Ben Salango
Member and Owner , Preston & Salango , PLLC
Photo by Will Price .
Success is not materialistic . Having a wonderful wife and two great kids and being able to help people as a lawyer and county commissioner make me feel successful .”
BY KEVIN DUVALL . Ben Salango , owner and member of Preston & Salango , PLLC , has amassed a large collection of legal and civic awards in a short time . Since 2012 , he has been named one of The State Journal ’ s 40 Under 40 , the Kanawha County Democratic Executive Committee ’ s Democrat of the Year and a top 10 personal injury lawyer in West Virginia by the Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys . His firm has been included in U . S . News and World Report ’ s Best Law Firms every year from 2012- 2017 . Despite his past successes , however , Salango ’ s focus is always on the future .
It is his drive to move forward that motivates his work as a lawyer and community leader . After graduating from the West Virginia University ( WVU ) College of Law in 1998 , Salango became an associate at File Payne Scherer & File PLLC in his hometown of Beckley . In August 1999 , Salango moved to Charleston to work in the Medical Malpractice Defense Group of Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso PLLC . Salango credits the level of responsibility he was given there with the advancement of his career .
“ I was not treated like a junior lawyer ,” he says of moving to the firm . “ They trusted me with the work up of cases , including trials and appellate arguments before the West Virginia Supreme Court and the U . S . Court of Appeals . Working for such a prestigious civil defense firm launched me into the next phase of my career .”
In January 2005 , less than seven years after graduating from law school , Salango made partner at Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso . Although he found his job rewarding , he wanted to take the next step in his career and start his own firm .
“ I was very happy working there ,” he says . “ I loved my job , and I truly enjoyed the people I worked with every day . So when I announced I was leaving the firm only a year after being named partner , people thought I had lost my mind . Honestly , there were days I agreed with them . But I knew I could make my own law firm a success even in a very competitive market . I ’ m proud of the risk I took , and I am glad it worked out .”
A large determining factor in Salango ’ s decision to set out on his own in 2006 was his interest in litigation . In his practice , he concentrates on personal injury and employment cases as well as other civil suits . Salango was immediately drawn to litigation during law school because it would allow him to represent victims , help people and enjoy the fast pace of trial work .
“ I knew in law school that I wanted to be a litigator because the subjects that interested me were trial advocacy , civil procedure and evidence ,” he says . “ When I started looking for a job during law school , I only applied to law firms who were hiring an associate for litigation .”
Beyond his legal career , Salango is heavily invested in public service in West Virginia . In early 2017 , he was appointed to the Kanawha County Commission and is one of the youngest county commissioners in recent history . Salango is committed to bringing new economic opportunities to Kanawha County . He has a particular interest in sports tourism , and one of his primary projects is developing a multisport facility to provide local children with opportunities to participate in sports .
Many of Salango ’ s other community service projects center on children . His firm has sponsored or organized events to benefit the Charleston Montessori School , the Kanawha-Charleston Soccer Foundation and Sensitive Santa Portraits , which enables children with autism to have their pictures taken with Santa Claus without long lines , loud music or distracting lights .
Salango ’ s work can be summarized in one statement : “ Giving back is one of the most important things a lawyer can do .”
Being able to give back through his law practice and participate in community service and family life with his wife , Tera , and their two sons makes all aspects of his life rewarding .
“ I have never measured success in terms of dollars and cents or awards ,” says Salango . “ Success is not materialistic . Having a wonderful wife and two great kids and being able to help people as a lawyer and county commissioner make me feel successful .” •
Salango and Amanda Barren at the 2017 Susan G . Komen Race for the Cure in Charleston . Photo by Donna DeHart .
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