×
Go back to Martindale-Avvo ➔

Gentry Locke AttorneysAssociate
no photo
Pro

J. Cole Gayle, Jr.

4.5
5 reviews

919 E. Main Street, Suite 1130, Richmond, VA 23219

Business Litigation, Civil Defense Litigation and Municipal & Local Government

About J. Cole Gayle, Jr.

Cole Gayle

is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice group. Prior to joining the firm as an attorney, Cole worked as a Summer Associate with Gentry Locke before graduating from the Washington and Lee University School of Law. While in law school, Cole worked as a judicial intern to Chief Judge W. Reilly Marchant. Prior to law school, he was a legal assistant and paralegal for The Consumer Law Group. Cole’s practice will focus on general commercial litigation matters.

Cole received his J.D. from the Washington and Lee University School of Law and his undergrad degree from Hampden-Sydney College.

A quick handshake

•You attended both Hampden-Sydney and Washington and Lee - Aren’t they rivals?

They are definitely rivals. I am proud of being both a Hampden-Sydney man and a W&L man, but I am a Tiger at heart! The two schools actually have a lot in common - they are both old Virginia institutions, and both schools focus on community and honor.

•What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

One of my biggest hobbies is seeing live music, especially with my dad and with friends. I also love travelling, so having something to travel for like a live show makes travel easy and fun to plan. My friends and I use live music as an excuse to meet up wherever our favorite bands are playing. We love seeing bluegrass and rock shows, but I have been on a country kick lately.

•You've chopped down over 100 trees? Tell me about that!

Before going down the path of law, I worked for a bit as an arborist. It is a tough job! Being in a dangerous industry taught me the importance of teamwork and communication, and I try to bring those lessons to my work as a lawyer.

Experience

•Assisted with researching and drafting motions, briefs, and proposed orders submitted to the court
•Assisted with contract drafting and revisions (lease, affiliate, etcetera)

Library

•Gentry Locke Adds Five New Associates to the Firm
News
Dec 2025

 

J. Cole Gayle, Jr. (Richmond, Virginia) View website

Awards

Silver Client Champion
This award is granted to attorneys who have received at least 3 client reviews, and have an average review score of 4.0 or higher.
Champion Badge Silver

Client Champion Awards

Client Champion awards recognize those attorneys who excel at service as affirmed by their clients. The awards, based on the quantity and quality of an attorney’s Martindale-Hubbell client reviews, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent client service. Award recipients stand out from their peers with a platinum, gold or silver icon.

Champion Badge Silver

At least three reviews and a score of 4.0 or higher.

J. Cole Gayle, Jr. got this award in 2021

Champion Badge Gold

At least six reviews and a score of 4.2 or higher.

Champion Badge Platinum

At least ten reviews and a score of 4.5 or higher.

Martindale Peer Awards

A lawyer who receives a minimum threshold of qualifying responses from fellow attorneys can qualify for one of three prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings:

Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating

AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Distinguished Rating

Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

J. Cole Gayle, Jr. got this award in 2021

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Notable Rating

Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

Avvo Awards

Avvo Top Contributor

Avvo Top Contributor: The Avvo Top Contributor Award is granted to attorneys who have earned significant contribution points in a given year on our sister site, Avvo.com. Contribution points are earned by answering questions in Q&A, publishing Legal Guides, and other useful contributions to the Avvo community.

Avvo Client Choice

Avvo Client’s Choice: The Avvo Client's Choice Award Badge is granted to attorneys with a significant number of 4+ star reviews in a given year.

Reviews for J. Cole

Have you consulted or hired this lawyer?

Leave a review about your experience with this lawyer.

Write a Review

Overall Rating
4.5
See All Reviews
5
Showing 1-5 of 5 client reviews from Lawyers.com
Lawyers.com Rating Snapshot
5 stars
60%
4 stars
20%
3 stars
0%
2 stars
20%
1 star
0%
What do people say on Lawyers.com?
Communication
4.6
Quality of Service
4.2
Responsiveness
4.4
Value for Money
4.2
Lemon Law
Posted by Gilberto
July 17, 2025
Hired Attorney

Great Law Firm. Excellent representation. I highly recommend them. They are a leading Law firm in the lemon Law statue. They have a top notch staff that are very knowledgeable and are always there to answer all your questions.

Consumer Law
Posted by anonymous
January 04, 2017
Hired Attorney

I was very fortunate to have found Mr. Gayle and his firm. Who better to handle your Lemon Law case than the man who co-wrote the Virginia Lemon Law? Mr. Gayle and his staff are utmost professionals and extremely knowledgeable. John Gayle is a top notch attorney, and if he decides to take your case, you will be in good hands.

Consumer Law
Posted by anonymous
April 09, 2011
Hired Attorney

Professional; knowledgeable; client welfare was the first priority.

Consumer Law
Posted by anonymous
November 01, 2010
Hired Attorney

Mr. Gayle is an excellent attorney who operates with integrity and honesty. He does not make any false promises or in any way paint a false picture and he's very pleasant to deal with.

Consumer Law
Posted by anonymous
August 12, 2018
Hired Attorney

John won my case but conned me out of 90% of my settlement money. If you have another option please use its

Services

Areas of Law

  • Business Law 1
    • Business Litigation
  • Other 2
    • Civil Defense Litigation
    • Municipal & Local Government

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    1979, Virginia
    1986, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
    1980, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
    2010, U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
    Memberships
    Virginia State Bar.
  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    Washington and Lee University School of Law
    J.D.
    Other Education
    Hampden-Sydney College
    B.A.
  • Personal Details & History
    Age
    Born in 1952
    Richmond, Virginia, September 11, 1952

Email J. Cole Gayle, Jr.

Case type is required.
I am is required.
First name is required.
Last name is required.
A valid zip code is required.
Country is required.
State is required.
A valid city is required.
A valid email address is required.
A valid phone number is required.
Message is required.
0/1000 characters

By clicking the Submit button, you agree to the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms and Privacy Policy. You also consent to be contacted at the phone number you provided, including by autodials, text messages and/or pre-recorded calls, from Lawyers.com and its affiliates and from or on behalf of attorneys you request or contact through this site. Consent is not a condition of purchase.

You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Emails sent through this site do not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent though this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. See Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Thank you! Your message has been successfully sent.

For your records, a copy of this email has been sent to test@test.com.

Summary of Your Message
Case Type:
I am a/an:
First Name:
Last Name:
City:
Zip Code or Postal Code:
State:
Country:
Phone Number:
Message:
Return to Profile Reset Form

Attorneys FAQs

  • Is this attorney admitted to practice in any U.S. Federal Courts?
    J. Cole Gayle, Jr. is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia.
  • Is this attorney Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review rated?
    Yes, J. Cole Gayle, Jr. has a 4.6 Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
  • Is this attorney Martindale-Hubbell Client Review rated?
    Yes, J. Cole Gayle, Jr. has a 4.4 Client Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
  • How many attorneys are in this law firm?
    Gentry Locke Attorneys has 3 attorneys at this location.
  • What law school did this attorney attend?
    J. Cole Gayle, Jr. attended Washington and Lee University School of Law.

Attorney information displayed in this FAQ section is based upon information the lawyer has included on their profile, in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals.

These FAQs include information about a lawyer's background, but do not evaluate their knowledge of the law, past performance on individual cases, personality, or communication skills.

It is solely the responsibility of lawyers and law firms to ensure that any information they provide complies with all applicable laws and rules of professional conduct.

You should be aware that the information we rely upon may not be comprehensive, or frequently updated.

Always research the lawyer further to get a better understanding of their license credentials, disciplinary status, background, and experience.

Lawyers.com Client Reviews

Martindale-Hubbell® Client Review Ratings™ display reviews submitted by individuals who have either hired or consulted the lawyers or law firms.

The Client Review Rating score is determined through the aggregation of validated responses. People who submit reviews are either individuals who consulted with the lawyer/law firm or who hired the lawyer/law firm and want to share their experience of that lawyer or law firm with other potential clients. Reviewers can be anyone who consults or hires a lawyer including in-house counsel, corporate executives, small business owners, and private individuals.

Martindale-Hubbell validates that a reviewer is a person with a valid email address. As part of the review process, respondents must affirm that they have had an initial consultation, are currently a client or have been a client of the lawyer or law firm identified, although Martindale-Hubbell cannot confirm the lawyer/client relationship as it is often confidential. The content of the responses is entirely from reviewers.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome and Martindale-Hubbell accepts no responsibility for the content or accuracy of any review. For more information on Martindale-Hubbell Client Review Ratings, please visit our Client Review Page

Martindale Peer Reviews

Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ are the gold standard in attorney ratings, and have been for more than a century. These ratings indicate attorneys who are widely respected by their peers for their ethical standards and legal expertise in a specific area of practice.

The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings process is the gold standard due to its objectivity and comprehensiveness. Lawyers solicited for peer reviews include both those selected by the attorney being reviewed and lawyers independently selected by Martindale-Hubbell. All reviewers are verified as attorneys through Martindale-Hubbell’s extensive attorney database. Only attorneys practicing at least three years and receiving a sufficient number of reviews from non-affiliated attorneys are eligible to receive a Rating.

What are the different Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings?*

• AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

• Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

• Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

Lawyers who have received peer reviews after 2009 will display more detailed information, including practice areas, summary ratings, detailed numeric ratings and written feedback (if available). Details for individual reviews received before 2009 are not displayed.

Attorneys that receive reviews from their peers, but not a sufficient number to establish a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating, will have those reviews display on our websites.

For more information on Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings™, please visit our Ratings Page on Martindale.com and our Frequently Asked Questions