Attorney Michael Shaheen stands with the Shaheen Law Group’s newest attorney, Diane Senakievich. An open house at the law firm’s new office, located at 150 W. Main St., is set for Feb. 2. T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Shaheen Law Group is inviting its clients and local officeholders to an open house at its newest St. Clairsville location from 4-7 p.m. Feb. 2.

The law firm, which already has two locations — one in St. Clairsville and another in Barnesville — recently moved its offices to 150 W. Main St., St. Clairsville. Attorney Michael Shaheen, owner of the Shaheen Law Group, said the new building, located just down the street from the Belmont County Courthouse, provides additional space for his growing number of clients.

Shaheen acquired the new building in late spring of 2022 and has spent several months renovating it to his standards.

“When I moved to the old place (located at 128 S. Marietta St.) in 2014 because I outgrew my office on Main Street, I never dreamed that after the time and expenses associated with remodeling that building, that I would leave. But the increase in clients, the increase in staff and attorneys required it,” he said.

“When this building became available, it’s much more conducive to a law office. … It’s not only bigger, but it’s all on one floor.”

The new building also provides “meaningful security” to ensure clients’ safety.

“A lot of times we have clients that have fear of what they’re going through with their spouse or there’s a civil protection order. So now we have two entrances and there are cameras above each entrance,” he said.

Shaheen also plans to introduce and welcome the firm’s newest attorney to his staff. Diane Senakievich started working at the practice earlier this month.

“We feel extraordinarily fortunate to have someone of Diane’s caliber join us at this point. As our practice continues to grow significantly, her background and experience with significant and intranet civil litigation will be of great benefit to us as we progress,” he said.

Senakievich is a longtime resident of the city and graduated from St. Clairsville High School in 1996. She received her undergraduate degree from Ohio University in 2000 and a law degree from Ohio Northern University in 2002, completing the task in just two years instead of the usual three. She said she worked in civil law the last 19 years at a firm in Wheeling before returning to her St. Clairsville roots and joining the Shaheen Law Group earlier this month.

“It’s my hometown. My kids go to school here, my parents live here. I live here and I wanted to come back to my hometown,” she said. “I look forward to serving the community that I grew up in.”

Senakievich said she was drawn to the practice because it is family oriented. She said it was the right fit for her, both personally and professionally.

“Our business is driven from family-owned businesses, families that need help with the loss of a loved one. That’s where we want to be, and we try to practice what we preach with the way we treat our people here,” Shaheen added.

The practice now has five full-time attorneys on staff. Shaheen noted that Senakievich joining the firm has allowed the practice to expand its services into West Virginia.