Paul Klockenbrink is a Partner in Gentry Locke’s Labor & Employment law group. Paul advises and represents employers throughout Virginia regarding employment law issues, as well as the litigation of non-compete agreements, and business-related claims. Paul is a frequent speaker at national and regional employment law seminars and also leads the firm’s Restaurant & Hospitality practice group. During his 30+ years with Gentry Locke, Paul has brought cases through successful jury verdicts involving discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, non-competition, defamation, and malicious prosecution. Paul is consistently noted as a
Virginia Super Lawyer in Employment & Labor Law, and since 2009 he has earned a spot on the
Best Lawyers in America list in Employment Law - Management.
A quick handshake
•What do you think you would be doing if you were not a lawyer?
Wildlife biology or a National Geographic wildlife photographer.
•With all of your travels, what’s left on your wish list?
I want to go back to Africa as many times as possible. Someday I want to go to India to catch a glimpse of a tiger.
•What do you like to do outside of work?
I have two great kids and I always like to stay connected to what they are up to. I work out and play soccer. Photography, of course. And I’m a huge Green Bay Packers fan.
•What important life lesson do you share with others?
Follow your passion. It will never lead you wrong.
Experience
•Represent management and companies in broad cross section of industries on labor and employment issue that arise on a daily basis such as hiring, union avoidance, leave issues under FMLA/ADA, wage and hour issues, investigation of misconduct, termination issues, unemployment claims and EEO Complaints
•Extensive litigation experience involving claims of theft and trade secrets and disclosure of confidential information in violation of noncompetition/nondisclosure agreements
•Representation of companies before EEOC, Department of Labor, and other agencies, including mediation
•Representation of management and training of supervisors regarding union activity
•Obtained multiple defense verdicts in federal jury trials in sexual harassment and ADA cases
•Obtained dismissal of lawsuits and claims on behalf of companies in discrimination cases
•Representation of publicly traded company in alleged discrimination matter and Sarbanes Oxley claim along with separation issues involving former executive
•Representation of local school boards and municipalities in connection with termination issues and separation packages
Awards
•Named a “Go To Lawyer” for Employment Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (2024)
•Named one of The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Employment Law - Management (2009-2026) Labor & Employment Litigation (2011-2026)
•Named to Virginia Super Lawyers in the area of Employment & Labor (2007-2021) and Employment Litigation: Defense (2021-2025), included in Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel edition (2009) and Super Lawyers Business Edition US in the area of Employment & Labor (2012-2014)
•Designated one of Virginia’s Legal Elite in Labor & Employment Law by Virginia Business magazine (2007, 2016, 2019-2025)
•American Jurisprudence Awards in Torts (1986) and Evidence (1987)
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.
•Oct 19, 2023 - Upheld Opinion in Gender Pay Bias Case
•Aug 4, 2016 - Employer Defeats Hostile Workplace Claim
•Sep 1, 2015 - Allegation of Americans with Disability Act Discrimination Against Municipality Dismissed
•May 29, 2015 - University Prevails on Motion to Dismiss Claims by Former Employee
•Apr 23, 2015 - Company Prevails Twice in Hostile Work Environment Claim
Library
•26 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2025 Virginia Business Legal Elite List
News
Dec 2025
•Gentry Locke Partners Paul G. Klockenbrink and John G. Danyluk Recognized by Virginia Lawyers Weekly
News
Sep 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
•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
•23 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2023 Virginia Business Legal Elite List
News
Nov 2023
•Upheld Opinion in Gender Pay Bias Case - A Win for Gentry Locke’s Client
Articles
Oct 2023
•Upheld Opinion in Gender Pay Bias 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
Oct 2023
•Update on Key HR Issues for Business Seminar
Events
Aug 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
•2023 Employment Law Symposium: Be the HR Hero!
Events
Feb 2023
•FTC’s Proposed Rule to Ban Noncompete Agreements - Initial Reactions
Articles
Jan 2023
•Twenty Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2022 Legal Elite List
News
Dec 2022
•Super Lawyers 2022 Recognizes 17 Gentry Locke Lawyers
News
May 2022
•2023 Gentry Locke Seminars
Events
May 2022
•Don't Leave HR to Luck: Gentry Locke's 2022 Employment Law Symposium
Events
Jan 2022
•2021 Labor and Employment Webinars
Events
May 2021
•Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Recognizes 18 Lawyers on 2021 Lists
News
May 2021
•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
•Virginia’s New Laws
Articles
Jun 2020
•Helping Employers Navigate COVID-19 and Virginia's New Workplace Laws: A Four-Part Series
Events
Apr 2020
•20 Gentry Locke Lawyers Named as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
News
Apr 2020
•Revised CDC Guidance for Critical Industry Workers
Articles
Apr 2020
•Don't Leave HR to Luck: 2020 Employment Law Symposium (Postponed)
Events
Mar 2020
•Developing an Effective Business Response to COVID-19
Articles
Mar 2020
•The Interplay Between FMLA, ADA, & WC
Events
Oct 2019
•Non-Competition Issues and Strategies
Events
Sep 2019
•New Overtime Rules Effective January 1, 2020
News
Sep 2019
•21 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America
News
Aug 2019
•Avoiding and Managing Risk in an Era of Constant Changes in the Retail & Hospitality Industries - #MeToo
Events
Aug 2019
•25 Gentry Locke attorneys named 2019 Virginia Super Lawyers or Rising Stars
News
Apr 2019
•Department of Labor Eliminates 80/20 Rule for Tipped Employees
Articles
Feb 2019
•20 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2019 'Best Lawyers in America '
News
Aug 2018
•Navigating the Defense of Multi-Defendant Litigation to Avoid Ethical and Professional Negligence Issues
Events
Jun 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
•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
•Employment Law Jeopardy: a “Daily Double” (or Even Triple) Dose of Hot Topics
Events
Mar 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
•Employer Defeats Hostile Workplace 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
Aug 2016
•New DOL Overtime Rules Double FLSA Exemption Threshold
Articles
May 2016
•Tip Pooling - Are the Rules Changing?
Articles
May 2016
•Twenty-six Gentry Locke Attorneys Named '2016 Virginia Super Lawyers'
News
Apr 2016
•October Business Briefings: New DOL Overtime/Pay Pronouncements
Events
Sep 2015
•Allegation of Americans with Disability Act Discrimination Against Municipality Dismissed 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
Sep 2015
•23 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2016 “Best Lawyers in America”
News
Aug 2015
•University Prevails on Motion to Dismiss Claims by Former Employee 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 2015
•Gentry Locke Labor & Employment Law Symposia a Hit
News
Apr 2015
•Company Prevails Twice in Hostile Work Environment 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 2015
•28 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named 2015 Virginia Super Lawyers
News
Apr 2015
•Fluctuate Away: When can an Employer Pay Half-time for Overtime?
Articles
Feb 2015
•13 Gentry Locke Attorneys Featured in '2014 Super Lawyers' US Business Edition
News
Nov 2014
