and represent a wide variety of issues and people , and promoting diversity and inclusion within the profession will help ensure that our bar is best equipped to represent and understand the needs of all people and clients .”
Despite the ongoing challenge of ensuring that the firm stays ahead of the changes in the practice of law and technology , Fitzsimmons continues to find his work to be intellectually stimulating .
“ I look at cases like complex puzzles where we are challenged to figure out what happened and why ,” he says . “ Also , because each case is different , I get the opportunity to learn about many different things outside the law such as medicine , engineering or physics . These challenges and the variety of my practice , along with the desire to help my clients , is what motivates me to show up every day .”
Clayton is highly driven by both the impact that he makes on his clients ’ lives and the overarching goal for Fitzsimmons Law to be the best plaintiff ’ s firm in the state .
“ I get to help people in their most desperate times , usually after they have suffered a catastrophic injury or the loss of a family member ,” he says . “ Their case is probably the only shot to get the help or relief they need , which is added motivation . With every successful case that I ’ ve handled , I have positively changed my client ’ s life going forward
and provided them with security , answers and help at a time when they most desperately needed it . I still get Christmas cards and notes from clients I represented years ago thanking me .”
While Fitzsimmons credits both of his parents for instilling the essential principles of hard work , sacrifice , grittiness and what it means to be a good person , his father has played the biggest role in making him the lawyer he is today .
“ My dad taught me so much more than just how to practice law ,” he says . “ He taught me the importance and responsibility of what it means to be a lawyer ; the work , sacrifice and preparation needed to succeed ; how to always stay grounded , humble and hungry ; how to treat and respect people ; and how to always make sure my moral compass was pointed in the right direction .”
A family man himself , Fitzsimmons and his wife , Amy , have four children : Bella , Farrah , Poppy and Forrest , who are his greatest success and inspiration .
“ I am so proud of the family we have built ,” he says . “ My ultimate success in life will be judged by their contributions to our community and what type of spouses and parents they become .”
As for his own community contributions , Fitzsimmons is committed to helping improve the place he calls home and does so largely through his family ’ s foundation .
“ Our causes have varied from helping the less fortunate or those battling substance use addiction and founding the Fitzsimmons Litigation and Advocacy Center at WVU Law School to funding the three Fitzsimmons Family dog parks in Wheeling ,” he says . “ We try to find causes where our time and donations will have a lasting and measurable impact .”
Family and community are why Fitzsimmons continues to practice in West Virginia .
“ I choose to live and work in West Virginia because of family ,” he says . “ I have the unique opportunity to work at the law firm started by my dad and practice with my dad , brother and some of my best friends . Our kids also get the rare opportunity to grow up with both sets of grandparents and their aunts , uncles and cousins . The people in Wheeling and West Virginia are some of the most good-hearted people in the country and practicing here allows me to give back to the community where I grew up .”
Fitzsimmons has practiced law how he has approached everything else in his life — by pushing himself to be the best through hard work and perseverance .
“ There may be lawyers who are more talented or smarter , but I am not going to lose a case because someone outworked me ,” he says . •
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