B. Clark Batten, II

The most important part of any law practice, Clark believes, is the client. He limits the number of cases he takes in order to provide each client with one-on-one representation. Throughout the litigation process, Clark provides support and encouragement to each client as they work together to accomplish the client's goals. He utilizes the legal process to create the greatest positive impact he can for each client while hoping his work helps prevent future tragedies from occurring, making Kentucky safer.

Clark devotes his entire practice to personal injury, including medical negligence, motor vehicle collisions, trucking accidents, wrongful death, premises liability, and marina negligence. He represents clients throughout the Commonwealth, with an emphasis on Eastern Kentucky. He has represented the victims of electric shock drowning and their families throughout the United States. Clark is one of only a few attorneys in the Commonwealth of Kentucky who has tried separate cases involving medical negligence, nursing home abuse and neglect, motor vehicle collisions, product liability, dram shop liability, and underinsured motorist coverage.

A native of Pikeville, Kentucky, Clark earned his Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in business administration from Transylvania University in 2001. He graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2005. During his second and third years of law school, he worked nearly full-time as a law clerk for Garmer and O'Brien, PLLC.

After graduation, Clark joined Garmer and O'Brien as an associate before moving to Ashland in 2009 to join Martin and Vincent. He continued to focus his practice on representing injured people, and for the first time, he gained experience defending civil cases. While at Martin & Vincent, he handled bodily injury cases across Eastern Kentucky and tried cases in Pike and Boyd Counties. He became a partner in 2012 but later left Martin and Vincent to again devote 100% of his practice to representing injured parties. Clark moved back to Lexington in 2015, rejoining Steve O'Brien. Together, they formed O'Brien Batten Kirtley & Coomer, PLLC in 2017.

From 2013 to 2019, Clark earned recognition as a Super Lawyers Rising Star—an honor given to just 2.5% of attorneys who are 40 or younger or have practiced 10 years or less. Upon reaching eligibility, he was honored as a Super Lawyer and has earned this recognition each year since 2020.

In 2014, and in every year since, Clark has received the AV Preeminent peer-review rating through Martindale-Hubbell—the highest rating available.* He is also recognized by Martindale-Hubbell as a Gold Client Champion, reflecting a 100% approval rating and perfect five-star rating from prior clients—a testament to his dedication and the trust his clients place in him.

Clark is a national advocate for victims of electric shock drowning—a preventable tragedy that has taken far too many lives. After representing families who lost children to this danger, he helped found the Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association, providing education to the public and boating industries nationwide. He has testified before the Kentucky House of Representatives’ Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee in support of life-saving safety legislation and advises families in other states working to enact similar protections.

Clark is admitted to practice in Kentucky, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association, Fayette County Bar Association and the Kentucky Justice Association. He previously helped teach litigation skills classes at the UK College of Law and served on boards for the Ashland Young Professionals Association, Ashland Main Street, and Ashland in Motion. Since 2011, he has been a board member of the Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association, where he also serves as Treasurer. Clark also designed and manages the organization's website. Additionally, he volunteers in his community as a youth baseball coach.

To discuss your case with Clark, contact our office today.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.