Donald C. Schultz

Don joined the firm in 1993 and is the Chair of the firm’s Commercial Bankruptcy and Creditor’s Rights Practice Group. He practices in the areas of commercial real estate finance, civil litigation, construction law, eminent domain, business bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. He represents lenders and developers in significant commercial real estate transactions throughout the eastern half of the United States. He has provided advice and counsel to clients in commercial real estate financing, loan workouts, construction matters, collections and foreclosures and has successfully represented housing authorities in numerous eminent domain cases. The common thread running through such diverse engagements is commercial real estate.

Mr. Schultz has been listed in the Best Lawyers publication each year since 2011 and was recognized as Best Lawyers' Norfolk Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law “Lawyer of the Year” for 2015, 2019 and 2021 and was recognized as Best Lawyers’ Norfolk Litigation-Bankruptcy "Lawyer of the Year" for 2022. He has also been recognized by Virginia Super Lawyers and Virginia Legal Elite for many years. He has served as President of the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association, President of the Tidewater Bankruptcy Bar Association and has served on the Board of Governors of the Virginia Bar Association. In January of 2018, Mr. Schultz was inducted as a Fellow in the Virginia Law Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Virginia State Bar. Each year the Foundation selects a group of top lawyers and retired judges for their integrity, character, and legal excellence to be inducted as Fellows.

Education
Washington & Lee University School of Law, J.D., 1989
University of Virginia , B.A., History, 1986
Bar/Court Admissions
Virginia State Bar
Virginia Supreme Court
United States Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia
Memberships
Virginia Bar Association, Board of Governors; Chairman, Membership Committee
Tidewater Bankruptcy Bar Association (Offices held: President, Secretary, Treasurer)
Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association (Offices held: President, Treasurer, Secretary, Chairman, Young Lawyers Section, Chairman, Courts of Justice Committee, Chairman, Bench-Bar Conference Committee)
Virginia Beach Bar Association
Second District Disciplinary Committee, Chairman Section I
Community Involvement
Educational Access and Guidance Project
Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce (Graduate of LEAD Hampton Roads Program)
Independent Living Program, Norfolk Social Services (Instructor)
Representative Experience
Articles and Presentations
  • Former Law Clerk to the Honorable Blackwell N. Shelley of the United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia.
  • Represents regional and national financial institutions in workouts, litigation (bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy) and asset-backed lending.
  • Has successfully represented clients in obtaining pre-judgment property seizures and attachments.
  • Has successfully represented clients in obtaining injunctive relief in federal and state courts.
  • Represents municipal entities in eminent domain and redevelopment matters.
  • Successfully represented non-profit corporation in obtaining summary judgment on all counts of a multimillion dollar class-action civil rights lawsuit.
  • Panel Member, “Ten (or more) Litigation Opinions You Need to Know About”, 22nd Annual Bankruptcy Law Conference, Virginia Bar Association (May 2-3, 2019)
  • Presenter, “Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment”, Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association, (October 2, 2012)
  • Presenter, “Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment”, HRACRE, (August 9, 2012)
  • Presenter, “Eminent Domain & Constitutional Amendment in Virginia”, 2012 Update in the Law Seminar, Stewart Title Guaranty Company, (July 10, 2012)
  • “Tenancy by Entirety Law in Virginia and United States v. Kraft”, Bankruptcy Law News, (Summer 2003)
  • Donald C. Schultz , W. Ryan Snow , “Injunction Practice In Virginia State and Federal Courts” , (April 24, 2003)
  • Donald C. Schultz , W. Ryan Snow , “Recent Developments In The Admissibility Of Expert Witness Testimony Under State And Federal Law” , (February 28, 2002)
  • “Admiralty Law in a Bankruptcy Context”, Bankruptcy Law News, (Winter 1995)

In the News:

  • Business Development through the VBA“, By Jodi Taylor, VBA Journal (Spring 2014)
  • “A question of property rights or development restrictions”, By Lydia Wheeler, Inside Business (October 19, 2012)
News and Updates
Virginia Business Announces 24th Edition “Legal Elite”
Posted on December 5, 2023
…...
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CWM Attorneys Recognized by Virginia Super Lawyers®
Posted on April 28, 2023
Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, P.L.C. is pleased to announce that four of its lawyers have been selected for inclusion in the 2023 list of Virginia Super Lawyers®. Through a selection…...
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CWM Attorneys Recognized by Coastal Virginia Magazine’s Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia 2023
Posted on January 27, 2023
James L. Chapman, IV. Darius K. Davenport, Sr. Donald C. Schultz W. Ryan Snow Douglas E. Penner We are pleased to announce that five CWM attorneys, James L. Chapman, IV, Darius K. Davenport, Sr., Donald…...
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Virginia Business Announces 23rd Edition “Legal Elite”
Posted on December 1, 2022
…...
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CWM Attorneys Recognized by Virginia Super Lawyers®
Posted on May 6, 2022
Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, P.L.C. is pleased to announce that seven of its lawyers have been selected for inclusion in the 2022 list of Virginia Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars. …...
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CWM Attorneys Recognized by CoVa Biz Magazine’s Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia 2022
Posted on January 20, 2022
James L. Chapman, IV.Darius K. Davenport, Sr.Donald C. SchultzW. Ryan Snow We are pleased to announce that four CWM attorneys, James L. Chapman, IV, Darius K. Davenport, Sr., Donald C. Schultz…...
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Virginia Business Announces 22nd Anniversary “Legal Elite”
Posted on December 7, 2021
…...
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Two CWM Attorneys named "Lawyer of the Year"
Posted on October 8, 2021
Donald Schultz (left) and Ryan Snow (right) We are pleased to announce that two of our lawyers, Donald C. Schultz and W. Ryan Snow, received the "Lawyer of the Year" distinction…...
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Eight Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, P.L.C. Attorneys Named to 2022 Best Lawyers® in America List
Posted on August 19, 2021
Norfolk, VA, — Crenshaw, Ware & Martin P.L.C. is pleased to announce that Best Lawyers has recognized four of the Firm’s attorneys as “Best Lawyers in America”, two as “Lawyer of…...
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CWM Attorneys Recognized by Virginia Super Lawyers®
Posted on May 11, 2021
Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, P.L.C. is pleased to announce that eight of its lawyers have been selected for inclusion in the 2021 list of Virginia Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars. …...
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