In his 40 years of practicing law, Whayne Priest certainly learned plenty about the practice of law. He was a member of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers, which includes a small percentage of attorneys in the U.S. But he also knew something more universal: human behavior. He always believed that if the members of a jury looked you in the eye when they returned to the courtroom, it was good news. These days, waiting for a jury verdict is becoming a rare occasion. Mediation and settlements often keep the cost of a case lower for the client, as trials are expensive.
The way attorneys practice law has changed, too, with more working via e-mail and cell phone to keep in touch with the office and sometimes to use that extra time they’ve gained to spend time with family. For Whayne, spending time in the office meant time with his two sons, both of whom practice law at ELPO. Whayne was always so proud to have them working with him every day.
At ELPO, Whayne was often the law firm’s sounding board. Other attorneys would go to Whayne for his considerable experience, and also for new ideas on how to tackle tough legal problems. He asked questions, examined a case from both the defense and plaintiff sides, and used his extensive knowledge of case law to prompt attorneys to think through a legal problem in different ways. His fellow attorneys would rely on his recommendations and thoughts, and new lawyers learned much by talking through issues with Whayne.
Most of Whayne’s time was spent in the area of business law. Since its inception, he worked with the Inter-modal Transportation Authority, the organization that oversees the management of the Kentucky Transpark, a 1,200-acre high-tech business park located in Bowling Green. He assisted the Transpark officials with several property acquisitions and rezoning petitions. He enjoyed helping build the organization from the ground up.
Whayne started his law career in the U.S. Air Force. After his military career ended, Whayne was the City Solicitor for Bowling Green for eight years. His extensive experience in zoning and county and city ordinances brought ELPO cases in municipal law and he represented clients in matters involving municipalities and counties. He advised local government bodies and their administrative agencies both privately and during public meetings. He also drafted proposed legislation for local governments.
Whayne handled business litigation involving a wide variety of issues, including breach of contract and other commercial disputes. He also advised corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies on choice of entity, formation and operational issues as well as preparation of agreements among shareholders or other owners.
In his of counsel status, Whayne worked with clients and actively practiced law, but it also allowed him to spend more time with his family. On March 14, 2025 Whayne passed away surrounded by his family. ELPO Law has lost a great friend and colleague. He will be greatly missed by everyone at the firm and leaves a lasting impact on the Bowling Green community.
