Andrew C. Skinner

Andrew Skinner grew up in Charles Town, West Virginia.  He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1988 and then attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, from which he received a bachelors degree in Economics in 1992.  Andrew participated in the ROTC program at William and Mary and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army.  Andrew served on active duty in the Army for four years, serving as a tanker and then a logistician in the 4th Infantry Division.

After coming off of active duty, Andrew started law school at the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, Texas, one of the top law schools in the nation.  Andrew graduated with honors from the University of Texas and moved to Chicago, where he took up practice with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, one of the largest law firms in the country. His primary practice involved product liability lawsuits.

Andrew returned home in September 2003 when he joined his father’s practice at Nichols & Skinner, which has since been renamed Skinner Law Firm.  Andrew focuses on personal injury, consumer protection, real estate and wills. Exceedingly important to Andrew are cases seeking to bring drunk drivers and the irresponsible bars that overserve them to justice. These so-called "dram shop" cases ensure that bars and patrons act responsibly by forcing them to compensate their victims who are injured in drunk driving crashes.  Other types of cases that are crucial to the community and Andrew are those involving fraud by large companies who have the resources and ability to overwhelm individual citizens.

Andrew has continued his military career  by serving both in the National Guard and the Reserves, including two more years on active duty.  He has served in Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Germany and South Korea, along with posts throughout the United States.  Promoted this year to Lieutenant Colonel, Andrew’s job as an Army Reserve Soldier is as an instructor of a graduate level course for Army officers seeking to become battalion commanders and high-level staff members.

Learning how to be a leader has long been part of Andrew’s life.  It started with Andrew being the student government president in high school, continued with ROTC in college, and intensified during his seventeen years of military service.  Wanting to share the leadership skills and lessons he has learned throughout his life, Andrew founded Leadership Jefferson, a program of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. Andrew spends innumerable hours every year, guiding approximately 25 current or future leaders through a ten-month long course.  Leadership Jefferson covers how Jefferson County operates and also various leadership skills.  (http://www.jeffersoncounty.com/leadership/index.html and http://www.leadershipjefferson.blogspot.com)  Creating and running Leadership Jefferson has provided him with numerous insights into the workings and character of this community.

Andrew is married to Kathy Kuhler Skinner, and they have four children, three of whom attend Jefferson County public schools.  Kathy is part owner of Skippers Downtown Dips and Deli, a new downtown business offering farm fresh ice cream from South Mountain Creamery, along with pizza, sandwiches, and salads. Kathy is an active member of the local Parent Teacher Organizations, along with the Arts and Humanities Alliance.  Further, Kathy organizes an annual 5k road race called Race for Recess.  The race goes through downtown Charles Town, and the proceeds go to local schools' physical fitness budgets.

Andrew is admitted to practice law in West Virginia and Illinois and is a member of the American Association of Justice and the West Virginia Association of Justice.  He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce.