J.DUNCAN PITCHFORD
Practice Areas
Mr. Pitchford concentrates his practice in the areas of business law, health law, and commercial real estate transactions. In addition, he has significant experience in general civil litigation, appellate advocacy, insurance defense, and medical malpractice defense.
Licenses
He was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 2000, and is also admitted to the bars of the Western and Eastern Districts of Kentucky, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Experience
Mr. Pitchford has served as counsel for both borrowers and lenders in numerous real estate transactions, provided counsel to large corporations engaged in the sale or purchase of real estate and business assets and assists several title insurance underwriters as claims and coverage counsel.. He, along with C. Thomas Miller of WRHS, successfully represented the interests of a private government contractor and its employee in Osborn v. Haley, et al., before both the Sixth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Pitchford also provides counsel to both physicians and hospitals on general business issues as well as federal regulatory compliance under the Antikickback Statute and the so-called Stark Laws.
Background
Duncan was born and raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Upon graduation from law school, he relocated to Paducah and served as law clerk to the Hon. Thomas B. Russell, United States District Court Judge for the Western District of Kentucky, for two years. After working for two years for a large regional law firm in Louisville, Mr. Pitchford returned to Paducah in 2004 to join Whitlow, Roberts, Houston & Straub. He became a member of the firm in 2007.
Education
Mr. Pitchford is a graduate of Centre College (BA) in 1997 and The Washington and Lee University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude) in 2000. While at Washington and Lee, he was elected to the Order of the Coif and to Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership fraternity founded at Washington and Lee. He served as a member of the Moot Court Board, and won several awards at various moot court competitions.
Associations and Service
Duncan is a member of the McCracken, Louisville, Kentucky, Federal, and American Bar Associations (Torts and Insurance Practice Section, Title Insurance Litigation Committee), as well as the American Health Lawyers Association. He is actively involved in several community organizations, having served on the Board of Directors for Paducah-McCracken County Habitat for Humanity since June, 2004. He is President-Elect of the Kentucky Defense Counsel, Inc.; and serves on the Board of Directors for the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of the River Discovery Center, and the Board of Directors of the Paducah Uranium Plant Asset Utilization, Inc.