Monday, January 9th, 2023
Harrison Richards practices in the firm’s commercial litigation group with a primary focus on employment litigation defense. Harrison regularly represents employers across a wide range of industries in both state and federal courts, defending against claims involving discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour violations, and other employment-related disputes. He also represents employers in administrative proceedings before agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), and the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), and routinely participates in mediations to resolve disputes efficiently and effectively.
In addition to his litigation work, Harrison provides day-to-day counsel to employers on a broad spectrum of workplace issues. He regularly advises clients on compliance with federal and state employment laws, drafts and negotiates employment agreements, develops workplace policies and handbooks tailored to each organization’s operational needs, offers practical solutions to complex personnel issues, and helps clients proactively manage and mitigate risk.
Harrison is a native of Roanoke, Virginia and is admitted to practice in both Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Monday, January 2nd, 2023
Jeffrey Southard is a member of the firm’s Construction practice group. Jeff also brings over 20 years of experience in the transportation and construction industries with great knowledge into the general business, advocacy, and government regulatory affairs sectors. Prior to joining Gentry Locke, Jeff spent 15 years with the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance and served as the Executive Vice President. He also spent five years with the Virginia Department of Transportation as Assistant Commissioner.
Jeff is a graduate of the University of Richmond School of Law and earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Virginia.
Wednesday, December 7th, 2022
Jared Tuck is a member of the firm’s Plaintiff’s group where he represents clients in personal injury and wrongful death matters, focusing primarily on tractor-trailer crashes, motor vehicle crashes, and boat crashes. Jared also represents injured clients in cases involving defective products, sexual assault, excessive force, premises liability, and medical malpractice. Jared litigates in both state and federal courts, and he has handled virtually every stage of trial litigation—intake, investigation, filing, written discovery, expert designations, depositions, motions briefing, motions hearings, jury instructions, jury selection, opening statement, direct examination, cross examination, and closing argument.
Jared is a native of Southwest Virginia who passionately advocates for victims of his community. Jared has helped injured plaintiffs recover over $44,000,000 in settlements, and he obtained two seven figure jury verdicts in his first three years of practice. Prior to joining the firm as an attorney, Jared spent two summers working as a Summer Associate with Gentry Locke. He also worked as a Summer Associate at a law firm in Norfolk, Virginia, as well as a Legal Intern at the Wythe County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Jared earned his J.D. summa cum laude from William & Mary Law School, where he belonged to the Order of the Coif, the William & Mary Law Review, the William & Mary National Trial Team, and was voted by his classmates as “the person you wouldn’t want to go up against in court.”
Wednesday, December 7th, 2022
Aidan Williams is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation group. Prior to joining Gentry Locke full-time, Aidan worked as a summer associate at Gentry Locke before graduating from Wake Forest University School of Law. He also worked in the Virginia Tech Office of Government Relations and in the Office of Congressman H. Morgan Griffith in Washington D.C. Aidan is a proud native of Southwest Virginia, having grown up in Giles County.
Monday, September 12th, 2022
Carlos Hopkins is a partner in both Gentry Locke’s White Collar Defense, Investigations & Compliance and Government & Regulatory Affairs practice groups. Carlos is also a Partner for Gentry Locke Consulting. Carlos previously served as Virginia’s Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs where he was the state’s top official for coordinating resources to support Virginia’s veteran community. Carlos was also appointed by former Governor Terence R. McAuliffe in 2014 to serve on the Governor’s Cabinet as Counsel to the Governor. At Gentry Locke, Carlos combines his criminal and civil litigation experience and Virginia-government experience to help clients navigate their most significant litigation, regulatory, and government-facing challenges.
Friday, August 26th, 2022
Lindsey Rhoten is a member of the firm’s General Commercial practice group where she advises clients on complex environmental, corporate, and renewable energy matters, with a focus on practical, business-driven solutions. She works with companies, developers, lenders, and investors across a range of industries, guiding environmental compliance, structuring and financing renewable energy projects, and facilitating mergers and acquisitions. Lindsey regularly helps clients navigate regulatory frameworks, assess and manage risk, and complete transactions that advance both operational and strategic goals.
Lindsey received her Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond School of Law and her Master of Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School. Lindsey was named to Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” list for Environmental Law and Land & Zoning Law in 2026.
Friday, July 8th, 2022
John Scheib is a partner in Gentry Locke’s General Commercial Practice Group. He is the former Chief Legal Officer and a former senior executive of Norfolk Southern Corporation, and has extensive deal-making, legislative, regulatory, and business experience. The majority of John’s career has been spent working in the legal aspects of the transportation and railroad industries. He has experience in strategic communications and strategic planning as well as in managing internal teams across a variety of practice areas. He is adept at managing administrative tasks as well as identifying and implementing process improvements.
John has served on the advisory board of several companies and previously served on the board of directors for Conrail. He served as President of two captive insurance companies. John also served on the board of directors for the United States Chamber of Commerce from 2018 to 2020 and is an active member of the Virginia Bar Association’s Transportation section. He currently serves on the Virginia Bar Association Board of Governors, on the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority, and as President and Chair of the Board of Scouting America Tidewater Council.
Wednesday, May 18th, 2022
Noah Sullivan has a diverse litigation practice, focused on high-stakes commercial, government, and regulatory disputes. Noah has deep litigation experience in federal and state courts across the nation. Prior to joining Gentry Locke, Noah cut his teeth for over nine years at the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. He also previously served as Deputy Counsel and then Counsel to Governor Terry McAuliffe of Virginia overseeing Executive Branch review of all agency regulations. At Gentry Locke, Noah combines these experiences to help clients navigate their most significant litigation, regulatory, and government-facing challenges in Virginia.
Wednesday, January 12th, 2022
Abigail serves as Gentry Locke’s Government Affairs Manager where she combines her love for public policy, data analysis, and writing to help support and deliver thoughtful legislative and communications strategies for clients. Before coming to Gentry Locke in 2019, Abigail served under Virginia Senator Frank Ruff where she aided the Senator and staff during the legislative session and assisted in coordinating his re-election campaign. Abigail currently serves as a mayoral appointee to the City of Richmond’s Sustainability & Resilience Commission and is a member of the Virginia Public Access Project’s Partners Board. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the College of William & Mary where she studied Government and Arabic and recently completed the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Institute Emerging Leaders Program.
Friday, December 10th, 2021
Zach LeMaster is a Government Affairs Director with Gentry Locke Consulting. In this capacity. he provides strategic advice to clients regarding the political and legislative realties of the Commonwealth.
Before joining Gentry Locke, he served as Legislative Aide and Chief of Staff to Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment, Jr. During his eight years with the Senator’s office, he oversaw all office operations, including policy development, staff recruitment, and constituent services. Additionally, he led the Senator’s Political Action Committees, raising over $4 million during this time and ensuring compliance with Virginia’s campaign finance laws.
Zach assisted in the passage of the Senator’s priority legislation, including raising the tobacco use age to 21, decriminalizing marijuana, and creating an iLottery system for the Commonwealth. The most expansive legislative effort he was involved in was the institution of a regional sales tax to promote tourism in the Historic Triangle, which required coordination between regional trade associations, local governments, and the business community.
In the 2020 Special Session of the Virginia General Assembly, Zach helped developed and guide the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus legislative agenda on criminal justice reform and public safety. He assisted in the vetting process of nominations to inaugural Virgina’s Redistricting Commision.
During his time at Gentry Locke Consulting, he has led on emerging issues in blockchain, fintech, and renewable energy. He has worked against legislation which increases the burden on housing providers and presented to the Virginia Housing commission on the negative impact of rent control policies. Lastly, Zach has worked to protect the Commonwealth’s historic resources, securing over $9 million in state grant funding for historic preservation programs.
Zach earned his Public Policy and Administration undergraduate degree from James Madison University (B.S., 2012); he has been with Gentry Locke since November 2021.
