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Darius K. Davenport

Darius is a partner and Chairman of the Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Practice Group of Crenshaw, Ware & Martin. His practice focuses on data privacy laws and regulations, helping clients mitigate cyber risk, and dealing with the legal and practical problems resulting from cyber incidents. His cybersecurity counsel to businesses and municipalities includes drafting and review of incident response plans, cybersecurity employee policies, technology contracts and conducting cybersecurity and breach response exercises. He is frequently invited to speak on cybersecurity and data privacy issues.

Mr. Davenport’s practice also includes complex litigation in state and federal courts with an emphasis on public sector law, employment law and insurance defense. He represents housing authorities, businesses and municipalities across the region. Mr. Davenport has extensive experience developing, drafting and interpreting government regulations and policies. As a former U.S. Army JAG attorney, he has provided legal advice and counsel to senior government officials on a wide variety of legal issues.

Practice Areas

Cybersecurity and Data PrivacyPractice Group ChairAdmiralty and Maritime Law Employment Law Government Contracting Litigation Railroad and Transit Law

Business & Industries

Redevelopment & Housing Authorities

Railroads

Cargo & Shipping Interests

U.S. and International Insurers

Small Business & Nonprofits

Government & Education Policy

Honors & Awards

AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell

Listed in Virginia Super Lawyers "Rising Stars", Civil Litigation: Defense, 2015-2017

Listed in Virginia's Legal Elite by Virginia Business Magazine, Intellectual Property Information Technology, 2019

Walter E. Hoffman Community Service Award, Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association, 2013

Education

University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., 2002

Norfolk State University, B.A., 1999

Military Service

United States Army, Judge Advocate General's Corps, Captain

Bar/Court Admissions

Virginia State Bar

Wisconsin State Bar

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia

U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia

U.S. Supreme Court

United States Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit

Memberships

Virginia Bar Association

Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association (Strategic Planning Committee, 2011)

Old Dominion Bar Association (Executive Board)

South Hampton Roads Bar Association (Past President)

James Kent American Inn of Court (Administrator, 2006-2015)

Local Government Attorneys of Virginia

Defense Research Institute

IR Global (Maritime Law and Data Privacy & Security)

Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute

Community Involvement

Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore (Board member)

Virginia State Bar, Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board (Board member); Study Committee on Future of Law (Technology and the Practice of Law Sub-committee)

City of Suffolk, Wetlands Board (Member; Vice-Chairman, 2016-present)

Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Norfolk Division (Board of Directors; Co-chair Governmental Affairs Committee)

Community Action Coalition of Virginia Board

Articles and Presentations

Representative Cases

Representative Experience

Faculty, “Cybersecurity for Virginia Lawyers”, Lawline CLE (October 26, 2018); Listed as one of Lawline’s Top Virginia Faculty (October 2019)
“Hacking at Sea, The Maritime Industry’s Vulnerability to Cyberattack ”, For the Defense, Defense Research Institute, Co-author (October 2019)
Presenter, “Cyber Crime”, Virginia Cyber Alliance Professional Workshop Series, Old Dominion University (June 21, 2019)
Co-presenter, Gone Phishing: Cybersecurity for Local Governments, Local Government Attorney Association 2019 Spring Conference (April 4, 2019)
Co-presenter, Cyber-Ethics: How Not To Let Your Computer Get You Disbarred, Twenty-First Annual Bench/Bar Conference, Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association (April 1, 2019)
Future of Law Practice, 2019 Report of The Virginia State Bar’s Special Committee on the Future of Law Practice, Darius K. Davenport, contributing author, Chapter 2.8.
Presenter, “Cybersecurity for Public Housing Agencies,” Virginia Association of Housing and Community Development Officials 2018 Legal and Policy Seminar (November 2018)
“Hackers and Why They Hack – and Why You Need to Know”, For the Defense, Defense Research Institute, Co-author (October 2018)
“Mitigating the Cost of Data Breach”, Data and Security Dispatch, Defense Research Institute (DRI), Volume 4 Issue 2 (October 04, 2018)
Panelist, “Public Housing Executive Legal Case Study Panel Discussion,” HADA Seminar, Colorado Springs Marriott (September 26, 2018)
Presenter, “Cybersecurity Liability in the Public Sector,” HADA Seminar, Colorado Springs Marriott (September 25, 2018)
Panelist, “Cyberattacks: No Business is Immune”, Cox Business Executive Discussion Series (September 2018)
Expert Column, “Make sure your cybersecurity team includes a breach lawyer”, Inside Business Journal (August 3, 2018)
Co-presenter, “Anatomy of a Cyber Breach and Response for Maritime Lawyers and Their Clients”, Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute’s (SEALI) Annual Seminar (June 2018)
Presenter, “Cybersecurity and Data Privacy in Today’s Legal Practice”, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2018 Annual Convention (March 2018)
Presenter, Recent Developments in Community Security, Housing Authority Insurance Group Fall Collaborative (2017)
“Cyber Incident Reporting and the Department of Defense”, Data and Security Dispatch, Defense Research Institute (DRI), Volume 3 Issue 2 (November 21, 2017)
Co-presenter, “Cybersecurity and Business Resiliency”, CWM/mode5 Presentation (2017)
Presenter, “Cybersecurity and Data Privacy for Law Firms”, Old Dominion Bar Association Annual Meeting (2017)
Co-presenter, “Planning is Not a Luxury: Motivating Early Career Planning Through the Coach Approach”, National Association for Law Placement (2014)
Co-presenter, “Increasing the Effectiveness, Clarity, Productivity, and Value of Your Organization through Strategic Planning”, presented at National Association of Law Placement Conference
Presenter, “Office Management Boot Camp”, presented at National Association of Law Placement Conference

Darius has litigated a host of cases in Federal and State Courts.

Assist clients by developing incident response plans, legal policies and training programs to manage cybersecurity risks and mitigate liability.
Provide counsel to clients regarding cybersecurity and data privacy issues and litigation.
Represents local housing authorities in landlord tenant law, tort liability, and a host of other civil matters.
Represents railroads in various litigation matters.
Represents marine insurers and insureds across the full range of marine insurance disputes.
Represents clients across a range of business disputes.
Limitation of Liability actions on behalf of vessel owners.
Federal and state court litigation in Virginia.
Adjunct Professor of Law, Regent University School of Law & Handong International Law School.
Law Career Professional Development.
Captain, United States Army, Judge Advocate General Corps (2002-2006).
Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

News and Updates

Virginia Business Announces 20th Anniversary “Legal Elite”

Posted on December 3, 2019

…...

Lawline Honors its Top Virginia Faculty

Posted on October 22, 2019

Darius Davenport was included in the list of Lawline's Top Virginia Faculty. His program "Cybersecurity for Virginia Lawyers" was one of Lawline's most-viewed and top-rated Virginia programs. …...

Vigilance against cybercrime especially important in Hampton Roads | Cybersecurity column

Posted on July 8, 2019

Cybercrime isn't just a national security issue — it can affect business resiliency in Hampton Roads, a cyber expert told attendees of the Virginia Cyber Alliance's most recent workshop. More than…...

Data Breach Lawyers: A View from the Trenches

Posted on May 30, 2019

Darius Davenport discusses how he helps his clients deal with cybersecurity concerns and privacy matters. https://legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/digital-detectives/2019/05/data-breach-lawyers-a-view-from-the-trenches/ …...

Darius Davenport becomes Partner at Crenshaw, Ware & Martin

Posted on January 28, 2019

The law firm of Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, P.L.C. is proud to announce that Darius Davenport has become a partner in the firm. Mr. Davenport joined the firm in 2012 and…...

Hackers and Why They Hack – and Why You Need to Know

Posted on October 16, 2018

The terms "cybersecurity" and "hacking" have become ubiquitous. Every few weeks, we hear of another major business that became the latest victim of a hacker. Published in For the Defense, Defense Research…...

Preparation is key to surviving inevitable cyberattack | Cybersecurity column

Posted on October 3, 2018

As Hurricane Florence loomed in the Atlantic on Sept. 11, Darius Davenport joined a group of professionals gathered at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott to discuss a threat of a different…...

Make sure your cybersecurity team includes a breach lawyer

Posted on August 6, 2018

Imagine coming to work and being greeted by a sign on the door instructing you not to turn on your computer because your company’s network has been breached. Published in Inside…...

Davenport Scheduled to Speak at 2018 VTLA Annual Convention

Posted on February 6, 2018

VIRGINIA TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION - 2018 ANNUAL CONVENTION Darius Davenport is one of the scheduled speakers at this year's Annual Convention which is being held in Williamsburg, Virginia from March 22…...

Davenport appointed to serve on Virginia State Bar Study Committee on the Future of Law Practice

Posted on September 21, 2017

Darius Davenport has been appointed to serve on the Virginia State Bar Study Committee on the Future of Law Practice. The committee is charged with evaluating developments in technology, legal…...