Nick Leitch focused the first thirty years of his law practice on the defense of medical malpractice and products liability claims. His clients included a wide variety of health care providers, including physicians, nurses, hospitals, managed care organizations, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and ancillary health care providers. He now uses that wealth of experience to represent people who have been injured as a result of substandard health care.
Nick has lectured on various issues concerning medical negligence cases, including EMTALA (Emergency Medical Transfer and Active Labor Act), informed consent, patient confidentiality, and general quality assurance/risk management topics to numerous groups of medical professionals, such as the Alleghany-Bath Medical Society, the Virginia Society of Hospital Risk Managers, Virginia Western Community College, and the Parish Nurse Association. He has been recognized as a Virginia Super Lawyer in Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice since 2013, and has been listed with Best Lawyers in America for Medical Malpractice Defense consistently since 2010.
A quick handshake
•You've performed in several operas and many musicals. What is your favorite character to perform?
My all-time favorite was performing Pirelli in 'Sweeney Todd' with the Opera Roanoke. He was a bad guy who was funny and over-the-top in every respect. Every time I finished a bit the director would ask, 'Can you do more...?' By the time we were performing it was way, way over the top!
•What is your next scheme to cram more wildflowers in your garden?
First we have to protect them from the dogs, because newfies like flowers, too. Maybe we'll work on getting another level going or try vertical gardening.
•Do you have a guiding philosophy for your law practice?
Everybody's entitled to the best representation that can be provided, no matter what their stature in society. No matter who my client is, the client's situation is always more important than my situation. Their needs come first and always will. They deserve and get the best I have to give. Whatever is left over goes to my wife and the dogs.
Experience
•Jury trial involving the failure of a radiologist to identify a hip fracture on an infant
•Jury trial involving the failure of an endocrinologist to diagnose Cushing’s Syndrome
•Federal jury trial in which a phrenic nerve was damaged in the course of administering anesthesia, resulting in the paralysis of a lung
•Jury trial for a wrongful death claim against a gastroenterologist for failure to diagnose a lack of abdominal blood flow (mesenteric ischemia) in a patient
Awards
•Recognized by “Virginia Super Lawyers” in the area of Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice (2013-2019, 2025)
•Listed among The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Medical Malpractice Law: Defendants (2010-2026), named “Roanoke Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation: Defendants” (2019)
Library
•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
•No Cap, Your Damages Are Capped
Articles
Dec 2024
•35 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers 2025 Lists
News
Aug 2024
•The Guardians of the Courthouse Gates: Virginia’s Requirement for Pre-Service Expert Certification in Medical Malpractice Cases
Articles
Mar 2024
•30 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers 2024 Lists
News
Aug 2023
•22 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2021
News
Aug 2020
•Gentry Locke Partner Nick Leitch Voted Into the American Board of Trial Advocates
News
Oct 2019
•21 Gentry Locke Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America
News
Aug 2019
•Panelist, Ethical Advocacy in Mediation
Events
May 2019
•25 Gentry Locke attorneys named 2019 Virginia Super Lawyers or Rising Stars
News
Apr 2019
•20 Gentry Locke Attorneys Named to 2019 'Best Lawyers in America '
News
Aug 2018
•The Importance of Quality Documentation
Events
Aug 2018
•Seasoned Medical Malpractice Attorney Powell M. “Nick” Leitch III Joins Gentry Locke
News
Apr 2018
•Law and Medicine: Physicians in the Courtroom presentation
Events
Apr 2018
