Our Team
Mark Polen joined LG Government Solutions LLC in September, 2013 as a Director of Government Relations and Advocacy. In addition to representing firm clients in government relations matters, Mr. Polen offers strategic communications and public relations counsel and helps coordinate the overall activities of the firm.
He has represented clients at all levels of government in West Virginia since 1981, and has a vast array of experience as a lobbyist and communications strategist concerning matters pending before the West Virginia Legislature and numerous regulatory agencies. Throughout his career, Mr. Polen has specialized in managing telecommunications, healthcare, energy and natural resources, insurance, trade association management and other significant business issues. He has served as Executive Director of the West Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association since 1998.
Mr. Polen joined LG Government Solutions LLC after a 20-year career with The Arnold Agency, having served as president of the agency from 1998-2013. He previously served as Vice President of the West Virginia Coal Association for ten years and had also held executive positions with the West Virginia Automobile & Truck Dealers Association and the Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce & Development at the beginning of his career.
He was first appointed to the West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority by Governor Bob Wise in 2002, and subsequently reappointed by Governors Manchin and Tomblin. He served as Vice Chairman of the Authority until 2015. He served on gubernatorial transition teams for Governors Underwood, Wise, Manchin and Justice. Mr. Polen has also successfully managed many statewide political and ballot campaigns throughout his career.
He is a native of Moundsville in Marshall County and graduated Cum Laude with degrees in History and Political Science from West Virginia University before receiving his Masters in Public Administration from WVU.
Matthew R. Bowles is a Member at Lewis Glasser whose practice focuses primarily on commercial law and assisting West Virginia businesses, in a wide range of industries (including health care, energy, technology, and non-profit or tax exempt entities). Matthew works with clients to tackle a variety of different matters including corporate organization and governance, asset acquisitions and divestitures, customer transactions and joint ventures, human resource matters, financing, and real property development, leasing, and management.
Mr. Bowles earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, magna cum laude, from Bowling Green State University, where he minored in English and History, in 2004. He earned his Doctorate of Jurisprudence with High Honors from The University of Tennessee, College of Law in 2007. Mr. Bowles was admitted to practice law in West Virginia and the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia that same year and was admitted to practice in Ohio in 2017.
Mr. Bowles is active in service outside of the office all around West Virginia. Among other commitments, he is a long time member of the Board of Directors and the immediate past President of the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities West Virginia, a Statewide charitable organization serving more than 70,000 individuals in need each year through a variety of outreach programs and services throughout the State; a past President and member of the Board of Directors of The Counseling Connection, a regional non-profit organization providing mental health services in throughout West Virginia regardless of ability to pay; and a member of the Board of Directors of the Sisters of St. Joseph Health and Wellness Foundation which is working to address the health and wellness needs of West Virginia’s children through a variety of grants and projects. In 2018 Matthew received the Benemerenti Medal, awarded by the Pope, for his service to Catholic Charities West Virginia.
Matthew was recognized by The State Journal in 2017 as part of its ‘Generation Next, 40 Under 40.’ In 2018 he was recognized in the 25th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© for his work in Health Care Law.
Mr. Bowles is also a registered lobbyist and works to represent the interests of clients before the West Virginia Legislature and other governmental agencies.
Mr. Bowles lives in Charleston with his wife Jenna and their two daughters.