Kevin Walker Holt

Kevin Holt is a partner whose diverse practice includes commercial, real estate, intellectual property and ERISA litigation. Kevin represents companies and individuals in business and contract disputes, including complex financial and real estate matters. He also represents clients with cases involving intellectual property rights. He represents employers, insurance carriers and plan fiduciaries defending ERISA claims involving life, accident, and disability benefits. Since 2012 he has consistently been named to Best Lawyers in America in Commercial Litigation. Kevin is a past President of the Roanoke Bar Association and currently serves on Bar Council, the governing body of the Virginia State Bar.

A quick handshake

•If I weren't practicing law...

If money were not an issue, I would travel full-time and be a travel reviewer or consultant. The most interesting place I've been recently is a safari camp in Kenya. The wildlife, people and landscape were amazing. I also enjoy the American West, especially its national parks, and the historic sites of Europe.

•People would be surprised to know...

My wife and I enjoy gravel and mountain biking. We are empty nesters and have recently biked in Portugal and Spain (the Camino) as well as in Utah, North Carolina and throughout the Roanoke Valley.

•Why I enjoy being a lawyer...

It gives me the opportunity to be practical and to solve problems. Even though I am a litigator, solving clients’ problems doesn’t always mean marching straight to court. I have learned that success can be defined in different ways. I really enjoy thinking creatively, both in terms of litigation as well as alternative ways of helping clients achieve their goals.

Experience

•Obtained defense verdict in Federal Court for manufacturer in $1.2 million products liability and UCC case involving alleged defects in natural gas pipeline
•Obtained preliminary injunction in Federal Court for telecommunications tower company to prevent landowners from blocking access to leased tower site
•Obtained judgment against former tenant for property damages, lost rent and attorneys’ fees in breach of commercial lease case following multi-day bench trial in State Court
•Obtained summary judgment in State Court for large, residential real estate brokerage firm in $1.4 million breach of contract case
•Granted motion to dismiss in trade secret misappropriation case filed in Federal Court
•Obtained summary judgment in State Court in $700,000 breach of contract and quantum meruit Successfully used plaintiff’s sworn testimony from preliminary hearing in support of motion for summary judgment
•Obtained defense verdict in State Court for manufacturer of plastics products in case involving claims of negligence and nuisance arising from fire at manufacturer’s storage facility
•Successfully tried case on behalf of sports event promoter in State Court case involving claims of breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty
•Obtained $700,000 judgment for window film manufacturer in trademark infringement case in Federal Court
•Successfully tried commercial lease case involving restitution of overpayment of tenant improvement loan
•Obtained summary judgment in the amount of $900,000 for plaintiff equipment supplier in pipeline construction case against general contractor in Federal Court
•Obtained summary judgment in Federal Court for leading national bank in breach of employment agreement case brought by terminated mortgage broker executive
•Obtained summary judgment in State Court striking down non-competition agreement as overbroad and unenforceable
•Successfully tried real estate partition suit
•Obtained judgment and award of enhanced penalty and attorney’s fees in Virginia Consumer Protection Act case following bench trial in State Court
•Defend leading national life, accident and disability insurance carriers in ERISA cases
•Obtained defense verdict in favor of landowners in prescriptive easement case in State Court

Awards

•Recognized by Virginia Business magazine as a “Legal Elite” in Civil Litigation (2016, 2018-2019, 2022-2025) and for Commercial Litigation (2021)
•Recognized with Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation (2012-2026) and Intellectual Property Litigation (2019-2026); also listed in Best Lawyers in America - Business Edition (2016)
•Named to Virginia Super Lawyers for Business Litigation (2009, 2019-2025)
•“Largest Defense Verdicts in Virginia” Award (2004) as recognized by Virginia Lawyers Weekly

Published Work

•Co-author, Your Client Has Been Named as a Defendant in a Civil Lawsuit Filed More Than a Year Ago: Now What? (January 2023).
•Interpleader and ERISA: More Complicated (and Interesting) Than You May Think , DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar, Volume 11, Issue 2 (August 2016).
•Co-author, A “Day” is a Day Again: Proposed New Rule 6 and Other Important Changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, VSB Litigation News, Volume XIV, No. III (Fall 2009).
•Virginia Supreme Court Decides New Case Concerning the Dead Man’s Statute, VSB Litigation News, Volume XV, Number III (Fall 2010).

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 26, 2026 - Defense Win in ERISA Long-Term Disability Termination Case
•Jan 12, 2025 - Defense Verdict in Favor of Landowners in Prescriptive Easement Case
•Jul 28, 2022 - Heavy equipment dealer in Virginia sued by the equipment manufacturer's former dealer. Court grants Motion to Dismiss.
•Jul 12, 2021 - Owner/landlord of a large commercial facility obtains judgment against a former tenant for property damage and lost rent
•Feb 12, 2019 - Restaurant chain not required to garnish employee tips
•Jun 19, 2018 - Contract case involving home purchase settled, all fees recovered
•Apr 4, 2018 - Summary Judgment in Breach of Contract action defeats $700,000 claim
•Mar 2, 2018 - Breach of Fiduciary Duty claim against national bank denied in Motion to Dismiss
•Feb 7, 2018 - Preemptive 'forum shopping' fails against our client's Trade Secret litigation
•Jan 19, 2018 - Partial Summary Judgment thwarts request for $1.4M
•Oct 27, 2015 - Creditor's Contested Proof of Claim Allowed in Full
•Mar 20, 2009 - Motion to Dismiss Granted in Defamation and Malicious Prosecution Case

Library

•Defense Win in ERISA Long-Term Disability Termination 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
Feb 2026
•26 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2025 Virginia Business Legal Elite List
News
Dec 2025
•31 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers 2026 Lists
News
Aug 2025
•20 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in 2025 Virginia Super Lawyers Lists
News
May 2025
•Defense Verdict in Favor of Landowners in Prescriptive Easement 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
Jan 2025
•29 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2024 Virginia Business Legal Elite List
News
Dec 2024
•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
•Gentry Locke Announces Lecture Series Hosted at Ferrum College
News
Mar 2024
•23 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2023 Virginia Business Legal Elite List
News
Nov 2023
•30 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers 2024 Lists
News
Aug 2023
•17 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Virginia Super Lawyers Lists
News
Apr 2023
•Your Client Has Been Named as a Defendant in a Civil Lawsuit Filed More Than a Year Ago: Now What?
Articles
Jan 2023
•Twenty Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2022 Legal Elite List
News
Dec 2022
•Eight Gentry Locke Attorneys Elected to Local Bar Association Leadership Roles
News
Oct 2022
•Heavy equipment dealer in Virginia sued by the equipment manufacturer's former dealer. Court grants Motion to Dismiss. 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
Jul 2022
•Super Lawyers 2022 Recognizes 17 Gentry Locke Lawyers
News
May 2022
•Getting Cross-Examination Right
Articles
Apr 2022
•Coronavirus/COVID-19
We're Here to Help
News
Feb 2022
•Owner/landlord of a large commercial facility obtains judgment against a former tenant for property damage and lost rent 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
Jul 2021
•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
•CARES Act
News
Apr 2020
•Force Majeure - COVID-19: Foreseeable or Unforeseeable?
News
Mar 2020
•21 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America
News
Aug 2019
•Virginia State Bar’s Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Seminar
Events
Aug 2019
•25 Gentry Locke attorneys named 2019 Virginia Super Lawyers or Rising Stars
News
Apr 2019
•Restaurant chain not required to garnish employee tips 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 2019
•Ten Gentry Locke attorneys named to 2018 'Legal Elite' list
News
Dec 2018
•20 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2019 'Best Lawyers in America '
News
Aug 2018
•Contract case involving home purchase settled, all fees recovered 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
Jun 2018
•Motions Craving Oyer: A Powerful, but Limited Tool in Virginia Practice
Articles
May 2018
•Can a Defendant Successfully Avoid Rule 3:20 in Virginia Circuit Courts?
Articles
May 2018
•Summary Judgment in Breach of Contract action defeats $700,000 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
Apr 2018
•Breach of Fiduciary Duty claim against national bank denied in Motion to Dismiss 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 2018
•Preemptive 'forum shopping' fails against our client's Trade Secret litigation 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 2018
•Partial Summary Judgment thwarts request for $1.4M 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
Jan 2018
•21 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2018 Best Lawyers in America
News
Aug 2017
•Gentry Locke partner Kevin Holt installed as Roanoke Bar Association president
News
Jun 2017
•Fifteen Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized as 2016 “Legal Elite”
News
Dec 2016
•Twenty-Two Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 'The Best Lawyers in America'
News
Oct 2016
•Interpleader and ERISA: More Complicated (and Interesting) Than You May Think
Articles
Aug 2016
•Gentry Locke Attorneys Serve on Board of the Roanoke Bar Association
News
Jul 2016
•Fourteen Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to “Best Lawyers in America Business Edition/Winter 2016” by Best Lawyers
News
Jan 2016
•Creditor's Contested Proof of Claim Allowed in Full 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
Oct 2015
•23 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2016 “Best Lawyers in America”
News
Aug 2015
•Twenty-One Gentry Locke Attorneys Earn Best Lawyers Designations and One Lawyer of the Year
News
Aug 2014
•Gentry Locke Again Wins United Way Campaign Awards
News
Jan 2014
•Twenty-two Attorneys named to 2014 Best Lawyers in America list; Firm Ranked in Tier 1 for Best Law Firms
News
Aug 2013
•2013 'Top Rated Lawyers' at Gentry Locke
News
Oct 2012
•Virginia's New Rules of Evidence: 'Sea Change' or No Change
Events
Sep 2012
•Twenty-four Gentry Locke Attorneys Named 'Best Lawyers'
News
Sep 2012
•Gentry Locke Attorneys Listed in 37 'Legal Eagle' Categories
News
Apr 2012
•Recent Changes to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
Events
Apr 2010
•Motion to Dismiss Granted in Defamation and Malicious Prosecution 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 2009
•Tips for Effective Cross-Examination
Articles
Oct 2006
•ERISA Wake-Up Call: Self-Funded Plans Must Act to Protect Subrogation Rights
Articles
Jun 2006