News

The firm is proud to announce that Darius Davenport and been elected to serve as Vice-Chairman of the Suffolk Wetlands Board for 2016-2017. The Suffolk Wetlands Board is a seven member body, appointed by the City Council, responsible for the review of requests for permits for the alteration, development, or use of wetlands. The Wetlands Board also is responsible for the enforcement of the regulations, investigation of unauthorized activities affecting wetlands, and the rectification of violations. There are over 5,500 acres of tidal wetlands in the City of Suffolk. Tidal wetlands serve as spawning and nursery grounds for a variety of marine life. In addition to their habitat value, these areas also assist in flood control, improve water quality, reduce erosion, and serve as an important food source for marine and inland wildlife.…

Crenshaw, Ware & Martin is pleased to announce that seven of its lawyers have been named to the 2017 Edition of Best Lawyers in America. Delphine G. Carnes Project Finance Law Public Finance Law James L. Chapman IV Admiralty and Maritime Law Commercial Litigation Howard W. Martin, Jr. Real Estate Law Donald C. Schultz Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law Litigation-Bankruptcy W. Ryan Snow Admiralty and Maritime Law Guilford D. Ware Admiralty and Maritime Law…

The organization appointed the following officers to serve for 2016-2017:   Steven Stancliff (Crenshaw, Ware & Martin PLC), president; Osman Lambiro (Sentara Life Care), vice president; Jennifer Bonsiewich (Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP), treasurer; Bonnie Lane (Goodman, Allen and Donnelly), secretary; and directors Paul Aravich (Glennan Center for Geriatrics & Gerontology, EVMS), ex officio; Brian Friedman (American Campus Group), at large; Donna Long (GovSolutions, Inc.), at large; Emma Inman (Cox Communications Virginia), at large; Dennis Loftus (Riverside Health System), at large; Kelly Murphy (NASA), ex officio; Holly Spires, at large; Katie Stanley, at large; and Stephen Taylor (Oast & Taylor), at large. Inside Business Journal…

Norfolk Botanical Garden announced that Ryan Snow will serve as Vice Chair of the Norfolk Botanical Garden Board of Trustees.  Ryan has served on the board since 2012 and has also served on the board of directors for the Norfolk Botanical Garden Foundation since 2013. Inside Business Journal…

Arbitration clauses in contracts are enforceable, but if a contract allows only certain claims to be arbitrated, then the party desiring arbitration has to prove that it has such a claim.  And in Virginia, the party has to prove it to a judge, not the arbitrator.  CWM attorneys represented the owner when both of these issues were contested in Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority v. Everest Construction Management Group, Inc. The dispute resolution clause in a construction contract between an owner and a contractor stated that if the contractor submitted a claim for more money or a time extension and the owner denied it, then the contractor had 30 days to challenge that decision by either (1) referring the matter to arbitration, (2) pursuing an administrative appeal, or (3) filing a lawsuit.  When the contractor attempted to refer two denied claims to arbitration, the owner sought court intervention to quash the arbitration because (1) the contractor had already pursued an administrative appeal with respect to the first claim, and (2) the contractor waited 242 days to refer the second claim to arbitration.  The contractor objected, arguing that only the arbitrator, not the court, could decide whether the two claims were arbitrable.  The circuit court in Norfolk disagreed with the contractor, and held that it had the authority to decide if the claims could be arbitrated.  After an evidentiary hearing, the court agreed with the owner and quashed the arbitration because neither of the claims met the conditions precedent for arbitration. The lesson?  If a contract says only certain claims can be submitted to arbitration, then courts in Virginia have the authority to determine whether a particular claim meets the contract requirements for arbitration. © Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, P.L.C.   This information is educational only; it is not legal advice. CWM attorneys, Ryan Snow and David Hartnett, represented the owner in the case.…

For over sixty years, Crenshaw, Ware & Martin has served as general counsel to Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (the “Authority” or “NRHA”).  Our work with the Authority supports its commitment to provide quality housing choices to households of all incomes, and to create a healthy physical and social environment for residents of its communities.  At a recent meeting, Barbara Hamm Lee, Chair of NRHA, shared with the Authority’s Commissioners an audio of a WHRO radio segment which featured a recently published book entitled Everyone is Welcome:  Dreams from Norfolk’s Youngest Voices.  Ms. Hamm Lee noted how the voices of these young students tell an important story about life within their community and how the book serves as an inspirational message to each of us of the importance of NRHA’s work and its impact on these young lives. Tidewater Park elementary students, from grades 3 through 5, participated in a writing club that met weekly in an after-school program.  There, they worked closely with the Literacy Fellows, a group of ten students from Norfolk Academy who provided writing classes and workbooks packed with word games and writing challenges to inspire the young writers.  The result was a collection of writings by the Tidewater Park Elementary School students of poetry, essays and short reflections on their families, community and aspirations. The writings by these young Tidewater Park students are probably best summed up by Beth Fraim who wrote the book’s introduction. “In this collection of student writing, one finds the fun and fantasy of childhood dreams as well as the serious and somber hopes for making their city a better place to live, work and play.  Most importantly, we find these children dreaming not for themselves, but for the needs and well-being of others and the greater good of their community.” On Friday, May 20, 2016 at Tidewater Park Elementary School, thirty three delighted young authors attended the official launching of the book and read excerpts of their writings as Mayor Paul Fraim, and his wife Beth, listened along with teachers, family and friends. The title of the book came from a reflection of one of the young authors, “I would make sure that everyone feels welcome.  I would make a sign that says ‘Everyone is Welcome’.” [caption id="attachment_2098" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Photographs courtesy of Norfolk Academy[/caption] WHRO, Another View, Everyone is Welcome:  Dreams from Norfolk's Youngest Voices The books are available for sale at Norfolk Academy bookstore or at Prince Books in downtown Norfolk.  All proceeds from the sale of the book support the expansion of the Literacy Fellows Program and the Boys and Girls Club at Tidewater Park Elementary School.…

James L. Chapman, Jr., a partner with the firm, was elected to serve as rector of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University Board of Visitors for the coming year. He is a 1979 Tech graduate with a law degree from Washington and Lee University. Announcement…

Crenshaw, Ware & Martin is proud to announce that Howard W. Martin, Jr.  received the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority Clarissa E. McAdoo Houser Award for Distinguished Service.  The Houser Award is given once every five years to recognize exemplary service to the Authority.   Branch Lawson, Chairman of SRHA, presented the award to Mr. Martin at the Authority’s 45th Anniversary Celebration on April 23, 2016.  Mr. Martin has served as legal counsel to SRHA for almost fifteen years. Mr. Martin focuses his practice in the areas of Real Estate, Land Use, and Redevelopment and Housing Law.  He joined the firm in 1971, after serving four years in the U.S. Navy, including tours at sea and two years in the Navy JAG Corps.   During his 45 years in practice with CWM, Mr. Martin has served as Managing Partner of the firm, President of the Virginia State Bar, President of the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association, and President of the Virginia Law Foundation.…

Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, P.L.C. is pleased to announce that ten of its lawyers were included in the 2016 list of Virginia Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars.  According to Virginia Super Lawyers®, less than 5% of all lawyers in Virginia are selected in the process, which includes peer nominations combined with independent research.  The 2016 attorneys are: Top 100 Virginia Super Lawyers Donald C. Schultz Virginia Super Lawyers James L. Chapman, IV – Transportation/Maritime Donald C. Schultz – Creditor Debtor Rights W. Ryan Snow – Business Litigation Steven M. Stancliff – Transportation/Maritime Virginia Rising Stars Steven L. Brinker – Business & Corporate Delphine G. Carnes – Tax Darius K. Davenport – Civil Litigation: Defense C. Wiley Grandy – Business Litigation David C. Hartnett – Business Litigation Elaine Inman Hogan – Employment & Labor  …

CWM attorney Ryan Snow has been named a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, a national honor society of appellate and trial lawyers dedicated to superior advocacy and ethical standards. Membership in the LCA is by invitation only and represents less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Ryan is the Managing Partner of the firm and chairs the firm’s Business Disputes and Construction Law practice groups.…