Gentry Locke Welcomes Four New Attorneys
The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore is pleased to announce the addition of the following four attorneys:
Les S. Bowers joined the Firm in September of 2012, and will practice with the Firm’s Personal Injury and Products Liability groups. Bowers received his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce in 2005 and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2008. He is licensed to practice law in both Virginia and North Carolina, and has been admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar Association, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Western District of Virginia.
Lauren S. Eells joined Gentry Locke in February of 2012 and will focus primarily on business, estate, and tax legal matters. A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Lauren worked with SunTrust Mortgage, Inc. in Richmond as a contract attorney before joining Gentry Locke. She received her undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in 2007 and her J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law in 2010. Lauren serves on the Board of Directors for the Conflict Resolution Center, and is a member of the Roanoke Bar, The Virginia Bar Association, Public Interest Law Association, and Virginia Women Attorneys Association.
Justin M. Lugar joined the Firm’s Litigation group in March of 2012, focusing primarily on representing individuals and corporations in connection with criminal and government investigations. Prior to joining Gentry Locke, Justin was an associate at WilmerHale in London, UK where he focused on criminal investigations and international arbitration. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia College of Arts and Sciences in 2004, and his J.D. from Liberty University School of Law in 2008. Justin is a member of the LCIA Young International Arbitration Group, ICDR Young & International Association, American Arbitration Association, and the International Center for Dispute Resolution.
John Reed Thomas, Jr. joined Gentry Locke in June of 2012 and will practice within the Firm’s Employment & Labor and Criminal & Government Investigations groups. John earned his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law and later graduated from the U.S. Naval Justice School. He has served as Defense Counsel for the U.S. Marine Corps, litigating more than 200 courts-martial and administrative separation proceedings. As a judge advocate, he litigated a variety of cases both as a defense counsel and prosecutor. As the Battalion Judge Advocate for 3d Battalion, 9th Marines during their deployment to Marjah, Afghanistan, John advised the commander on rules of engagement, operational law, fiscal law, and military justice matters.
