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Biography

Carte Goodwin is the partner-in-charge of the Charleston office and the Vice Chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group. Carte’s practice includes litigation and appellate advocacy, as well as advising clients on government relations, intellectual property matters and commercial transactions. Earning a reputation as a strategic counselor and skilled attorney, Carte has developed and managed a diverse practice and client portfolio, including extensive appellate and litigation experience, as well as advising businesses on matters including intellectual property, government relations, regulatory proceedings and commercial acquisitions.

Following his brief tenure in the Senate, Carte returned to the private sector in 2011, where his practice has remained consistently diverse, including a broad spectrum of clients, issues and fora. As a testament to his reputation among the judiciary, Carte has been hired on two separate occasions by the West Virginia Judicial Association (the association of all West Virginia state court judges) to represent the state judiciary in connection with appellate proceedings implicating the judiciary’s constitutional prerogatives.

Despite moving in and out of government roles, Carte has maintained an active practice that’s consistently diverse, including a broad spectrum of clients, issues and fora. His experience and portfolio here are similarly varied, including counseling clients in connection with regulated transactions, government relations, government procurement and various commercial acquisitions. In today’s complex legal and regulatory environment, such work is often a natural outgrowth of the litigation, regulatory, and transactional needs of his clients. Drawing on his public sector experience, Carte offers insight to clients looking to navigate the administrative, regulatory and legislative processes in West Virginia.

Carte is admitted to practice law in West Virginia only, and he will practice under the supervision of D.C. Bar members.

Carte's Relevant Experience

West Virginia Legislature

From 2005-2009, Carte served as General Counsel to then-Governor Joe Manchin of West Virginia, serving on the executive leadership team as senior advisor to the Governor and providing counsel on legal, legislative and policy matters to the Governor, members of the Governor’s office, and Cabinet Secretaries and directors of administrative departments of state government.

In 2009, he was appointed as Chairman of the West Virginia Independent Commission on Judicial Reform, along with Honorary Co-Chair Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. The Commission was created to study the need for systematic judicial reforms in West Virginia. Following input from national experts, the state judiciary, members of the State Bar and the public at large, Carte coordinated the drafting and approval of the Commission’s final report, which was issued on November 15, 2009. The report made a series of recommendations that ultimately were enacted into West Virginia law, including the codification of the judicial vacancy appointment process and the implementation of public financing for judicial elections.

U.S. Senate

In 2010 Carte was appointed to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the passing of Robert C. Byrd, the longest serving Senator in our nation’s history. Within minutes of being sworn in, Carte cast the 60th vote to overcome a Senate filibuster and pass an extension of federal unemployment benefits for millions of Americans still reeling from the economic downturn. Serving until a special election that fall, Carte co-sponsored coal mine safety legislation and voted to confirm numerous Presidential nominations, including an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, the Commander of U.S. Central Command, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

In March 2022, Carte was reappointed by U.S. Senate Minority Leader, Charles E. Schumer, to serve a sixth consecutive two-year term on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. The Commission monitors, investigates and submits to Congress an annual report on the national security implications of the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.

Other Info About Carte

Work History

Prior Work Experience

United States Senate, Washington, D.C., appointed to U.S. Senate in 2010 representing the State of West Virginia to fill vacancy created by the passing of Senator Robert C. Byrd

Co-chair, Economic Development Committee, Governor-elect Jim Justice Transition Team

Commissioner, United States – China Economic and Security Review Commission, Washington, D.C., 2011 – Present

General Counsel, Honorable Joseph A. Manchin III, Governor, State of West Virginia

Representing clients, including public utilities, telecommunications providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, oil and gas producers, public officials, and higher education institutions, in appeals and civil litigation throughout West Virginia’s state and federal courts. Matters have ranged from products liability, antitrust, and health care regulatory proceedings, to white collar investigations.

Representing clients in mass and class action litigation.

Representing clients in various commercial transactions as well as the formation and organization of business entities.

Representing clients in government affairs.

Representing clients in the preparation and registration of federal trademark applications, license agreements and intellectual property litigation.

Experience

Legal Work Highlights

Successfully defended a state court appeal challenging an electrical utility’s multi-million dollar acquisition of a coal-fired power plant.

Secured a favorable state appellate ruling on the lawfulness of a national urgent health care provider’s organizational structure.

Successfully defended the state’s largest university in lawsuit and appeal brought by company seeking the public disclosure of documents related to faculty’s scholarly research.

Obtained favorable ruling from state appellate court against state licensing board for failing to comply with applicable requirements governing the resolution of professional licensure and disciplinary proceedings.

Education

Law School

The Emory University School of Law, J.D., 1999
Executive Notes & Comments Editor, Emory International Law Review
Order of the Coif

Undergraduate School

Marietta College, B.A., Philosophy, 1996, magna cum laude

Clerkships

Carte served as a clerk for the court(s) and judge(s) below:

Clerk for the Honorable Robert B. King, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 1999-2000

Bar Memberships

Carte is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

West Virginia

Courts

Carte is admitted to practice before the following court(s):

United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia

West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and all lower State courts

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

The Best Lawyers in America®; Appellate Practice, 2021-2025, “Lawyer of the Year,” 2023; Litigation – Intellectual Property 2021-2025

Selected by Emory University School of Law as an “Emory Law 100” honoree in conjunction with the commemoration of the school’s 100th anniversary. (2017)

Selected for inclusion in West Virginia Super Lawyers®, 2015-2017

Selected for inclusion in West Virginia Rising Stars®, 2014

Recipient, Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating

2014 Young Alumni Award, Emory University School of Law

Distinguished Alumni Award, Marietta College, 2012

TIME Magazine, “40 Under 40,” 2010
(Named to TIME Magazine’s list of “rising political stars.”)

West Virginia Executive Magazine, “Young Gun,” 2009
(Named to state business magazine’s list of outstanding young professionals.)

Henry Toll Fellowship Program, 2006
(Selected for participation in national leadership development program for state government officials sponsored by the Council of State Governments.)

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Commissioner, United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission, 2011-present

Chairman, West Virginia Bar Appellate Committee, 2018 – present

Chairman, West Virginia School Building Authority

Chairman, West Virginia Independent Commission for Judicial Reform, chaired along with Honorary Co-chair Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, a commission charged with studying the need for systematic judicial reforms in West Virginia

Distributions Committee, The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, 2014 – present

President, West Virginia Bar Association, 2020-2021

United States Senator, West Virginia, 2010

Chairman, West Virginia Independent Commission for Judicial Reform, 2009

Chairman, Advisory Committee on Judicial Nominations for West Virginia Gov. Joseph A. Manchin III, 2005-2009

Permanent Member, Judicial Conference of the Fourth Circuit

Civic Activities

Civic & Charitable Organizations

The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, Distributions Committee, 2014-present

University of Charleston Board of Trustees, 2012-2104

CFC Goal Club

Major Publications

Carte is an author or contributor to the following publications:

Author, “Live, In Concert and Beyond: A New Standard of Contributory Copyright Infringement.” 13 Emory Int’l L. Rev. 345 (1999)

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