Christopher S. Etheredge

Area of Emphasis
There isn’t much Chris Etheredge hasn’t done. From treating wounded soldiers and enemy combatants during Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving multiple state legislatures, running a small business, and touring the world as the frontman in a rock band, Mr. Etheredge has endeavored from an early age to explore the world and learn from all it has to offer. Along the way, he developed a one-of-a-kind skillset that bolsters his reputation as an attorney guided by unparalleled experience, candor, and creativity.

As a litigator and appellate counsel, Mr. Etheredge knows how to stay calm in the midst of chaos. He has represented clients in a wide variety of high-stakes litigation and appellate matters involving state and local governments, government officials, complex energy and business litigation, class actions, product and premises liability, medical malpractice, bankruptcies, and criminal defense. Recently, Mr. Etheredge served as counsel to the West Virginia House of Delegates during consecutive legislative sessions, where he drafted and presented legislation to the House Committees on Judiciary, Government Organization, Workforce Development, and Technology and Infrastructure, and regularly counseled House leadership during floor sessions.

Mr. Etheredge is comfortable on his feet in both state and federal trial courts, and he has successfully represented parties on appeal before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. His experience enables him to adapt quickly to new situations and think on his feet. He understands how important nuance is to storytelling, and he brings to the courtroom a unique ability to connect with judges and juries alike.

Selected Cases

  • Eldercare of Jackson County, LLC v. Lambert, No. 22-0362, 2024 WL 2966171 (W. Va. June 12, 2024)
  • Resources Limited, LLC v. New Trinity Coal, Inc., 246 W. Va. 507 (2022)

Background

Mr. Etheredge dropped out of high school in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack and enlisted as a combat medic in the United States Army. After serving two tours in Iraq, he was selected to serve as an instructor/writer at the Army Medical Command’s headquarters in San Antonio, TX, where he taught essential lifesaving skills to entry-level combat medics and leadership skills to senior noncommissioned officers, developed curriculum, and provided management and oversight to the Department’s 315 individual programs of instruction. Mr. Etheredge is a member of both the Sergeant Morales and Sergeant Audie Murphy Clubs, for which he served as chapter president and senior advisor.

During his deployments, Mr. Etheredge developed a passion for education and started taking college courses whenever he could. In 2015, he left the Army and enrolled full time to finish his undergraduate coursework at the University of the Incarnate Word, from which he graduated cum laude. During college, Mr. Etheredge worked full time as a musician, owned and operated a recording studio, and served as a staffer for a member of the Texas House of Representatives. As a musician, he released several albums, played in some of the biggest music festivals in the world, and went on multiple tours, including a two-week stint in Japan.

In 2017, Mr. Etheredge enrolled in the Washington and Lee University School of Law, from which he graduated cum laude in 2020.

Memberships and Affiliations
Mr. Etheredge is admitted to practice law in West Virginia, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Mr. Etheredge is passionate about community service and is active in the Education Elevators program, through which he devotes time on a weekly basis to mentoring underprivileged children. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Fairfax Estates in Charleston, WV and is a member of the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia, for which he has authored numerous articles.

In 2024, Mr. Etheredge won the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia’s Defender Article of the Year Award for his article on regulating lawyers in the dawn of artificial intelligence (AI).

Publications/Presentations

  • Co-Author, “The Revised West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure: A Primer,” DTCWV 2024 Litigation Digest.
  • Author, “Artificial Turns Official: Regulating Lawyers in the Dawn of AI,” DTCWV Defender, Spring 2024.
  • Author, “Social Skills: A Practical Guide to Social Media Evidence,” DTCWV Defender, Spring 2023.