A T T O R N E Y

John McGhee (Johnny) is a member of the law firm Kay Casto & Chaney PLLC in Charleston and focuses his practice of law in the areas of insurance defense, products/premises liability defense, deliberate intent cases, and public utility law.

Graduated cum laude from Hampden-Sydney College in 1986 (B.A., English):  member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa.

Received a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the West Virginia University College of Law in 1989 and is a member of the Order of the Coif.  Co-Editor of the National Coal Issue of the West Virginia Law Review.  He was admitted to practice law in West Virginia in1989 and in Kentucky in 1997.

• Government
  • Municipal Law
  • Utilities Law
• Litigation
  • Insurance Defense
  • PersonaΙ Injury – Defendants
  • Product Liability – Defendants
• Mediation Services
  • Mediation
• Utilities Law

State and Federal Civil Defense, Federal Criminal Defense, White Collar Crime, Non-White Collar Crime, Litigation, Insurance Personal Injury – Defendants, Emergency Services Provider Defense, Product Liability – Defendants, Mediation Services, Public Utility Law.

Achievements include being listed as one of the Best Lawyers in America© for insurance law and West Virginia Super Lawyers in the category of personal injury defense and utility law.  Earned an AV “Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. McGhee’s achievements include being listed as one of the Best Lawyers in America© for insurance law, and in West Virginia Super Lawyers under the category of personal injury defense since 2013 and under the category of utility law since 2022 . He has also earned an AV “Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell. In 2014, Mr. McGhee was presented with the “Nationally Ranked Top Ten Attorney Award” for excellence in the field of criminal law. The award was given by the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys.  In 2022 he was granted membership in the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC).

Past-president of the West Virginia State Bar and a former lawyer representative for the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia for Criminal Justice Act Attorneys.

A member and former board member of the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia and a member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance.

Achievements include being listed as one of the Best Lawyers in America© for insurance law, and in the West Virginia Super Lawyers in the categories of personal injury defense and utility law.  He has also earned an AV “Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell.  In 2022 he was granted membership in the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC).

In the community, serves as immediate past president of the executive board of the Buckskin Council of Scouting America and currently the council contingent committee chair for the 2026 National Scout Jamboree held at the Summit Bechtel Reserve located in Fayette County, W. Va. Previously, has served as a vestry member and senior warden of St. Matthews Episcopal Church, and as chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia.  He serves as a member of the Daywood Foundation.