The Library

On May 22, 2013, HR professionals and in-house counsel throughout Virginia participated in a webinar hosted by the employment law attorneys at Gentry Locke. Darrell Graham, the new Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Director of the Richmond office, was the guest speaker. He provided an excellent overview as to his leadership style and priorities moving forward for the Richmond office. Mr. Graham also answered questions from the audience throughout the webinar. As many in the business community know, persons continue to file record numbers of discrimination, harassment and retaliation charges with the EEOC. The EEOC’s Richmond office has authority over […]

In its annual publication (2012-2013), Ferrum College highlighted the entrepreneurial achievements of Gentry Locke attorney Matt Broughton. In addition to being a senior partner at Gentry Locke, in 2011 Broughton teamed up with Roanoke-based manufacturing company Mario Industries to create Brolero, LLC (www.brolero.com), which is a line of office furnishings, products, and gifts for attorneys and other professionals. Broughton graduated Ferrum College in 1980 and went on to achieve a law degree from the University of Richmond T.C. Williams School of Law. His love of planes and flying grew into his achieving the rating of airline transport pilot. Broughton helped […]

Richard C. Rakes, the “Rakes” referred to in the Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, LLP firm name, was recently chosen by the Roanoke Bar Association to receive the 2013 Frank W. “Bo” Rogers, Jr., Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was established to recognize an outstanding lawyer who embodies the highest tradition of personal and professional excellence in Southwest Virginia and, in doing so, enhances the image and esteem of attorneys in the region. Dick Rakes was recognized for the contributions he has made at the RBA Law Day celebration on May 2, 2013. Gentry Locke attorney William R. Rakes, who is no […]

On April 22, 2013, Gentry Locke Partner Todd Leeson presented a session entitled “Working Smarter with your Employment Lawyer” to HR professionals attending the 2013 Virginia State SHRM Annual Conference at The Homestead Resort.  Todd provided attendees with practical advice and recommendations to ensure that a company’s communications with its employment counsel are efficient and effective.

On April 14, The Roanoke Times published companion articles on the front page of the Sunday Business Ticker section entitled “A harsher workplace” and “When technology makes work harder,” written by Alana Semuels of the Los Angeles Times. On April 21, 2013, The Roanoke Times published an alternate view that was written by Gentry Locke attorney Todd Leeson. Todd serves as the legislative director for the Virginia State SHRM Council. Read the full article here.

The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, LLP is pleased to announce that Managing Partner Monica Taylor Monday has been named to the Class of 2013 “Influential Women of Virginia” by Virginia Lawyers Media, publishers of Virginia Lawyers Weekly and the Virginia Medical Law Report. The awards program, now in its fifth year, recognizes the outstanding efforts of women in the Commonwealth in all fields, including law, business, health care, education and the arts. The honors are given to individuals making notable contributions to their chosen professions, communities, and society at large. The honorees will be celebrated […]

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has released the new Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 (Rev. 03/08/13), which can be found at the article link below. Employers have until May 7, 2013 before they are required to use the new Form I-9. However, we recommend that employers begin training hiring managers to use the new form as soon as possible. Until now, employers were advised that it was still permissible to use the old versions of the Form I-9 (which expired in June 2009 or August 2012). This will no longer be acceptable as of May 7, 2013, when […]

As you may recall, the FMLA was amended in 2008 and 2010 to provide certain protections to military families and airline flight crews.  The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a Final Rule on these amendments that will take effect on March 8, 2013.  As a result of these changes, employers are required to post a new version of the FMLA notice poster.  Covered employers are required to post this new version of the FMLA notice by March 8, 2013.  The poster may be accessed at the following link: https://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/posters/fmlaen.pdf Please contact John Thomas, Todd Leeson or any member of the Gentry […]

Federal prosecutors have dropped numerous felony charges against a Gentry Locke client, the former president of major defense contractor, in exchange for a favorable plea to a misdemeanor paperwork violation. On February 22, 2013, in an article titled “Feds Drop Gun-Buying Case Against Ex-Blackwater Execs”, Law360.com reported that “North Carolina federal prosecutors on Thursday dropped all remaining charges against three former Blackwater Worldwide Inc. executives who they had accused of acquiring firearms to give as gifts to the king of Jordan