FACULTY
John E. Davidson, Davidson & Kitzmann / Charlottesville
Mr. Davidson's practice spans the areas of employment law, appeals, and trials of all kinds, with an emphasis on federal court litigation, including complex civil and criminal matters. He also handles all matters for healthcare professionals, including employment, contracts, disciplinary
and licensure issues.
Mr. Davidson is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was a member of the Virginia Law Review. Upon graduation, the faculty awarded him the Earle K. Shawe Labor Relations Award as the graduate with the greatest promise in the field of labor relations. Following a clerkship with a federal judge, Mr. Davidson practiced with a national law firm, McGuireWoods LLP, where he was a defense lawyer for publicly-traded corporations, insurance companies, banks, and government entities. In 2000, Mr. Davidson co-founded Davidson & Kitzmann, PLC in Charlottesville, expanding his practice to include the representation of individuals.
Mr. Davidson is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Virginia School of Law, where he has taught for 14 consecutive academic years. He teaches Trial Advocacy in the fall semester
and Employment Law: Principles and Practice in the spring semester.
By invitation, Mr. Davidson is a permanent member of the Judicial Conference of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The Fourth Circuit has appointed him to his current four-year terms on the court’s Appellate Panel and Capital Panel. He is the immediate past chair of the amicus curiae committee of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and the
current chair of its judicial relations committee.
Mr. Davidson is rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell. He also appears in the current editions of Best Lawyers in America, Legal Elite® by Virginia Business magazine, “Top Attorneys in Virginia” by Richmond magazine, and “Virginia SuperLawyer”® by SuperLawyers.*
Mr. Davidson has served and continues to serve in a variety of civic and leadership positions. A representative sample includes:
- Board, Thomas C. Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia (presently)
- Board of Governors, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (presently)
- Board, Carson Raymond Foundation (presently)
- Board, Cavalier Wrestling Club (presently)
- Board of Governors, Piedmont Virginia Community College (2000-2008)
- Board, Charlottesville Corps of The Salvation Army (1998-2008)
Mr. Davidson is the supervising attorney for the Virginia Department of Employee Dispute Resolution’s law student advocate program, where he supervises a pro bono clinic of law students at the University of Virginia School of Law representing state employees in grievances.
Mr. Davidson is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia, and the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Sean M. Gibbons, Roth Doner Jackson Gibbons Condlin / Richmond
Mr. Gibbons is a labor and employment attorney. He represents employers in administrative and litigation matters arising out of claims of race, sex, age, religion and disability discrimination, as well as claims filed under the FLSA, the FMLA and ERISA. Mr. Gibbons also represents clients in covenant not to compete and trade secret cases.
In addition to litigation, Mr. Gibbons advises clients on numerous employment related issues in order to develop and implement practical employment policies and procedures for his clients. Mr. Gibbons also provides training to employers in all areas of labor and employment law, including anti-harassment training, workplace complaints and investigations, hiring and interviewing, wage and hour, and discipline and discharge. In traditional labor matters, Mr. Gibbons has represented employers in collective bargaining negotiations and administrative hearings.
Mr. Gibbons also provides guidance to clients involved in business acquisitions. In connection with these transactions, he reviews and drafts employment and restrictive covenant agreements and assists clients with various employment issues which may arise during such transactions.
Mr. Gibbons is consistently recognized as one of Virginia’s “Legal Elite” by Virginia Business magazine and as a “Super Lawyer” by Virginia Super Lawyers magazine. In 2012 and 2013, Mr. Gibbons was recognized as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers In Virginia” and in 2012 as one of the “Top 50 Lawyers in Richmond” by Virginia Super Lawyers magazine. He is also listed in Best Lawyers in America for Labor & Employment Law.
MODERATOR AND CHAIR of the Program Planning Committee
David Paxton, Gentry Locke / Roanoke
W. David Paxton is a partner with Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore LLP. He represents and advises businesses, non-profits, directors, officers, and executives in the areas of labor & employment law and complex litigation. He is the Chair of Gentry Locke’s labor and employment practice, is a frequent guest speaker at national and regional employment law seminars, and has been included in "Best Lawyers in America" for Labor & Employment for the past 16 years. Prior to joining Gentry Locke, David was a Navy JAG officer who served at the NLSO on Guam and in NAMARA in DC. He received his law degree from the University of Virginia and his BA from Hampden-Sydney College.