Morgantown,
West Virginia, 2004
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Non Legal Education
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College of William & Mary,
Williamsburg,
Virginia, 2001
B.A.
Honors: With Honors
Major: Economics & History
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College of William & Mary,
Williamsburg,
Virginia, 2001
Past Positions
- The College of William & Mary , Communications Consultant, 2000 - 2001
- Steptoe & Johnson PLLC , Summer Associate, 2002 - 2003
- Steptoe & Johnson PLLC , Workplace Safety Lawyer
- Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, Member, 2011 - 2017
- Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, Associate, 2004 - 2011
Languages
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English
Classes and Seminars
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Basic Workers’ Compensation, 2006 - Present
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Advanced Workers’ Compensation, 2006 - Present
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Managing Employees’ Pre-Existing Conditions, 2009 - Present
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Workers’ Compensation Return to Work Issues, 2010 - Present
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Construction Law for Engineers, Architects, and Contractors, 2007 - Present
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Employment Law (BSN 3319), Fairmont State University, 2007 - 2016
- Business Law I (BSN 3306), Fairmont State University, 2010 - 2016
Pro Bono Activities
- Harrison County CASA, 2012 - 2017
- CRISS-CROSS, Inc., 2006 - 2011
Representative Cases
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Gill v. City of Charleston
- Citation: 783 S.E.2d 857
- Court: W. Va. Sup. Ct.
- Year: 2016
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Swain v. Pioneer Pipe, Inc.
- Citation: 791 S.E.2d 168
- Court: W. Va. Sup. Ct.
- Year: 2016
Published Works
Articles
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Workers’ Compensation Update, West Virginia Employment Law Letter, 2005
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Employer Liability, West Virginia Employment Law Letter, 2006
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Occupational Safety, West Virginia Employment Law Letter, 2009
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Work-Related Injuries, West Virginia Employment Law Letter, 2008
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"Workers' Compensation on the Gridiron", HRHero Line, October, 2015
- "Safely Implementing Safety Incentive Programs", Labor & Industrial Insights Magazine, January/February, 2015
Bar Admissions
- West Virginia, 2004
- U.S. District Court Northern District of West Virginia, 2004
- U.S. District Court Southern District of West Virginia, 2004
Other Affiliations
- Harrison County Bar Association
- Contractors Association of West Virginia (Member, Safety Committee)
- West Virginia State Bar Workers' Compensation Committee, 2016 - 2017 (Member)
- West Virginia State Bar MCLE Commission, 2011 - 2014 (Member)
Fraternities and Sororities
- Omicron Delta Epsilon
Photo
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