Guy M. Harbert, III

Guy Harbert chairs the Insurance practice group at Gentry Locke. For over 30 years, Guy has represented clients before trial and appellate courts throughout Virginia on insurance coverage, insurance defense, and white-collar and other criminal defense matters. He is an active member of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys and a frequent lecturer and author on insurance litigation issues. Guy is consistently noted as a Virginia Super Lawyer in Personal Injury General: Defense, and since 2012 has consistently earned a spot on the Best Lawyers in America list for Insurance Law.

A quick handshake

•What’s your approach to handling matters for your clients?

I think the key to handling a matter is a mastery of the process. My clients know I am going to cover all the bases for their situation in a methodical manner. If you approach a matter objectively, investigate it thoroughly, and do so using a streamlined process, you’ve valued your client’s time and money wisely. My clients seem to appreciate the discipline and breadth of experience I apply to their matters, and the protocols I’ve developed minimize the opposition’s ability to present us with surprises. So along the way, whether prior to or during a trial or in the midst of a settlement, we’re poised to make the right move.

•What I enjoy most about the legal profession...

I enjoy the competition involved in resolving a legal matter.

•People would be surprised to know...

I played football, lacrosse, and rugby in college.

Experience

•Representation of insurer in $6,000,000 third-party, bad faith litigation
•Representation of insurer in coverage matter for multi-million dollar “Chinese drywall” class action litigation
•Representation of insurers in numerous first-party arson/fraud/bad faith litigation
•Representation of insurers in numerous declaratory judgment actions regarding nature and extent of coverage owed on liability and first-party claims
•Preparation of amicus curiae brief on behalf of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys in the Supreme Court of Virginia regarding the scope of the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act
•Representation of the Commonwealth of Virginia as a private prosecutor in arson/murder case
•Representation of physicians, lawyers, accountants and other professionals in criminal tax prosecutions
•Representation of defendants in trials and settlements of complex wrongful death cases

Awards

•Named “Roanoke Lawyer of the Year” for Insurance Law (2021) by Best Lawyers in America
•Named one of The Best Lawyers in America in Insurance Law (2012-2026), also listed in Best Lawyers in America - Business Edition (2016)
•Named to Virginia Super Lawyers in the area of Personal Injury Defense: General (2007-2008, 2010-2024); also named to Super Lawyers Business Edition US in the area of Plaintiff Defense/General (2012-2014)
•Awarded the Gentry Locke Pro Bono Promise Award (2021)
•Named a “Legal Eagle” for Insurance Law by Virginia Living magazine (2012)
•Designated as one of the Legal Elite in the field of Criminal Law by Virginia Business magazine (2003-2006 and 2008-2009)

Case Studies

The results of client matters depend on a variety of factors unique to each matter. Past successes do not predict or guarantee future successes.
•Feb 28, 2025 - Defense Verdict Affirmed for Western Express in Rear-end Accident
•Mar 26, 2024 - Defense Verdict Obtained for Western Express in Rear-end Accident
•Feb 19, 2016 - Jury Affirms Insurance Company Decision on Roof Repair Claim
•Mar 7, 2014 - Defense of Explosive Products Liability Case

Library

•31 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers 2026 Lists
News
Aug 2025
•Defense Verdict Affirmed for Western Express in Rear-end Accident The results of client matters depend on a variety of factors unique to each matter. Past successes do not predict or guarantee future successes.
Case Studies
Feb 2025
•35 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers 2025 Lists
News
Aug 2024
•18 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Virginia Super Lawyers Lists
News
Apr 2024
•Defense Verdict Obtained for Western Express in Rear-end Accident The results of client matters depend on a variety of factors unique to each matter. Past successes do not predict or guarantee future successes.
Case Studies
Mar 2024
•30 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers 2024 Lists
News
Aug 2023
•Gentry Locke Obtains Defense Verdict for Motor Carrier in Rear-end Accident
News
Jun 2023
•17 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Virginia Super Lawyers Lists
News
Apr 2023
•Super Lawyers 2022 Recognizes 17 Gentry Locke Lawyers
News
May 2022
•2022 Gentry Locke Seminar
Events
Apr 2022
•Coronavirus/COVID-19
We're Here to Help
News
Feb 2022
•Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Recognizes 18 Lawyers on 2021 Lists
News
May 2021
•22 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2021
News
Aug 2020
•20 Gentry Locke Lawyers Named as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
News
Apr 2020
•Insurance Coverage, Liability and Exclusion During COVID-19
Articles
Apr 2020
•Gentry Locke Announces 2020 Management Committee
News
Jan 2020
•21 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America
News
Aug 2019
•Gentry Locke announces 2019 Management Committee
News
May 2019
•25 Gentry Locke attorneys named 2019 Virginia Super Lawyers or Rising Stars
News
Apr 2019
•Supreme Court of the United States denies certiorari in Berkley, et al. v. FERC, et al
News
Jan 2019
•Landowners in Virginia fighting for private property rights file Appeal with United States Supreme Court
News
Oct 2018
•20 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2019 'Best Lawyers in America '
News
Aug 2018
•27 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named 2018 Virginia Super Lawyers or Rising Stars
News
Apr 2018
•21 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2018 Best Lawyers in America
News
Aug 2017
•28 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named 2017 Virginia Super Lawyers or Rising Stars
News
Apr 2017
•Twenty-Two Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 'The Best Lawyers in America'
News
Oct 2016
•Twenty-six Gentry Locke Attorneys Named '2016 Virginia Super Lawyers'
News
Apr 2016
•Jury Affirms Insurance Company Decision on Roof Repair Claim The results of client matters depend on a variety of factors unique to each matter. Past successes do not predict or guarantee future successes.
Case Studies
Feb 2016
•Fourteen Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to “Best Lawyers in America Business Edition/Winter 2016” by Best Lawyers
News
Jan 2016
•23 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2016 “Best Lawyers in America”
News
Aug 2015
•It’s 2015. Do You Know Where Your Children “Reside?”
Articles
Jun 2015
•28 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named 2015 Virginia Super Lawyers
News
Apr 2015
•13 Gentry Locke Attorneys Featured in '2014 Super Lawyers' US Business Edition
News
Nov 2014
•Twenty-One Gentry Locke Attorneys Earn Best Lawyers Designations and One Lawyer of the Year
News
Aug 2014
•27 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to Lists of 2014 Virginia Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
News
Jun 2014
•When to Give Notice of an Accident or Occurrence Under Your Liability Insurance Policy
Articles
Jun 2014
•Defense of Explosive Products Liability Case The results of client matters depend on a variety of factors unique to each matter. Past successes do not predict or guarantee future successes.
Case Studies
Mar 2014
•Thirteen Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 'Super Lawyers Business Edition US'
News
Nov 2013
•Twenty-two Attorneys named to 2014 Best Lawyers in America list; Firm Ranked in Tier 1 for Best Law Firms
News
Aug 2013
•Twenty-five Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 'Virginia Super Lawyers' for 2013
News
Jun 2013
•The Early Bird Gets the Worm: How Getting Out Ahead of the Government Can Really Pay Off
Articles
Dec 2012
•Super Lawyers Business Edition US Lists Thirteen Gentry Locke Attorneys
News
Sep 2012
•Twenty-four Gentry Locke Attorneys Named 'Best Lawyers'
News
Sep 2012
•Twenty-four Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 'Virginia Super Lawyers' for 2012
News
Jun 2012
•Gentry Locke Attorneys Listed in 37 'Legal Eagle' Categories
News
Apr 2012
•Gentry Locke Lawyers Named to 2004 Virginia Legal Elite
News
Dec 2004