Tuesday, May 7th, 2019
ROANOKE, Va. (May 3, 2019) – The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that it has been named to the 2019 list of “Virginia’s Largest Law Firms” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly.
With 58 lawyers, Gentry Locke remained 15th on the list. The full list can be found here. 
The largest law firm list is an annual survey based on the number of Virginia-licensed lawyers practicing from an office in Virginia. Law firms were contacted throughout the winter to update their information from the 2018 survey.
About Gentry Locke
With more than 55 lawyers practicing across a range of disciplines, Gentry Locke brings uncommon thinking and deep experience to the legal and business challenges of companies, institutions, organizations and individuals—a commitment the firm has met since 1923. Operating from offices in Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Richmond, Virginia, Gentry Locke serves clients in Virginia and across the United States, as well as worldwide as a member firm of the ALFA International Legal Network. Meet the firm’s dynamic attorneys and learn more about its fierce drive to achieve success for its clients by exploring this website.
Thursday, May 2nd, 2019
ROANOKE, Va. (April 29, 2019) – The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that Partner K. Brett Marston will serve a second three-year term on the Virginia State Bar Council.
“We congratulate Brett on his second term on the Council and commend him for his ongoing leadership of the Virginia State Bar,” said Gentry Locke Managing Partner Monica Taylor Monday.
The Council is an 81-person body consisting of 65 lawyers elected throughout the Commonwealth, as well as nine at-large members appointed by the Supreme Court of Virginia, four conference chairs, and three officers. Lawyers elect their Council representatives by popular vote. Council members may serve two three-year terms, but must be re-elected to serve a second term.
Brett chairs the firm’s Construction Law practice group and has extensive experience in construction contract negotiations and preparation, payment disputes, mechanic’s liens, bond claims, construction defects, delay claims, insurance and OSHA matters. He handles significant construction matters in federal and state courts, arbitration and mediation for general contractors, subcontractors, owners, design professionals and suppliers. In addition, Brett was inducted into the Virginia Law Foundation (VLF) Fellows Class of 2019, and is consistently selected for inclusion in the annual Virginia Super Lawyers list, has consecutively made their Virginia “Top 10” and “Top 100” lists, and has thrice been named “Roanoke Lawyer of the Year” for Construction Law by The Best Lawyers in America. Brett was named to the 2018 class of “Leaders in the Law” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly. He earned his B.A. from the University of Virginia and his J.D., with distinction, from the George Mason University School of Law.
About Gentry Locke
With more than 55 lawyers practicing across a range of disciplines, Gentry Locke brings uncommon thinking and deep experience to the legal and business challenges of companies, institutions, organizations and individuals—a commitment the firm has met since 1923. Operating from offices in Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Richmond, Virginia, Gentry Locke serves clients in Virginia and across the United States, as well as worldwide as a member firm of the ALFA International Legal Network. Meet the firm’s dynamic attorneys and learn more about its fierce drive to achieve success for its clients by exploring this website.
Wednesday, May 1st, 2019
ROANOKE, Va. (April 25, 2019) – The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that the following individuals have been selected to serve on the firm’s Management Committee for 2019:
Gentry Locke’s Management Committee is led by Monica Taylor Monday. The Committee oversees all firm operations and strategies, including decisions involving organizational structure, budget, business development, recruiting and more.
About Gentry Locke
With more than 55 lawyers practicing across a range of disciplines, Gentry Locke brings uncommon thinking and deep experience to the legal and business challenges of companies, institutions, organizations and individuals—a commitment the firm has met since 1923. Operating from offices in Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Richmond, Virginia, Gentry Locke serves clients in Virginia and across the United States, as well as worldwide as a member firm of the ALFA International Legal Network. Meet the firm’s dynamic attorneys and learn more about its fierce drive to achieve success for its clients by exploring this website.
Tuesday, April 30th, 2019
ROANOKE, Va. (May 1, 2019) – The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that The Virginia Bar Association (VBA) Real Estate Section Council has recognized firm Partner Maxwell H. Wiegard for his two-year term as Section Chair. The Council unanimously passed and published a resolution honoring Max in the February issue of the section’s monthly newsletter, VBA Real.
The resolution states that:
… during his Chairmanship, Max has conducted the meetings of the Council of the Real Estate Section with efficiency and purpose, and has nurtured an open forum for Council members to voice their opinions and engage fully in the activities of the section … Max has spearheaded efforts to protect the practice of real estate law in the Commonwealth through advocacy against potentially harmful state legislation … Max has kept watch over new initiatives and legislation that will improve the practice of real estate law in the Commonwealth … Max has forged strong and lasting ties between the Real Estate Section of The Virginia Bar Association and the Real Property Section of the Virginia State Bar by generating support for each group’s activities, encouraging cross-participation by their memberships and fostering cooperation to the benefit of all real estate attorneys in the Commonwealth of Virginia …
Max served as Real Estate Section Secretary-Treasurer in 2013 and 2014, as Vice-chair in 2015 and 2016, and as Chair in 2017 and 2018. The Real Estate Section sponsors continuing legal education programs at VBA Annual and Summer Meetings, and pursues law reform efforts in the real estate field.
In his practice, Max assists clients in connection with environmental, real estate, land use and zoning, mergers, acquisitions, and business and commercial matters. He represents corporate and individual clients in environmental litigation and administrative proceedings, environmental compliance and permitting matters, contaminated site transactions, brownfield redevelopment and adaptive land reuse matters, real estate transactions and litigation, and zoning and land use administrative proceedings. In addition to his VBA service, Max has held leadership roles with the Environmental Section of the Virginia State Bar Board of Governors, including Chair in 2014 and 2015. He also is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, Maryland State Bar, Virginia State Bar, the American Bar Association, Roanoke Bar Association, and serves on the Mill Mountain Theatre Board of Directors.
About Gentry Locke
With more than 55 lawyers practicing across a range of disciplines, Gentry Locke brings uncommon thinking and deep experience to the legal and business challenges of companies, institutions, organizations and individuals—a commitment the firm has met since 1923. Operating from offices in Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Richmond, Va., Gentry Locke serves clients in Virginia and across the U.S., as well as worldwide as a member firm of the ALFA International Legal Network. Meet the firm’s dynamic attorneys and learn more about its fierce drive to achieve success for its clients by exploring this website.
Wednesday, April 10th, 2019
ROANOKE, Va. (April 10, 2019) – The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that 26 of the firm’s attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2019 Virginia Super Lawyers® lists. Attorneys were nominated by their peers and recognized for their outstanding professional achievement in several legal practice areas including appellate law, business/corporate law, business litigation, construction litigation, criminal defense, employment law and litigation, health care, land use and zoning, mergers and acquisitions, personal injury, professional liability, and tax law. 
Seven of the 26 were elected Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Stars—attorneys who are 40 years old or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less. New to Super Lawyers this year from the firm are Christopher M. Kozlowski.
Managing Partner Monica Taylor Monday and partner K. Brett Marston were included on this year’s “Top 100” list. Further, Monica, who has been named to the Virginia Super Lawyers list for 10 consecutive years, was included on the “Top 10” and “Top 50 Women” lists.
Super Lawyers, which distinguishes the top 5 percent of attorneys in each state in more than 70 practice areas, recognizes those who have attained significant peer recognition and professional achievement.
Gentry Locke’s 2019 Virginia Super Lawyers include:
Gentry Locke’s 2019 Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Stars include:
About Gentry Locke
With more than 55 lawyers practicing across a range of disciplines, Gentry Locke brings uncommon thinking and deep experience to the legal and business challenges of companies, institutions, organizations and individuals—a commitment the firm has met since 1923. Operating from offices in Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Richmond, Virginia, Gentry Locke serves clients in Virginia and across the United States, as well as worldwide as a member firm of the ALFA International Legal Network. Meet the firm’s dynamic attorneys and learn more about its fierce drive to achieve success for its clients by exploring this website.
Saturday, April 6th, 2019
March 25, 2019
The law firms of:
- Gentry Locke, P.O. Box 40013, Roanoke, Virginia, 24022; Attn. Matt Broughton, Esq., 540-520-8510; Broughton@gentrylocke.com;
- Healy Hafemann Magee & Thomas, P.O. Box 8877, Roanoke, Virginia, 24014; Attn. John R. Thomas, Esq., 540-759-1660; jt@hhm.law; and
- Brooks Pierce, P.O. Box 26000, Greensboro, N.C., 27420; Attn. D.J. O’Brien, Esq., 336-271-3194; Dobrien@brookspierce.com,
are pleased to announce a settlement in the landmark False Claims Act case of : United States ex rel. Thomas v. Duke University, Case No.: 1:17-cv-276-CCE-JLW, United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. On Monday, March 25, 2019, Mr. Thomas, Duke and the Government presented a settlement agreement among the parties to Judge Catherine Eagles of the Middle District of North Carolina, by which Duke will pay $112,500,000.
Billions of dollars in government-funded science is performed in university laboratories across the United States. From 2005 through March 2013, a Duke employee in the pulmonary division falsified and fabricated the results of experiments to produce reported results that favored the hypotheses being tested. This was discovered by Duke’s administration in the spring of 2013.
As a research analyst in Duke’s pulmonary division, Joseph Thomas witnessed the fall-out and response as Duke’s administration and researchers faced the reality that seven years of data were false or unreliable. His concerns about the extent of the fraud, how Duke was responding, and the lack of transparency, caused him to transition from regular employee to whistleblower.
Many employees like Mr. Thomas pass by fraud every day, but fail to act either because they are intimidated by the circumstances or because they are unaware of the legal options available to them. The False Claims Act was implemented to allow regular citizens like Mr. Thomas to make a difference. The Act essentially deputizes citizens to act as attorney generals to report and prosecute claims of fraud against the government – which otherwise lacks the means of effectively policing the behavior of those who participate in the vast amount of taxpayer dollars provided by the United States. Here, Mr. Thomas was willing to put himself in harms’ way and he consulted with us early in the process.
Mr. Thomas’ scientific work in sorting through the many impacted grants and experiments was invaluable. With his help, we prepared a False Claim Act (or Qui Tam) lawsuit that was then filed under seal and reported to the government – allowing the government an opportunity to investigate. In many meritorious cases, the government decides to “intervene” at that stage of the proceedings, basically taking over the lead of the case. But here, that never happened. This left Mr. Thomas and his lawyers at the point of the spear – going against a venerated academic institution with enormous resources. During this process, Mr. Thomas was vilified and suffered substantial personal hardships as he found himself out of work for over a year. Many would have yielded under this pressure, but Thomas held firm and maintained faith in the merits of the case and his legal team.
Six years later, after enduring great personal and professional hardship, Mr. Thomas’ courageous actions have come to a conclusion, with Duke agreeing to pay $112,500,000 to the United States to settle these claims. This is the largest False Claim Act recovery for research grant fraud in history. Research fraud has tremendous repercussions and it should be reported. We wish to extend our deepest respect to Joseph Thomas for his strength of character, tenacity and hard work that made this result possible; and, we wish to say for the record: “You did the right thing!”
We are also deeply proud of the trial team that prosecuted this case with skill, creativity, and resolute persistence. The case involved extraordinarily complicated science, mastery of volumes of documents, 52 depositions, and numerous complicated motions — all of which required great focus and hard work.
Press coverage (opens in new window)
Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019
ROANOKE, Va. (April 2, 2019) – Gentry Locke attorneys Gregory D. Habeeb, Andrew D. Finnicum, and Travis J. Graham recently obtained a $2.1 million settlement in a commercial vehicle crash that took the lives of two siblings in Scott County, Virginia.
Gentry Locke represented the estates of Regina Spivey, 39, and Doug Clark, 47. The victims were killed instantly in a March 2017 crash involving their vehicle and a Kingsport Heating and Air Conditioning van driven by Robert S. Taylor, who entered an Alford plea to two counts of DUI involuntary manslaughter last summer. Kingsport Heating and Air Conditioning, a Tennessee-based HVAC company, had required Taylor to keep the company vehicle at his Virginia home and use it for his work duties in Virginia. The van was registered in Tennessee and insured by State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company.
After Gentry Locke argued that Virginia’s omnibus insurance statute should apply to the case, Scott County Circuit Judge John C. Kilgore agreed, ruling that Virginia law applied to the Tennessee-registered van because the van was principally garaged and used in Virginia at the time of the fatal crash. State Auto unsuccessfully argued that Tennessee law should apply, which the insurer hoped would prevent the estates from obtaining any recovery because Taylor may have been intoxicated at the time of the crash.
“The difference between Virginia and Tennessee law was crucial in this case,” said Habeeb. “We obtained the global settlement just 24 hours after the first offer from the defendants. The settlement amount is significant for Scott County litigation, and while it won’t remedy the tragic loss of Regina and Doug, we are proud to have played in role in helping to achieve justice on their behalf.”
About Gentry Locke
With more than 55 lawyers practicing across a range of disciplines, Gentry Locke brings uncommon thinking and deep experience to the legal and business challenges of companies, institutions, organizations and individuals—a commitment the firm has met since 1923. Operating from offices in Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Richmond, Virginia, Gentry Locke serves clients in Virginia and across the United States, as well as worldwide as a member firm of the ALFA International Legal Network. Meet the firm’s dynamic attorneys and learn more about its fierce drive to achieve success for its clients by exploring this website.
Saturday, March 30th, 2019
ROANOKE, Va. (March 30, 2019) – The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that Managing Partner Monica Taylor Monday has been named chair of The Virginia Bar Association’s (VBA) Appellate Practice Section. Monica’s two-year term commenced in January 2019. 
The VBA’s Appellate Practice Section is one of 19 sections established to connect practitioners in specific areas of law. The Appellate Practice Section sponsors CLE programs designed to improve the level of appellate advocacy in the Commonwealth, and compiles On Appeal, a newsletter containing matters of interest to lawyers who practice in the appellate courts. The Section also considers ways in which the appellate legal system can be improved, and suggests statutory and rules changes to the VBA for recommendation to the courts and the legislature.
In addition to serving as Gentry Locke’s managing partner, Monica leads the firm’s Appellate practice. She represents clients in Virginia’s state and federal appellate courts in cases involving commercial and business disputes, healthcare, personal injury, local government matters, domestic relations and more. Monica is a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and has been consistently recognized in Virginia Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America and Virginia Business magazine’s Legal Elite lists. She was named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly’s “Leaders in the Law” and was honored in Chambers USA 2018 for having “a commanding reputation as ‘one of the go-to practitioners’ for appellate work.” Monica also frequently lectures and writes on appellate issues.
About Gentry Locke
With more than 55 lawyers practicing across a range of disciplines, Gentry Locke brings uncommon thinking and deep experience to the legal and business challenges of companies, institutions, organizations and individuals—a commitment the firm has met since 1923. Operating from offices in Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Richmond, Va., Gentry Locke serves clients in Virginia and across the U.S., as well as worldwide as a member firm of the ALFA International Legal Network. Meet the firm’s dynamic attorneys and learn more about its fierce drive to achieve success for its clients by exploring this website.
Friday, March 8th, 2019
ROANOKE, Va. (March 8, 2019) – The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that Ashley W. Winsky has joined the Richmond office as a partner in the Transportation, Insurance, Plaintiff Personal Injury, and Civil Litigation practices. Ashley will expand the Richmond office’s already significant litigation practice. 
“We are happy to welcome Ashley to our Richmond office,” said Gentry Locke Managing Partner Monica T. Monday. “Ashley is an experienced litigator. With her contagious energy and knowledge of the trucking industry, she is a wonderful addition to our growing presence in Richmond.”
Ashley brings nearly a decade of experience in defending motor carriers, railroads, amusement parks, bus companies, product manufacturers, and business owners against a wide array of personal injury claims. She has also represented individuals in wrongful death and catastrophic injury claims. Ashley has first-chaired more than a dozen trials to successful verdicts in state and federal court, before both judge and jury. She has argued numerous pretrial motions, which have served to short-circuit protracted litigation.
Ashley earned her J.D. from the Antonin Scalia Law School – George Mason University and her B.A. summa cum laude from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She is an active member of the Transportation Lawyers Association and the American Trucking Association. She is consistently ranked as a Transportation “Associate to Watch” in Chambers USA and in Super Lawyers as one of Virginia’s “Rising Stars.”
Gentry Locke’s Richmond office was formally launched in September 2018.
About Gentry Locke
With more than 55 lawyers practicing across a range of disciplines, Gentry Locke brings uncommon thinking and deep experience to the legal and business challenges of companies, institutions, organizations and individuals—a commitment the firm has met since 1923. Operating from offices in Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Richmond, Va., Gentry Locke serves clients in Virginia and across the U.S. Meet the firm’s dynamic attorneys and learn more about its fierce drive to achieve success for its clients by exploring this website.
Friday, February 1st, 2019
ROANOKE, Va. (January 29, 2019) – Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that Roanoke Partner K. Brett Marston has been inducted into the Virginia Law Foundation Fellows Class of 2019. Inductees were formally honored at the Virginia Law Foundation’s annual dinner on January 24.
The Fellows of the Virginia Law Foundation are recognized as leaders in the profession, both in their practices and in their communities. They comprise a group of nearly 500 of the best and brightest legal practitioners who are committed to the highest ideals of the law and to the concept of citizen lawyer. Fellows are nominated confidentially by their peers.
“We congratulate Brett on this well-deserved recognition and applaud his many contributions to the firm, the bar and our community,” said Gentry Locke Managing Partner Monica T. Monday.
Brett chairs Gentry Locke’s Construction Law practice. He has extensive experience in construction contract negotiations and preparation, payment disputes, mechanic’s liens, bond claims, construction defects, delay claims, insurance and OSHA matters. Brett handles construction matters in federal and state courts, and arbitration and mediation for general contractors, subcontractors, owners, design professionals and suppliers.
In addition to his thriving practice, Brett serves as an elected representative of the Virginia State Bar Council’s 23rd Judicial Circuit, a role he has held for the past three years. He formerly chaired the Roanoke Bar Association and the Virginia State Bar’s Construction and Public Contracts Section. Brett is consistently named to the Virginia Super Lawyers list and has consecutively made Super Lawyers’ Virginia “Top 10” and “Top 100” lists. He has thrice been named the “Roanoke Lawyer of the Year for Construction Law” by The Best Lawyers in America, and was named to the 2018 class of “Leaders in the Law” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly. Brett also serves on the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors.
Brett joins a group of current and former Gentry Locke attorneys who have been inducted as Fellows, including: Managing Partner Monica Taylor Monday (Class of 2011); Partner Thomas J. Bondurant, Jr. (Class of 2015); Partner G. Franklin Flippin (Class of 2000); Partner W. David Paxton (Class of 2014); Partner Glenn W. Pulley (Class of 2012); Partner Bruce C. Stockburger (Class of 2013); Retired Partner J. Rudy Austin (Class of 1995); Senior Counsel S.D. Roberts Moore (Class of 1989) and Senior Counsel William R. Rakes (Class of 1993).
About Gentry Locke
With more than 55 lawyers practicing across a range of disciplines, Gentry Locke brings uncommon thinking and deep experience to the legal and business challenges of companies, institutions, organizations and individuals—a commitment the firm has met since 1923. Operating from offices in Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Richmond, Va., Gentry Locke serves clients in Virginia and across the U.S., as well as worldwide as a member firm of the ALFA International Legal Network. Meet the firm’s dynamic attorneys and learn more about its fierce drive to achieve success for its clients by exploring this website.
