Our Attorneys
Our firm employs highly qualified attorneys whose education and professional experience demonstrate the ability and willingness to quickly assume responsibility for client matters and to provide the high quality of timely service which our clients have come to expect.
Bill is the senior partner of Herndon, Morton, Herndon & Yaeger where he began practicing in 1975 with founding partners, the late Richard G. Herndon and Judith A. Herndon. He has extensive experience in estate and gift planning, tax matters, trust administration, mergers and acquisitions, investment and financial matters, corporate and commercial transactions and has advised large and small businesses, professionals and other individuals in many areas that impact their business, life and families.
On behalf of his clients, Bill has negotiated and executed purchases and sales of multi-million dollar businesses and has been a longstanding and trusted advisor to large non-profit and for-profit organizations. Medical, legal, accounting and other professionals have sought Bill’s advice in estate planning, forming and growing their practices and dissolution.
Bill provides counsel on corporate and individual tax matters, strategic legal counsel to public and private businesses and advises clients in day-to-day corporate governance and compliance issues. He has experience in a wide range of issues bearing on business succession planning, qualified retirement plans, trusts, estates, taxes, corporate matters and oil and gas leasing.
Professional & Court Admissions
Admitted to practice in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, United States Tax Court and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Education
- 1976 J.D., West Virginia University College of Law
- 1972 B.S., Accounting, Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois
Professional Affiliations
- West Virginia State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Ohio County Bar Association, President 2011-2012
- Estate Planning Council of the Upper Ohio Valley, Co-Founder
Civic & Charitable Affiliations
- The Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley, Inc.
- Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
- Welty Home for the Aged, Inc.
William J. Yaeger Jr.
Rob joined the firm directly upon graduation from law school and became a partner of Herndon, Morton, Herndon & Yaeger in 1995. He practices primarily in the areas of tax matters, estate, gift and retirement planning, trust administration, qualified retirement plans, and tax exempt organizations. Rob represents large and small businesses, charitable organizations, professionals and other individuals.
On behalf of his clients, Rob has successfully resolved complicated tax matters with the Internal Revenue Service, including qualification matters concerning employer-sponsored retirement plans and individual retirement accounts. Rob has drafted various types of individually designed employee retirement plans for employers, including church plans and employer stock ownership plans, and has advised local bank trust departments with respect to their prototype employee retirement plans.
Rob represents individual and corporate fiduciaries in the administration of decedent estates, provides counsel on business and individual tax matters, and has experience in matters ranging from tax and retirement planning, qualified retirement plans, trusts, estates, business entity planning and charitable family foundations.
Professional & Court Admissions
Admitted to practice in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, United States Tax Court and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Education
- 1990 J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law
- 1987 B.A., Political Science, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio
Professional Affiliations
- West Virginia State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Ohio County Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Estate Planning Council of the Upper Ohio Valley, Past-President
- Tri-State Tax Institute, Chairman and Director
Civic & Charitable Affiliations
- West Virginia Northern Community College Foundation
- Faith in Action Caregivers, Inc.
- St. Michael Parish, Wheeling, West Virginia
Robert J. Krall
Holly has spent her entire legal career at Herndon, Morton, Herndon & Yaeger where she became partner in 1999. Her practice is focused on a wide range of corporate and commercial litigation with a focus in banking and financial services, media and communications, employment from the employer’s perspective, and creditors’ rights in bankruptcy matters. Holly represents large and small businesses in the banking, publishing, broadcasting, real estate development, energy and health care fields and in numerous service industries.
On behalf of her clients, Holly has both pursued and defended numerous lawsuits and other claims and has appeared in state and federal courts, and before administrative tribunals, the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and other state and federal agencies. She provides counsel to clients on the day-to-day operation of their businesses including contract negotiations, regulatory compliance, and employment issues.
Professional and Court Admissions
Admitted to practice in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, the Western District of Pennsylvania and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Education
- 1994 J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law
- 1991 B.S., Business Administration, Duquesne University
Professional Affiliations
- West Virginia State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Ohio County Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Member of West Virginia Judicial Hearing Board
- Member of the West Virginia Public Employees Grievance Board
- Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia
- Defense Research Institute
Holly S. Planinsic
Ben joined Herndon, Morton, Herndon & Yaeger immediately upon graduation from law school and became a partner in 2015. Ben specializes in individual, fiduciary, corporate, estate and gift tax planning, as well as estate and trust planning and administration. In addition, Ben has assisted employers with the implementation and ongoing compliance with the Affordable Care Act; the design and management of profit sharing, 401(k) and 403(b) plans (including “church plans”); and choice of entity, formation, operation and dissolution of business entities, and rights of owners in disputes.
Ben frequently advises landowners and royalty owners in the negotiation of oil and gas leases, as well as in negotiations involving the sale of oil and gas interests. Ben has negotiated numerous surface use, well site, roadway and pipeline right-of-way agreements. He assists clients in understanding, verifying and correcting Division Order and Royalty Statements to ensure accurate payment of royalties. Further, Ben provides reviews of Pooling and Unitization Agreements to verify the accuracy of acreage calculations, including resolution of title issues affecting a client’s oil and gas interests and payments.
State Court Admissions
- West Virginia
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
Federal Court Admissions
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
- United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
- United States Tax Court
Education
- 2010 J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law
- 2007 B.S., West Virginia University
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- West Virginia State Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Ohio County Bar Association, Treasurer (2011 – 2012)
Benjamin M. Cox
Chad joined Herndon, Morton, Herndon & Yaeger in May 2014. Prior to joining the firm, he worked in private practice in St. Marys, West Virginia, where he also served as fiduciary commissioner. Chad additionally spent more than two years as an attorney for a Fortune 500 natural gas company, focusing on title issues, land acquisitions, and due diligence projects.
Chad concentrates his practice on oil and gas leasing and title issues, Medicaid planning, estate and trust planning, tax matters, real estate transactions, and business formations and transactions. He represents individuals and businesses with practical, detail-oriented legal counsel tailored to their specific needs.
State Court Admissions
- West Virginia
Federal Court Admissions
- United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
Education
- 2009 – J.D., West Virginia University College of Law
- 2006 – B.A., Bethany College
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- West Virginia State Bar Association
- Ohio County Bar Association
Chad J. Shepherd
Jacquelyn J. Schultz joined the firm upon graduation from law school in May 2016. Jacquelyn handles a variety of legal matters in the areas of employment law and litigation, business formation and contracts, health care, and property.
State Court Admissions
- West Virginia
Federal Court Admissions
- United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
Education
- 2016 J.D., West Virginia University College of Law
- 2008 B.S., Business Administration, West Virginia University
Professional Affiliations
- West Virginia State Bar
- Ohio County Bar Association
Jacquelyn J. Schultz
Julia joined Herndon, Morton, Herndon & Yaeger immediately upon graduation from law school in May 2022. She handles a wide range of legal matters, primarily focusing on estate planning and estate administration, tax-exempt organizations, business formation, and taxation.
Julia works closely with individuals, families, and businesses to provide practical legal guidance tailored to their long-term planning and organizational needs. Her work includes assisting clients with entity formation, compliance matters, and navigating complex estate and tax-related issues.
State Court Admissions
- West Virginia
Federal Court Admissions
- United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
Education
- 2022 – J.D., West Virginia University College of Law
- 2019 – B.A., Sociology, University of Pittsburgh
Professional Affiliations
- West Virginia State Bar Association
- Ohio County Bar Association