WesBanco, Inc. Appoints Richard Laws as Chief Legal Counsel
Rhea-AI Summary
WesBanco (NASDAQ: WSBC) has appointed Richard Laws as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel, effective August 18, 2025. Laws brings over 25 years of legal experience and will report directly to CEO Jeff Jackson.
Laws previously served as Chief Legal Officer at Northwest Bank, a $16 billion financial institution. The appointment follows WesBanco's successful acquisition of Premier Financial Corp. and comes as the company, with $27.6 billion in total assets, continues to expand its operations. The bank's Trust and Investment Services currently manage $7.2 billion in assets, with securities account values of $2.6 billion.
Positive
- Strategic move to bring legal leadership in-house as company grows
- Appointment follows successful acquisition of Premier Financial Corp.
- Company holds substantial assets of $27.6 billion
- Recent recognition from Forbes and Newsweek as trusted regional bank
Negative
- Transition period may be needed as legal function moves from external to internal counsel
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, WSBC gained 0.19%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
With more than 25 years of legal experience across private and in-house practice, Laws will lead WesBanco's legal function, providing strategic counsel to the executive team and Board of Directors. His responsibilities will include development and execution of the company's legal strategy, execution of day-to-day legal operations and coordination of external counsel to ensure consistent, business-aligned support across the enterprise.
"Bringing legal leadership in-house is a significant strategic evolution for WesBanco, and we are confident Rich is the right leader to build a legal function that will grow with us," said Jackson. "He brings deep banking industry experience, sound judgment and a grounded, collaborative style that fits our culture. As we continue to grow and navigate an increasingly complex landscape, Rich will be an invaluable partner, complementing the trusted guidance we have long received from our external counsel with day-to-day legal insight embedded in our business."
Laws most recently served as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary for Northwest Bank, a
"I'm excited to step into the role of Chief Legal Counsel and continue building on WesBanco's strong legacy of success," said Laws. "WesBanco's commitment to helping people, businesses and communities thrive deeply resonates with me, and I look forward to building a best-in-class legal department that supports that vision. I'm eager to work closely with both internal teams and external counsel to help drive WesBanco's continued success."
In addition to his corporate legal roles, Laws has served as an adjunct professor at Penn State Law, where he developed and led courses on legal ethics and the evolving role of in-house counsel. He holds a law degree from Widener University School of Law and a bachelor's degree from Juniata College. He is based at WesBanco's corporate headquarters in
Laws' appointment follows WesBanco's successful acquisition and conversion of Premier Financial Corp., a strategic transformation that expands the Bank's reach and capabilities. As WesBanco continues to evolve in scale and complexity, the addition of in-house legal leadership reflects the company's commitment to building the infrastructure needed to support long-term success. WesBanco continues to earn national accolades, including Forbes' Most Trusted Companies and Newsweek's America's Best Regional Banks.
About WesBanco, Inc.
With over 150 years as a community-focused, regional financial services partner, WesBanco Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBC) and its subsidiaries build lasting prosperity through relationships and solutions that empower our customers for success in them financial journeys. Customers across our eight-state footprint choose WesBanco for the comprehensive range and personalized delivery of our retail and commercial banking solutions, as well as trust, brokerage, wealth management and insurance services, all designed to advance their financial goals. Through the strength of our teams, we leverage large bank capabilities and local focus to help make every community we serve a better place for people and businesses to thrive. Headquartered in
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SOURCE WesBanco, Inc.
FAQ
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