Joseph G. Joe Bunn
Mining Law
Mining Law
Create an account to contact this attorney
Area of EmphasisJoe Bunn is a shareholder in the Corporate and Commercial Group of Babst Calland. Before obtaining his law degree, Mr. Bunn worked for a Fortune 500 company and a middle market company where he served in numerous roles involving strategic planning, capital raises, acquisitions and divestitures. Armed with a deep understanding of the practical needs of business owners, he now assists clients in financial transactions, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Mr. Bunn also counsels clients in other strategic areas such as corporate governance issues and miscellaneous contracts.Over the course of his practice, Mr. Bunn has negotiated and drafted numerous transactions for buyers and sellers ranging in size from approximately $10 million to $325 million. Recently, he assisted a client in selling its industrial software business to a private equity fund specializing in the space. Mr. Bunn also recently assisted a client in acquiring a joint venture interest from its joint venture partner. His practice primarily pertains to the natural resources, rail transportation, banking, and private equity industries.Prior to joining Babst Calland, Mr. Bunn worked for a boutique law firm focused entirely on energy and real estate transactions and another large law firm based in West Virginia.BackgroundMr. Bunn graduated from William & Mary in 2002 with a B.B.A. in Finance. He earned his J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 2010.Memberships and AffiliationsMr. Bunn is admitted to practice in West Virginia and Virginia. He is Chairman of the West Virginia State Bar’s Coal Subcommittee and the West Virginia Consolidated Retirement Board. Mr. Bunn is also a member of the American Bar Association, Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, and the Board of Directors for The Nature Conservancy of West Virginia.Mr. Bunn has been recognized in The Best Lawyers of America® for Mining Law since 2013; Commercial Transactions/UCC Law since 2018; Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law since 2024; and Securitization and Structured Finance Law in the 2026 edition. He was named the Best Lawyers® 2026 Mining Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Charleston, W.Va. Area of EmphasisJoe Bunn is a shareholder in the Corporate and Commercial Group of Babst Calland. Before obtaining his law degree, Mr. Bunn worked for a Fortune 500 company and a middle market company where he served in numerous roles involving strategic planning, capital raises, acquisitions and divestitures. Armed with a deep understanding of the practical needs of business owners, he now assists clients in financial transactions, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Mr. Bunn also counsels clients in other strategic areas such as corporate governance issues and miscellaneous contracts.Over the course of his practice, Mr. Bunn has negotiated and drafted numerous transactions for buyers and sellers ranging in size from approximately $10 million to $325 million. Recently, he assisted a client in selling its industrial software business to a private equity fund specializing in the space. Mr. Bunn also recently assisted a client in acquiring a joint venture interest from its joint venture partner. His practice primarily pertains to the natural resources, rail transportation, banking, and private equity industries.Prior to joining Babst Calland, Mr. Bunn worked for a boutique law firm focused entirely on energy and real estate transactions and another large law firm based in West Virginia.BackgroundMr. Bunn graduated from William & Mary in 2002 with a B.B.A. in Finance. He earned his J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 2010.Memberships and AffiliationsMr. Bunn is admitted to practice in West Virginia and Virginia. He is Chairman of the West Virginia State Bar’s Coal Subcommittee and the West Virginia Consolidated Retirement Board. Mr. Bunn is also a member of the American Bar Association, Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, and the Board of Directors for The Nature Conservancy of West Virginia.Mr. Bunn has been recognized in The Best Lawyers of America® for Mining Law since 2013; Commercial Transactions/UCC Law since 2018; Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law since 2024; and Securitization and Structured Finance Law in the 2026 edition. He was named the Best Lawyers® 2026 Mining Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Charleston, W.Va. Joe Bunn is a shareholder in the Corporate and Commercial Group of Babst Calland. Mr. Bunn also counsels clients in other strategic areas such as corporate governance issues and miscellaneous contracts. Over the course of his practice, Mr. in Finance. He earned his J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 2010. Mr. Bunn is admitted to practice in West Virginia and Virginia. He is Chairman of the West Virginia State Bar’s Coal Subcommittee and the West Virginia Consolidated Retirement Board. Mr. Bunn is also a member of the American Bar Association, Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, and the Board of Directors for The Nature Conservancy of West Virginia. Mr.
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2013
Mark Campbell
I engaged Joseph Bunn to assist with the acquisition of a small, family-owned manufacturing business here in West Virginia. Given his background, including his prior corporate experience and his recognition in areas like banking and finance law, I felt confident in his technical ability to handle the transaction. This confidence was generally well-placed. Mr. Bunn demonstrated a clear understanding of the complexities involved, particularly around the due diligence on the company's assets and navigating the financing with our local bank. The final documents were thorough and professionally prepared. However, the process felt somewhat transactional. At times, there were noticeable delays in receiving responses to emails, which created anxiety during time-sensitive negotiations. While his expertise in commercial law is evident, I sometimes had to follow up more than expected to get updates on the deal's progress. For straightforward, complex legal work, he is certainly capable, but if you value frequent, proactive communication, you may need to set very clear expectations from the outset. He got the job done correctly, but the client experience was just adequate.