ELPO Law is the largest full-service law firm our region and deeply ingrained in Western Kentucky. Our attorneys serve on non-profits’ boards, volunteer in schools, donate to charitable causes and coach soccer teams. Many are raising their families here. This is our home, and we want to contribute, both by offering sound legal advice to those who are building Kentucky into a better bluegrass and by lending volunteer support to the organizations that make this a great place to live.
If you need to create an estate plan, handle an immigration issue, file a personal injury case or get assistance with a complicated business matter, we can help.
The History of ELPO Law:
In 1973, four attorneys came together to form English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley, LLP, a new law firm in Bowling Green, Ky. Charles E. English, James Lucas and Michael Owsley worked together at another firm, and they asked Whayne C. Priest Jr. to join with them to form ELPO. Charles English, Michael Owsley and Whayne Priest are still with the firm today. Jim Lucas passed away in 2004.
Whayne Priest has a strong background in municipal law as he served as the city solicitor for eight years. He has continued to handle cases that involve local government throughout his career, including his work with the Inter-modal Transportation Authority, the organization that oversees the management of the Kentucky Transpark, a 1,200-acre high-tech business park in Bowling Green. Michael Owsley began working with several school districts throughout Kentucky, and was joined in his education law practice work by Regina Jackson, who came to ELPO in 1993. Other associates also assist in the area of education law, as ELPO now counts among its clients more than 20 school districts. Charles English handles business law cases, estate cases and many of the firm’s appellate cases. Mr. English also served as president of the Kentucky Bar Association, as did his son, Charles E. “Buzz” English, who is also an attorney at ELPO.
The firm added its first associate, Keith Carwell, in 1974. Mr. Carwell is still with the firm. Other attorneys joined over time, expanding the reach of the firm and the types of cases the firm handles.
For the firm’s first 20 years, Michael Owsley served as the managing partner of ELPO, guiding its business practices and growth, including hiring new associates and support staff. Regina Jackson took over this position in 2001, and under her tenure, the firm added a firm administrator, Travis Armstrong, in 2005. Bob Young served as managing partner from 2007 to 2010, and D. Gaines Penn became managing partner in January 2011. Bob Young returned as Managing Partner in January 2016 and continues to serve as Managing Partner today.
English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley, LLP has long contributed to the community in many ways. As a business, the firm contributes significantly to many community and some statewide causes. ELPO also contributes to the local economy as an employer, with 60+ people including attorneys and support staff working for the firm. In 1986, the firm built its current building at 1101 College Street in downtown Bowling Green.
ELPO Law attorneys work with business clients large and small to develop creative solutions to your most difficult legal problems.
When dealing with a real estate transaction, whether it is residential or commercial, the guidance of an experienced attorney can make a significant impact. English Lucas Priest & Owsley has a strong track record of providing counsel to a broad range of clients, including homebuyers, business owners, and commercial real estate state developers. Our Kentucky real estate lawyers leverage years of experience and deep knowledge of the sector to provide clients with counsel that is tailored to their specific legal needs. We closely work with our clients from our initial counsel to the end result, providing swift and effective counsel each step of the way.
Commercial real estate transactions typically have many moving parts. From navigating tax implications to ensuring compliance with zoning law to negotiating contracts, there are a number of key considerations at play. The commercial real estate attorneys at English Lucas Priest & Owsley combine their experience and years of knowledge to provide effective counsel to help clients meet their desired outcome.
Our Kentucky commercial real estate attorneys provide comprehensive counsel. We are experienced with handling matters involving the sale and purchase of commercial property, financing, lease negotiation, and contract enforcement. Additionally, we help clients with real estate taxation, liens, and construction loan agreements, among other matters. The attorneys at English Lucas Priest & Owsley are experienced with representing clients before Kentucky planning and zoning authorities, and we help clients with non-recourse financing, title searches, and multifamily complexes, as well as other commercial transactions.
We work closely with a diverse range of commercial real estate clients, including financial institutions, developers, buyers, sellers, real estate agents, and lenders. We also work with brokers, investors, contractors, and engineers. Experience matters when dealing with commercial real estate, making it all the more important to work with attorneys who know the ins and outs of the sector.
English Lucas Priest and Owsley is home to one of Western Kentucky’s premier immigration law practices. Our experienced Kentucky immigration lawyers have a strong track record helping clients with a wide range of immigration matters. We leverage our deep understanding of immigration law and decades of combined experience to help deliver positive results for our clients.
At English Lucas Priest and Owsley, our experienced immigration lawyers understand the high level of importance of each and every matter they handle. With immigration issues, the stakes can be high, as these matters impact not only the individual or individuals we are helping but their loved ones as well. Over the years, we have worked with a diverse range of clients on a number of immigration-related matters. Our experienced immigration attorneys have provided comprehensive counsel to clients of all sizes, ranging from small medical clinics in rural areas to larger companies that have an international footprint. To date, we have helped individuals of more than twenty different nationalities with their varying immigration issues.
As experienced Kentucky immigration law attorneys, English Lucas Priest and Owsley has a history of providing successful representation to clients in a wide spectrum of matters. We have provided counsel regarding non-immigrant status and visas for intra-company transferees and business visitors. Additionally, we have significant experience helping clients attain employment-based permanent status, which is better known to many as a green card. Our lawyers have worked on the attainment of Mexican visas for United States citizens as well as others in order to enter Mexico, and we have worked to help many individuals attain visas from other countries to allow United States citizens and others to enter those countries on business.
The experienced immigration lawyers of English Lucas Priest and Owsley have helped students change their status, gaining them permission to work. We have also helped with the attainment of visas for family members of those who are already in the United States so that they can work as well. Our immigration law attorneys have worked on petitions and visa applications for B, E, H-1B, H-3, L, Blanket L, TN and other non-immigrant visas. We have also worked on employment-based preference immigrant petitions and labor certifications, as well as Mexican visa applications (FM-3 and FMN).
At English Lucas Priest and Owsley, our experienced Kentucky immigration attorneys are often asked to help with a variety of family immigration matters. We have provided assistance regarding permanent residence status for spouses, children, and closely-related family members of United States citizens, among many other family-related immigration law matters.
Our firm prides itself on its strong track record when it comes to helping clients navigate important immigration law issues. We are one of the only firms in Western Kentucky that is equipped to handle immigration matters, and on most immigration matters, we can provide services on a flat fee basis, rather than hourly. We understand what is at stake with immigration law matters, and our experienced immigration law attorneys strive to deliver clients the results they need.
Business matters ELPO can handle includes:
Our clients’ trademarks, business names, domain names, copyrights, proprietary technology and trade secrets are valuable assets, and the laws protecting those assets are complex. We bring significant experience to advising clients on how to work within the intricate web of intellectual property laws to protect those assets.
We are well-positioned to handle applications for trademark and copyright registration, negotiate license agreements, help clients develop policies to protect trade secrets and provide advice on software licensing and Internet issues. We also advise clients on infringement issues, including how to protect their own intellectual property from infringement and how to avoid infringing the intellectual property of others. When clients receive cease and desist letters, we provide advice on how to respond and on next steps. If disputes arise that cannot be resolved by negotiation, we are experienced in pursuing and defending litigation involving intellectual property issues.
Our firm is committed to protecting what is most important to you, and nothing is more important than family. Whether experiencing the challenges of divorce or the joy of adoption, a qualified and experienced attorney is essential to guide and counsel you through the complexities of your family law case. Through consultation and collaboration, we tailor our representation to the specific needs of each client. Our seasoned litigators are prepared to protect and advocate for your interests in court, but we also recognize that not every case needs to go to trial. Often, mediation can provide an amicable means to resolve ongoing family issues. We know that family law cases can have profound effects on our client’s assets and holdings. With our extensive estate and tax practice, we can advise those who need to know how family law matters might impact their financial plans for the future.
Family Law Practice Areas:
If you are considering filing a lawsuit or have found yourself defending a lawsuit, you will want the ELPO Law litigation team of attorneys on your side. Our litigation attorneys will represent you at every step in the process of filing a lawsuit. Since they know the local laws and all of the procedural tricks, our litigation lawyers will put you in the best position to win your lawsuit.
It is important that you find the right lawyer for your unique situation. Our attorneys have experience in a number of different areas of law where you may need representation. Often times these areas can overlap. Our team of litigators are able to collaborate, sharing their experiences and knowledge, so that you have a full team working for you to get the best result possible.
For those considering filing a lawsuit, our litigation lawyers know which cases have a good chance of being successful, and are familiar with all of the procedures, steps, and necessary paperwork that needs to be done. Some cases are better handled in mediation, but our litigation attorneys will be able to advise on what you should do.
