Michael Finney is Gentry Locke’s Litigation Section Leader. His practice focuses on complex litigation and appeals, including business/shareholder disputes, whistleblower claims under the False Claims Act, defamation, and intellectual property matters. Prior to joining Gentry Locke, Michael practiced in Washington, DC, and clerked at the United States District Court in Roanoke for the Honorable James C. Turk. Since 2012 he has been recognized by
Virginia Super Lawyers and is consistently named one of the “Legal Elite” by
Virginia Business magazine.
A quick handshake
•What do you enjoy most about practicing law?
I like the problem-solving and strategic aspects. Each case is a different challenge, an opportunity to think analytically and creatively. It’s both a great privilege and responsibility to try and achieve the best result for a client, whether through litigation or otherwise.
•What do you like to do away from the office?
Spend time with my kids. They’re delightful company, and while the time seems to go by faster and faster, it’s a great joy seeing them grow in all things. I’m also an aspiring/frustrated golfer.
•If you had chosen a career other than law, what would you be doing today?
Sports has always been a passion, and I would have loved to have worked in a front office. I think team-building is a fascinating blend of data and human factors. And although I’ll never have that job, having those opinions and debates as a fan is a big part of the fun.
Experience
Michael Finney is admitted to practice law in Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the State of California (inactive).
•Lead appellate counsel for whistleblowers in United States ex rel. Arven et al. v. Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association, et al., Case No. 20-13448 (11th Circuit), a False Claims Act case where the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court’s ruling that the defendants/appellees were not “arms of the state” of Florida, leading to $51 million settlement
•Represent appellant in Pegasystems Inc. v. Appian Corporation, No. 1399-22-4 (Court of Appeals of Virginia), challenging $2 billion trade secrets judgment
•Represented whistleblower in False Claims Act case involving research fraud, United States ex rel. Thomas v. Duke University, Case No. 1:17-cv-276-CCE-JLW (Middle District of North Carolina), which resulted in $112.5 million settlement
•Obtained partial summary judgment and jury verdict for natural gas companies in defense of $14 million breach of contract claims, and then successfully argued appeal. Knox Energy, LLC et al. v. Gasco Drilling, Inc., No. 17-1878 (4th Circuit)
•Represented social media/blockchain company in a dispute over the ownership of cryptocurrency tokens
•Represented national retailer in multi-million dollar contract dispute with inventory service provider
•Defended magazine publisher in high-profile defamation case. Eramo v. Rolling Stone LLC, et al., No. 3:15cv23 (W.D. Va.)
•Represented company President/CEO/Director in shareholder’s derivative action, where asserted claims exceeded $200 million
•Represented municipality in construction dispute over airport runway project
•Represented company on products liability claims arising from plant explosion
•Obtained dismissal of defamation and business tort claims action against newspaper publisher
•Represented shopping center owner seeking to declare that a restrictive covenant was invalid
•Represented former owner of accounting company in contract dispute over earn-out provision
•Represented international pharmaceutical company in intellectual property dispute with former employee-inventor and his competing company
•Represented national galvanizing company in open account contract dispute, obtaining trial judgment for full amount claimed
•Represented guarantor of a commercial shopping center loan in federal litigation
•Represented group of individuals who had purchased illegitimate annuities, in both primary and insurance coverage actions
•Represented numerous business entities and departing individuals in non-compete, trade secret, conspiracy, defamation, and other “business divorce” cases
•Served as local counsel in both state and federal litigation
•Lawyer with Latham & Watkins before joining Gentry Locke
•Federal judicial clerk for the Honorable James C. Turk, Western District of Virginia (2008-2009)
Awards
•Named to “Best Lawyers in America” for Commercial Litigation and Qui Tam Law (2020-2026), and for Appellate Law and Labor and Employment Litigation (2024-2026)
•Named a Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Star in Business/Corporate Law (2012) and Business Litigation (2013-2018)
•Designated one of the Legal Elite by Virginia Business magazine in the area of Civil Litigation (2016-2020, 2023-2025) and Young Lawyer (Under 40, 2015)
Published Work
•Co-author, Rule 68 Offers of Judgment - a Useful Defense Tool; The VADA Journal of Civil Litigation, Vol. XXIV, No. 4 (Winter 2012-2013)
•Co-Author, Internet Theft from Business Bank Accounts - Who Bears the Risk? ; VADA Journal of Civil Litigation, Vol. XXIII, No. 4 (Winter 2011-2012)
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.
•Jul 19, 2016 - Successful Defense of Multi-Million Dollar Defamation Suit Against Newspaper
•May 16, 2014 - Virginia Company Prevails in Hard-Fought Labor Arbitration Case
Library
•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
•Virginia Lawyers Weekly Names Gentry Locke Partner Michael J. Finney a 2025 Go To Lawyer for Business Litigation
News
Feb 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
•Virginia's Largest Jury Verdict Reversed
Articles
Aug 2024
•Cybersecurity FCA Whistleblowers
Articles
Mar 2024
•Supplemental Authority on Appeal: Rules and Considerations
Articles
Jan 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
•Pegasystems Says $2 Billion Trade Secrets Loss Lacked Secrets
Articles
Feb 2023
•2023 Gentry Locke Seminars
Events
May 2022
•Twenty Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to Legal Elite List
News
Dec 2020
•22 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2021
News
Aug 2020
•A Strange New Normal: The Pandemic and a New Virginia Law Usher in the Decade of the Whistleblower
Articles
Apr 2020
•Cybersecurity: Do not let your guard down during COVID-19
Articles
Mar 2020
•21 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America
News
Aug 2019
•Gentry Locke Announces $112.5 Million Settlement in Landmark FCA case against Duke University
News
Apr 2019
•Ten Gentry Locke attorneys named to 2018 'Legal Elite' list
News
Dec 2018
•Piercing the Corporate Veil: Pursuit and Defense of Shareholders' Individual Assets
Events
May 2018
•27 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named 2018 Virginia Super Lawyers or Rising Stars
News
Apr 2018
•Gentry Locke attorneys again recognized as 2017 ‘Legal Elite’
News
Dec 2017
•2017 Employment Law Symposium: The New Frontier
Events
Apr 2017
•28 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named 2017 Virginia Super Lawyers or Rising Stars
News
Apr 2017
•Fifteen Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized as 2016 “Legal Elite”
News
Dec 2016
•Successful Defense of Multi-Million Dollar Defamation Suit Against Newspaper 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 2016
•Twenty-six Gentry Locke Attorneys Named '2016 Virginia Super Lawyers'
News
Apr 2016
•Ten Gentry Locke Attorneys are 2015 'Legal Elite' by Virginia Business Magazine
News
Dec 2015
•Corporate Vigilance and the Veil
Articles
Jun 2015
•28 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named 2015 Virginia Super Lawyers
News
Apr 2015
•27 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to Lists of 2014 Virginia Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
News
Jun 2014
•Virginia Company Prevails in Hard-Fought Labor Arbitration 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
May 2014
•Another Round for Contract v. Tort Claims in Virginia
Articles
Mar 2014
•Protecting Company Assets: The Price of a Dance Ticket Just Went Up
Articles
Oct 2013
•Twenty-five Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 'Virginia Super Lawyers' for 2013
News
Jun 2013
•Rule 68 Offers of Judgment -- a Useful Tool
Articles
Jan 2013
•Gentry Locke Names Two New Partners
News
Jan 2013
•Twenty-four Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 'Virginia Super Lawyers' for 2012
News
Jun 2012
•Piercing the Corporate/LLC Veil: The Pursuit and Defense of Shareholders' Individual Assets
Events
Jul 2011
