News, Events, Seminars & Articles by Gentry Locke Attorneys

Publicly Available vs. Public Domain: When Are Copyrighted Works Free To Use?

Articles January 2026

While many may think of resolutions, family, friends, a Times Square countdown, or new beginnings on New Year’s Day, January 1 also quietly marks a significant annual event for copyright law. Each year, many previously copyrighted works enter the public domain, eliminating their copyright protection and rendering them available for use and reproduction by the public at large. Duke University publishes a list of works entering the public domain, and 2026 will see a number of iconic works and characters from 1930 become free for public use and distribution. For example, some works entering the public domain this year include […]

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Employers Win Round One: Virginia’s Wage Theft Statute Does Not Include Commissions – Will it Last?

Articles January 2026

Businesses with employees who work in Virginia and are paid by commission received an early New Year’s Eve present when a divided Supreme Court of Virginia overturned a 2024 ruling by the Virginia Court of Appeals that had extended the protections of the Virginia Wage Payment Act beyond wages and salaries to commissions and all other forms of compensation.[1] Groundworks Operations LLC v. Campbell, Record No. 241092 (Va. Dec. 30, 2025) Justice McCulloch writing for the majority concluded “the language of the [wage theft] statute and its context do not support an interpretation that extends its protections to commissions.”[2] In […]

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Gentry Locke Promotes Patrice L. Lewis to Partner

News January 2026

RICHMOND, Va. (January 5, 2026) – The Virginia law firm Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that Patrice L. Lewis has been promoted to the partnership, effective January 1, 2026. Serving as Government Affairs Director of Gentry Locke Consulting and partner with Gentry Locke, Lewis plays a key role in helping clients manage complex regulatory and legislative challenges, offering guidance on data privacy and cybersecurity while providing strategic advice on economic development, government relations, and administrative affairs. Her prior experience includes work as a strategic marketing and communications consultant, outreach representative for U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner, and legislative assistant […]

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Gentry Locke Welcomes Associate Makailah D. Lee

News December 2025

Richmond, Va. (December 22, 2025) – The Virginia law firm Gentry Locke is pleased to announce the addition of Makailah D. Lee as an associate in its Commercial Litigation group. Lee joins the firm’s Richmond office, where she will focus her practice on business, employment, and appellate litigation. Prior to joining Gentry Locke, Lee was a litigation associate with a Washington D.C. based firm and prior to that served as a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Lisa M. Lorish of the Court of Appeals of Virginia. “Makailah brings strong experience in litigation and appellate work,” said Gentry Locke Managing Partner […]

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Executive Order Targeting State AI Regulation Shakes Up State Enforcement

Articles December 2025

On December 11, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14365, titled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence.” The order seeks to establish a unified federal approach to regulating artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to prevent what the administration calls a “patchwork” of state laws that could hinder innovation and impose excessive compliance costs. After rescinding the prior administration’s comprehensive 2023 executive order on AI governance, Executive Order 14110 (titled “Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence”), in January, President Trump’s executive order constitutes the current administration’s latest effort to supersede regulation of AI […]

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Planning the Next Chapter: ESOPs, Succession, and Strategic Transitions

Events December 2025

Join us for an insightful discussion on the complex challenges of ESOPs, business succession, and strategic transitions. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of critical topics such as ownership structures, succession planning, risk management, and strategies for maximizing long-term value. Limited seating. Please RSVP below. Date Thursday, February 5th Time 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM panel discussion, followed by a happy hour Location Town Center City Club, 222 Central Park Ave #230, Virginia Beach Moderated by Panelist Panelist Panelist Panelist Partnering with RSVP

Gentry Locke Partner Thomas J. Bondurant, Jr. Named to the Forbes 2025 America’s Best-In-State Lawyers List

News December 2025

ROANOKE, Va. (December 9, 2025) – The Virginia law firm Gentry Locke is proud to announce that Partner Thomas J. Bondurant Jr. has been named to the 2025 Forbes America’s Best-in-State Lawyers list, an inaugural recognition that highlights the nation’s top legal talent. Bondurant is one of only eight lawyers selected in Virginia, the only Virginia lawyer recognized in the area of white collar defense, and one of just twenty attorneys nationwide honored for excellence in white collar defense. Bondurant leads the firm’s White Collar Defense, Investigations & Compliance practice group. He represents corporations and individuals in all phases of […]

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Small Business Administration (SBA) Orders 8(a) Firms to Submit Extensive Financial Records

Articles December 2025

Overview of the 8(a) Program and Background The SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program (the “Program”) supports small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and certain entities (e.g., Alaska Native Corporations, American Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian Organizations). Eligible firms gain access to set-aside federal contracting opportunities, plus tailored counseling, training, and technical support. In recent years, the Program has come under much scrutiny. Beginning in 2023 in response to a challenge in federal court, the SBA ended its practice of providing a “presumption” of social disadvantage to certain identified ethnic groups and has since required all current and […]

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Gentry Locke Adds Five New Associates to the Firm

News December 2025

ROANOKE Va. (December 5, 2025) – The Virginia law firm Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that Kiara P. Anguiano, Emily E. Brooks, Haley J. Cerretani, J. Cole Gayle, and Carter B. Leverette, have joined the firm as Associates. “We are pleased to welcome this exceptional group of young attorneys who have already been a part of the Gentry Locke team as summer associates during their law school tenures,” said Gentry Locke Managing Partner Brett Marston. “They each bring unique experiences and enthusiasm to the firm, and we are excited to see them begin their legal careers at Gentry Locke.” […]

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26 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2025 Virginia Business Legal Elite List

News December 2025

ROANOKE, Va. (December 2, 2025) – The Virginia law firm Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that 26 attorneys have been named to Virginia Business magazine’s 2025 Legal Elite list. The list is determined by peer votes and is divided into 21 legal specialties. The Gentry Locke attorneys recognized in the 2025 Legal Elite list and the areas in which they are recognized include: David R. Berry – Appellate Law Thomas J. Bondurant, Jr. – Criminal Law Karen L. Cohen – Real Estate/Land Use John G. Danyluk – Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Technology Chip (John G.) Dicks – Administrative/Government/Legislative Michael J. Finney – Business […]

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