Tuesday, September 4th, 2018
Firm also launching Government and Regulatory Affairs Practice Group
ROANOKE, Va. (September 4, 2018) – The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that it is expanding its presence across the state with the launch of its new Richmond office. Litigation partner Gregory D. Habeeb will oversee the office, with John G. “Chip” Dicks joining the firm as a partner in Richmond. In addition to forming Gentry Locke’s new office and expanding its outreach to existing clients in the Richmond market, Dicks and Habeeb are launching the firm’s Government and Regulatory Affairs Practice Group.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Gentry Locke to expand its footprint,” said Gentry Locke Managing Partner Monica T. Monday. “We have worked hard to establish ourselves as the leading law firm in Western and Central Virginia, and with Greg’s leadership in Richmond, we will now be able to offer existing and new clients the same quality of service in Virginia’s capital. We welcome Chip to our firm and are confident that his deep knowledge of legislative and regulatory affairs will serve our clients well as we launch this new practice.”
The firm looks forward to the grand opening of its offices in downtown Richmond later this year. The Government and Regulatory Affairs Practice Group will offer a full suite of services, including regulatory and administrative representation, public policy advocacy, economic development and procurement, and strategic communications.
“I could not be more enthusiastic about strengthening the Gentry Locke brand in Richmond,” said Habeeb. “The firm has always had a presence in the capital and we are well poised to grow our offerings there. I am thrilled that Chip will be joining us in this endeavor and look forward to using our Richmond location to better serve our existing and future clients.”
Habeeb focuses his litigation practice on representing individuals and companies in courts throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation. He is a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, where he represented Virginia’s 8th House District and served on the Courts, Commerce & Labor, Rules, Privileges & Elections, and Transportation committees. Habeeb chaired the Civil Law Subcommittee of the Courts Committee and the Commerce & Labor Subcommittee, which oversees workers’ compensation, employee benefits, and insurance legislation. He also chaired the Transportation Subcommittee, which is tasked with reforming how Virginia prioritizes and funds road projects.
Dicks is a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates and served on the Courts and Education committees. He also served on the Virginia Housing Commission while serving as a House member. Since leaving the Legislature in 1990, he has represented associations and businesses on administrative, legislative, and regulatory matters before state government agencies and the Virginia General Assembly. He has substantial experience representing developers on a variety of land use applications across Virginia. Dicks has particular expertise in the laws and regulations affecting billboard signs, and in the field of landlord, tenant and fair housing laws.
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 across Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region. Meet the firm’s dynamic attorneys and learn more about its fierce drive to achieve success for its clients by exploring this website.
Tuesday, August 21st, 2018
ROANOKE, Va. (August 13, 2018) – The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that David R. Berry has joined the firm’s Roanoke office as an associate. Dave will practice on the Commercial Litigation team, helping clients to resolve complex business disputes.
Dave Berry, Associate attorney at Gentry Locke
Before joining Gentry Locke, Dave served for two years as a law clerk to The Honorable Donald W. Lemons, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. He has also held roles in the United States Attorney’s Office and Office of the Attorney General of Virginia.
Dave earned his J.D. summa cum laude from the University of Richmond School of Law, where he belonged to the Order of the Coif and the McNeill Law Society. He also served as a Moot Court Board member and as an articles editor of the University of Richmond Law Review. He earned a CALI Award in the following categories: Business Litigation Practicum, Comparative Employment Law, Environmental Law, First Amendment Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Torts. He earned his B.A. cum laude from George Mason University.
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 and Lynchburg, 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, August 15th, 2018
Powell M. (Nick) Leitch, III Selected for ‘Lawyer of the Year’ Award
ROANOKE, Va. (August 15, 2018) – The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that 20 of the firm’s attorneys were selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® (2019 edition), a national legal ranking. Attorneys were nominated by their peers and recognized for their outstanding professional achievement in numerous legal practice areas, including appellate, banking and finance law, bet-the-company litigation, commercial litigation, criminal defense, employment law, insurance law, medical malpractice law, real estate law, tax law, trusts and estates, and others.
In addition, Powell M. (Nick) Leitch, III was recognized with Best Lawyers 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” award in Roanoke – for Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants. Leitch practiced on the defense side prior to joining Gentry Locke in 2018, where he now utilizes his defense experience to benefit Medical Malpractice plaintiff clients.
Of the Gentry Locke attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America, G. Franklin Flippin, W. David Paxton, William R. Rakes and Bruce C. Stockburger have been on the list for 20 or more years.
Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. If the votes for an attorney are positive enough for recognition in Best Lawyers, that attorney must maintain those votes in subsequent polls to remain in each edition. Lawyers are not permitted to pay any fee to participate in or be recognized by Best Lawyers.
Attorneys listed for 2019 include:
- Thomas J. Bondurant, Jr. (Corporate Compliance Law, Criminal Defense: White-Collar)
- Matthew W. Broughton (Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs)
- G. Franklin Flippin (Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Financial Services Regulation Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law)
- W. William Gust (Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Tax Law)
- Gregory J. Haley (Commercial Litigation, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Government Relations Practice, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Municipal)
- Guy M. Harbert, III (Insurance Law)
- Kevin Walker Holt (Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property)
- Paul G. Klockenbrink (Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment)
- Todd A. Leeson (Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment)
- Powell M. (Nick) Leitch, III (Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants)
- K. Brett Marston (Construction Law, Litigation – Construction)
- Monica Taylor Monday (Appellate Practice)
- W. David Paxton (Employment Law – Individuals, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment)
- Glenn W. Pulley (Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants)
- William R. Rakes (Antitrust Law, Appellate Practice, Banking and Finance Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Financial Services Regulation Law, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions)
- J. Scott Sexton (Commercial Litigation, Oil and Gas Law)
- Bruce C. Stockburger (Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates)
- Charles L. Williams (Environmental Law)
- Clark H. Worthy (Real Estate Law)
- Kathleen L. Wright (Litigation – Municipal)
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 and Lynchburg, 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.
Monday, July 30th, 2018
ROANOKE, Va. (July 30, 2018) – The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that it has been named to Vault’s 2019 “Top 150 Under 150” list, which recognizes leading midsize law firms based on the following criteria: firm culture, quality of life, satisfaction, diversity, pro bono, hours, compensation and selectivity.
“We are pleased to have earned a position on Vault’s 2019 list,” said Gentry Locke Managing Partner Monica Taylor Monday. “We are very proud to be considered a top law firm at which to work. We value and foster a collaborative, inclusive culture, and appreciate that Vault’s recognition reaffirms this industry perception.”
Vault, known for its rankings of thousands of employers, created the Top 150 Under 150 list in 2015 to honor outstanding law firms that have fewer attorneys, but no less expertise than the large global firms that often dominate rankings and headlines. To determine the Top 150 Under 150, Vault first developed a list of the best-known and most sought-after U.S. firms with fewer than 150 attorneys. Editorial and research teams reviewed Vault survey data, news stories, trade journals and other legal publications; spoke with lawyers in the field; and reviewed other published rankings. Vault editors also assessed each firm for prestige, quality of life, and professional growth opportunities, and then narrowed down the results to come up with a list of 150 law firms known for providing top-notch service and delivering big results.
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 and Lynchburg, 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, July 25th, 2018
On July 25, 2018 the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its decision in Berkley, et al. v. Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC, et al, and found that landowners cannot challenge the constitutionality of the Natural Gas Act in federal district court. Instead, landowners must present such constitutional claims first to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the same body that landowners challenge cannot lawfully act under the Natural Gas Act. FERC consistently states that it does not and cannot decide such issues. Once FERC issues its decision, including findings that it cannot even consider challenges to the Natural Gas Act, landowners may appeal such a decision to a federal court of appeals. Experience has shown, however, that while FERC makes its decisions, pipelines are built and put into operation before landowners ever get to present their case before a federal court of appeals.
Gentry Locke partner Justin M. Lugar has issued a statement on behalf of the landowners. “While we are disappointed with the decision of the Fourth Circuit today and the continued lack of meaningful access to justice, we look forward to the next steps in the long process of change. We are currently evaluating the Court’s opinion and will decide in the coming days which path to take forward in this case. We note as well that this is but one of many cases currently working through the system — not only in our region, but across the country — and we are optimistic that there is much yet to be decided regarding the Mountain Valley Pipeline and the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, among others. Thanks to courageous landowners, such as the committed and resolute landowners in this case, important issues that have long been overlooked or ignored in the energy industry are finally being raised. It is only a matter of time before we start seeing results in courts across the country. A concerned and active citizenry is the most powerful voice for change. We will all continue to fight for property rights and a fair and just system.”
Tuesday, July 17th, 2018
Gentry Locke Partner Gregory D. Habeeb, who specializes in complex business and catastrophic injury cases at Gentry Locke while also serving in the Virginia House of Delegates representing Virginia’s 8th District, was recently noted in a list of “legislative all-stars” in an editorial by The Roanoke Times.
The editorial cited how Habeeb’s bill to make court records accessible to the public through a single source, which became law, has made it easier for the public and researchers to access the information. Here is how The Roanoke Times described the impact this law has on the Commonwealth:
If you believe government should be more transparent, then you should be cheering on Habeeb. Over the past few years, Freedom of Information Act advocates have called attention to how there’s one branch of government that’s been impervious to open government — the court system. Most court records (juvenile records are the main exception) have always been open and in modern times they’ve even been digitized through the clerk of court in each locality. The state Supreme Court even maintains them all in a database, but the court has also held that those records are the property of each clerk’s office. That makes it difficult if not impossible to analyze them to identify trends, such as disparities in sentencing. Habeeb authored a bill — now law — that requires the court to make that information public, and also create a single way to access it. That’s All-Star worthy.
Tuesday, June 12th, 2018
Rudy’s 50 years as a Gentry Locke attorney was celebrated in 2017.
ROANOKE, Va. (June 12, 2018) – The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that Roanoke Retired Partner J. Rudy Austin has been named to the Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame, a Virginia Lawyers Weekly awards program designed to recognize Virginia’s most significant senior lawyers. Rudy was formally recognized at the Hall of Fame event on June 12.
“We are thrilled for Rudy, who is highly deserving of this honor,” said Gentry Locke Managing Partner Monica Taylor Monday. “He is an unwavering example of the ethical practice of law, with innumerable career accomplishments.”
Membership in the Hall of Fame is reserved for Virginia lawyers who are 60 years of age and older. Inclusion is determined by career accomplishments, contributions to the development of the law in Virginia, contributions to the bar, contributions to the commonwealth of Virginia, and efforts to improve the quality of justice in Virginia.
Rudy has been a leader of Virginia bar associations, serving as president of the Roanoke Bar Association and the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, and as chair of the Sixth District Ethics Committee and the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board. In 2007, he received the Virginia Association of Defense Attorney’s (VADA) highest honor – the Award for Excellence in Civil Litigation. He is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation, and the Virginia Law Foundation. He was also an Emeritus Master of the Bench in the Ted Dalton American Inn of Court.
Rudy recently retired from his position as a senior litigation partner at Gentry Locke. In a career that began in 1967, his experience included the practice areas of insurance defense, insurance coverage, workers’ compensation, construction, and legal ethics. During his 50 years with Gentry Locke, Rudy was consistently recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. He also has been one of a select group of lawyers recognized by Chambers USA for Virginia Litigation: General Commercial, was noted as a Litigation Star in General Commercial and Insurance Litigation by Benchmark Litigation, and was consistently noted by Virginia Super Lawyers for Civil Litigation and Defense. At the firm, Rudy was highly esteemed as a virtual encyclopedia of legal knowledge who devoted thousands of hours to mentoring young lawyers at Gentry Locke. The example he sets is still the bedrock of the firm’s culture.
Here is our ad congratulating Rudy for this accolade:
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 and Lynchburg, 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, June 1st, 2018
ROANOKE, Va. (May 29, 2018) – The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that Kelsey M. Martin has joined the firm’s Roanoke office as an associate. Kelsey will practice on the Employment & Labor team.
In her practice, Kelsey will advise business owners and management on employment matters. She will also defend federal and state court claims involving employment-related issues, including claims related to the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII, Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, affirmative action plans, noncompete agreements, trade secrets, and related matters.
Kelsey has held numerous roles within Virginia public offices, including serving as a law clerk for The Honorable Joseph J. Ellis and The Honorable Ricardo Rigual, 15th Judicial Circuit of Virginia, and as a legal intern at the Richmond Public Defender’s Office, and the Roanoke City Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. She is a member of the Virginia State Bar and The Virginia Bar Association.
Kelsey earned her J.D. cum laude from the University of Richmond School of Law, where she earned a CALI Award for Advanced Legal Research; the Orrell-Brown Award for Clinical Excellence in the Children’s Law Center; and the Children’s Defense Clinic Best Oral Advocate Award. She also served as managing editor of the Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest and as treasurer of the Criminal Law & Justice Society. Kelsey was a member of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity and the Women’s Law Student Association. She earned her B.S. magna cum laude from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
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 and Lynchburg, 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.
Thursday, May 31st, 2018
ROANOKE, Va. (May 29, 2018) – The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke is pleased to announce its recognition as a leading Virginia firm for commercial litigation by Chambers USA 2018: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, a prestigious annual ranking of law firms and attorneys. Additionally, Chambers USA recognized Gentry Locke Managing Partner Monica Monday as a notable practitioner “who enjoys a commanding reputation as ‘one of the go-to practitioners for appellate work.’”
This was Monday’s second annual recognition by Chambers USA. In addition to her role as managing partner, Monday chairs the firm’s Appellate practice. She was most recently ranked in the 2018 Virginia Super Lawyers “Top 50 Women” list and in the “Top 100” list for the Commonwealth.
In the 2018 guide, Chambers USA praised the firm’s “renowned expertise” in civil dispute resolution and personal injury plaintiff cases, and its work in white-collar criminal and government investigations, and appellate, medical and insurance matters. Commentary notes that Gentry Locke is “well-versed in representing a diverse set of clients in both the trial and appellate courts,” quoting sources who describe the team as “’great trial lawyers.’”
The complete 2018 Chambers USA guide is available here.
About Chambers USA
Chambers USA annually ranks leading law firms and lawyers in a wide range of practice areas across the nation. The rankings and accompanying editorial commentary are based on in-depth, client-focused research. Chambers’ findings are used widely for referral purposes. Additional information on Chambers can be found here.
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 and Lynchburg, 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.
Tuesday, May 29th, 2018
LYNCHBURG, Va. (May 29, 2018) – The Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke is pleased to announce that Robert Chambliss (“Cham”) Light, Jr. has joined the firm’s Lynchburg office as of counsel. Light will practice with the Business Litigation team.
“Cham is well-known, well-respected, and very involved in the Lynchburg community,” said Gentry Locke Managing Partner Monica Taylor Monday. “Our clients will undoubtedly benefit from his talents, dedication to the field, and industry connections. It’s an honor to have him join our growing Lynchburg office.”
Light is versed in a broad range of litigation matters, though he is particularly skilled and experienced in insurance coverage issues, litigation management and strategy, and alternative dispute resolution. Light worked for Nationwide Insurance, a multibillion-dollar insurance corporation, for more than 30 years. He most recently served as assistant general counsel, handling personal injury and other tort claims, including settlements of large bodily injury claims, mediation of settlements, structured settlements, material damage, and fraud-related issues. In addition to his legal practice at Gentry Locke, Light will be supporting the firm’s regional business development efforts.
Light is a certified Virginia planning commissioner, has served as an arbitrator for Arbitration Forums, Inc. and for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Carriers. He has attained his insurance professional designation as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and also Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU). He has contributed to Nationwide Insurance claims resource guides, was a contributing writer for Legal Education in Virginia (University of Virginia Press), served as the editor of An Historical Sketch of the University of Virginia (Logos Three Publishers), and served as Book Committee Chair for the 100th Anniversary History of Virginia Episcopal School.
In addition to his professional leadership and accolades, Light dedicates significant time to community causes, including the Lynchburg Planning Commission; State Library of Virginia Board of Directors (as executive committee chair from 2015-2016); Virginia Episcopal School Board of Directors; Jones Memorial Library Board of Trustees (as vice chair from 2013-present); University of Virginia’s National Committee on University Resources, Capital Campaign Committee; and as a member of the Nationwide Insurance Virginia Political Participation Fund (PAC) Steering Committee.
Light was a graduate of The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, where he earned his B.A. He earned his J.D. from the University of Richmond 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 and Lynchburg, 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.
