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W. Ryan Snow

Ryan is Managing Partner of the firm. He handles complex business disputes, with a focus on government contracts, cybersecurity, construction law, and maritime law. He also serves as local counsel in the Eastern District of Virginia in patent and other intellectual property cases.

Ryan’s experience includes state and federal jury trials, mediations, panel arbitrations, and appeals. He successfully argued one of the seminal constructive trust cases before the Virginia Supreme Court, marking the first time the Court recognized the “lowest intermediate balance rule” for tracing funds. He was co-counsel in 2012 in one of the largest patent cases tried to jury verdict in the Norfolk Division. In 2017, he won judgment in a federal franchise trial, defeating ten counts and prevailing on a multi-million dollar counterclaim.

Ryan is listed in Best Lawyers in America® and has been selected one of Virginia’s “Legal Elite” in four categories. In 2014, he was selected one of the Top 100 lawyers in Virginia by Virginia Super Lawyers. He is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and a past Chair of the Construction & Public Contracts Law Section of the Virginia Bar Association.

Practice Areas

Business DisputesPractice Group ChairConstruction LawPractice Group ChairGovernment ContractingPractice Group ChairAdmiralty and Maritime Law Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Intellectual Property Litigation Local Counsel Representation Railroad and Transit Law

Business & Industries

Technology Companies

Intellectual Property Owners

Financial Institutions, Banks, Lenders

Developers, Project Owners

Heavy Construction Companies

Equipment and Material Suppliers

Marine Construction Companies

Railroads, Shipping Companies

Honors & Awards

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

Best Lawyers in America®, Admiralty & Maritime Law, 2013-2018; Construction Law, 2018

Virginia's Legal Elite, Construction, 2015-2017; Civil Litigation, 2014; Young Lawyer Under 40, 2012-2013; Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2011

Virginia Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2013-2018; Top 100, 2014

Education

Washington & Lee University, J.D., 2001

Franklin & Marshall College, B.A., magna cum laude, 1998

Bar/Court Admissions

Virginia State Bar

Virginia Supreme Court

United States Supreme Court

United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit

United States Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit

United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit

United States District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia

United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia

Memberships

Virginia State Bar (Construction Law and Intellectual Property Law Sections)

Virginia Bar Association (Past Chair, Construction & Public Contracts Law Section)

I-Anson-Hoffman American Inn of Court (Executive Committee)

Litigation Counsel of America (Fellow)

Federal Bar Association

Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association (Past Chair, CLE Committee)

Hampton Roads Utility & Heavy Contractors Association (HRUHCA)

Associated General Contractors of Virginia (AGC)

Community Involvement

Norfolk Botanical Garden (Chairman, 2017-present; Board of Trustees, 2012-present)

Norfolk Botanical Garden Foundation (Board of Directors, 2013-present)

NPBA Middle School Mock Trial Program (Instructor, 2006-present)

Representative Experience

Representative Cases

Articles and Presentations

Represents business clients in complex contract cases, business conspiracy cases, business interference cases, intellectual property cases, technology disputes, commercial lease disputes, declaratory judgment actions, injunctions, mediations, arbitrations and others.
Represents construction clients, owners and sureties in contract negotiations, teaming agreements, installation and design defects, mechanic’s liens, payment and performance bond claims, change order disputes, differing site condition claims, indemnity actions and others.
Represents maritime clients and railroad interests in marine construction cases, cargo cases, limitation actions, vessel arrests, MARPOL investigations, riparian rights disputes, property disputes, preemption cases, FELA cases, ICCTA challenges and others.

JTH Tax, Inc. d/b/a Liberty Tax v. Aime Consulting, LLC, et al., 2:16-cv-279, E.D.Va. (franchise case resulting in $2.7 million verdict after 3-day trial) (Morgan, J.).
Carter Machinery Co. v. Lakeshore Toltest Corp., CL14-6599, York Cir. Ct. (multi-faceted mechanic’s lien suit with associated Delaware bankruptcy case).
Oasis Brands, Inc. v. Green Innovations Ltd., 2:13-cv-529, E.D.Va. (trademark case involving challenge to jurisdiction in Virginia) (Jackson, J.).
Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line RR Co. v. South Norfolk Jordan Bridge, LLC, 2:13-cv-234, E.D.Va. (indemnity case arising out of bridge collapse) (Jackson, J.).
Segin Systems, Inc. v. Stewart Title Guaranty Co., et al., 2:13-cv-190, E.D.Va., PTAB, Fed. Cir. (patent infringement case accusing account reconciliation software) (Jackson, J.).
Virginia Innovation Sciences v. Samsung Electronics Co., et al., 2:12-cv-548, 2:13-cv-332, 2:14-cv-217, E.D.Va., PTAB, Fed. Cir. (series of patent infringement cases accusing mobile devices) (Davis, J.).
Carter Machinery Co. v. Martin Constr. Group, LLC, et al., CL-12-3703, Chest. Cir. Ct. (successor liability trial piercing shell company to reach LLCs).
St. Joe Company v. Norfolk Redev. & Housing Auth., 722 S.E.2d 622 (Va. 2012) (constructive trust case recouping funds seized by secured creditor).
I/P Engine, Inc. v. AOL, Inc., et al., 2:11-cv-512, E.D.Va. (patent infringement case accusing search engine advertising) (Jackson, J.).
Norfolk 102, LLC v. Waterside Assoc., L.P., et al., CL-11-3414, Norf. Cir. Ct. (commercial lease case seeking multi-party injunction).
Misener Marine Constr., Inc. v. Norfolk Dredging Co., 594 F.3d 832 (11th Cir. 2010) (marine construction case based on mooring structure failure).
Mullins v. River Docks Corp., et al., 4:10-cv-138, E.D.Va. (warranty case arising out of remanufactured marine engines) (Smith, J.).
Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line RR Co. v. Wilson, 667 S.E.2d 735 (Va. 2008) (FELA case asserting close clearance injury).

Presenter, “Making Sure You Get Paid: Legal Remedies for Problem Projects”, Hampton Roads Utility & Heavy Contractors Association (July 2015)
W. Snow, “Successfully Managing Government Contract Disputes: Key Considerations,” Litigation Strategies for Government Contracts, Aspatore Books (November 2012)
Co-Editor, “Law of Damages in Virginia”, Virginia CLE (January 2012)
Presenter, “Liability for Construction Defects and Failures”, Half Moon Seminars (February 2012)
Moderator/Presenter, “Intellectual Property Issues in Construction Law”, Virginia Bar Association (January 2012)
Moderator/Presenter, “Legislative Update”, Virginia Bar Association (July 2011)
Moderator/Presenter, “Business Litigation”, Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association (September 2007)
Moderator/Presenter, “Trial Advocacy”, Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association (October 2005)
Moderator/Presenter, “Deposition Tactics”, Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association (April 2004)
D. Schultz , W. Snow , “Injunction Practice In Virginia State and Federal Courts” (April 2003)
D. Schultz , W. Snow , “Recent Developments in Admissibility of Expert Witness Testimony” (February 2002)

News and Updates

Ryan Snow Is the New Chairman of the Board of Norfolk Botanical Garden

Posted on December 7, 2017

CWM's Managing Partner Ryan Snow has been elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Norfolk Botanical Garden. Norfolk Botanical Garden is a nationally accredited garden with over 11,000…...

Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, P.L.C. Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s 2017 “Legal Elite”

Posted on November 13, 2017

Crenshaw, Ware & Martin is proud to announce that four of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Virginia Business Magazine among Virginia’s “Legal Elite” for 2017. Each year in…...

Six Crenshaw, Ware & Martin PLC Attorneys Named to 2018 Best Lawyers® in America

Posted on August 16, 2017

Crenshaw, Ware & Martin PLC is pleased to announce that six of its lawyers have been named to the 24th Edition of Best Lawyers in America. Delphine G. Carnes - Project…...

Cyber Security and Business Resiliency

Posted on May 18, 2017

The WannaCry Ransomware Attack is the biggest coordinated cyberattack of its kind, impacting countless organizations and infecting hundreds of thousands of computers in more than 100 countries. Once a computer…...

CWM Attorneys Recognized by Virginia Super Lawyers®

Posted on April 17, 2017

Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, P.L.C. is pleased to announce that nine of its lawyers have been selected for inclusion in the 2017 list of Virginia Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars. …...

Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, P.L.C. Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s 2016 “Legal Elite”

Posted on November 30, 2016

Crenshaw, Ware & Martin is proud to announce that five of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Virginia Business Magazine among Virginia’s “Legal Elite” for 2016. Steven L. Brinker…...

Seven Crenshaw, Ware & Martin PLC Attorneys Named to 2017 Best Lawyers® in America

Posted on August 15, 2016

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…...

W. Ryan Snow to Serve as Vice Chair of Norfolk Botanical Garden

Posted on July 26, 2016

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…...

Court quashes arbitration of claims that were outside arbitration agreement

Posted on July 21, 2016

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…...

CWM Attorneys Recognized by Virginia Super Lawyers®

Posted on April 7, 2016

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…...