Patricia "P.J." B. Turner

P.J. Turner is a partner in the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Construction Law practice groups where she serves as a trial-level and appellate litigator. PJ focuses her practice in the areas of construction and products-liability litigation but has seasoned experience litigating a variety of complex commercial disputes, including those involving contract breaches, business torts, employment matters, collection matters, defamation, and insurance coverage disputes. In addition, P.J. has successfully handled multiple appeals to the Supreme Court of Virginia and Virginia Court of Appeals, as well as appeals to the Third and Fourth Circuit Courts of Appeals.

A quick handshake

•Tell us about where you grew up and the activities you liked to do as a child.

I am lucky enough to have grown up in the Northern Neck of Virginia in a log cabin at the mouth of the Potomac River. Summers were spent from dawn to dusk (and often beyond) crabbing, fishing, water skiing (and every other water sport), and otherwise cruising the Virginia and Maryland waters, always excited when the opportunity to outrun sudden, often violent, weather came upon us. Falls and winters were spent plucking rocks and sand out of fresh wounds caused by dirt bike and go-kart mishaps. Spring was just a pregame for summer.

•You have been snow skiing in Vermont every year since you were six years old. What do you love most about your yearly trips to Vermont?

At this point, one of my greatest joys is sharing the mountains with our kids, watching them get more confident in their abilities and excited to lead us down newly discovered tree and bump runs (that I had conveniently “forgotten” until now).

Experience

Construction

•Represented owners, manufacturers, and suppliers in alleged design defect matters
•Represented owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in alleged construction defect matters
•Represented owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in mediation and litigation in both state and federal courts.
•Represented owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in disputes where significant delay claims, including liquidated damages, were alleged
•Assisted contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in drafting and negotiating contracts
•Represented sureties, general contractors, and subcontractors in connection with bond claims

Products Liability

•Serves as national trial counsel for product manufacturer in asbestos litigation
•Succeeded on appeal in upholding summary judgment rulings by lower federal courts in several product-liability actions
•Obtained summary judgment for publicly traded corporation client numerous times in various product-liability actions
•Represented product manufacturers, contractors, and premises owners in defense of numerous product-liability actions related to garage doors, pumps, air compressors, boilers, HVAC equipment, turbine-generators, electrical equipment, wood roof trusses, gaskets, packing, automotive brakes and clutches, and other residential and commercial products and equipment
•Assisted in preparing nationwide strategy for publicly traded corporation client in defending products-liability actions concerning certain asbestos-containing electrical products
•Has taken and defended over 100 fact and expert depositions

Awards

•Named “Richmond Lawyer of the Year” for Construction Law (2026) by The Best Lawyers in America
•Named one of The Best Lawyers in America in Construction Law and Construction Litigation Law (2025 - 2026)
•Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2014-2020 for Personal Injury - Products: Defense

Library

•31 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers 2026 Lists
News
Aug 2025
•35 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers 2025 Lists
News
Aug 2024
•Gentry Locke Welcomes Litigator Patricia B. “PJ” Turner to Its Richmond Office
News
Jun 2023