Robert M. “Bob” Tata

Bob’s practice focuses on complex commercial and IP litigation in the Norfolk, VA area.

Bob has lived and litigated in the Norfolk, Virginia area for over 30 years including frequently appearing in the Eastern District of Virginia “Rocket Docket” and regional State courts and authoring an annual “Rocket Docket” article in Law360 for 10+ years. Bob managed Hunton’s Norfolk office for years and his practice includes high stakes commercial litigation, intellectual property litigation (trade secret, false advertising, trademark, copyright and patent), products liability defense, and other significant disputes in the Eastern District of Virginia “Rocket Docket” and elsewhere. Bob has received numerous awards recognizing his excellence in multiple litigation fields and has been named by Virginia Business to its annual “Power List” identifying Virginia’s top 500 business leaders since its inception.

Relevant Experience

• In addition to first chairing cases like the ones listed below, Bob and his team are frequently hired as a “go to” local counsel for other national firms litigating IP and other significant cases in the Norfolk Division of the Eastern District of Virginia “Rocket Docket”.
• Frequently hired by the Commonwealth of Virginia to represent its public Colleges and Universities such as University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, James Madison University, and Old Dominion University in significant litigation matters.
• Won X-IT Products v. Walter Kidde, a copyright, trade dress, and patent trade secrets case, winning the then largest jury verdict in Virginia history ($116 million) which was the basis for a Harvard Business School Case Study which Bob presents at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.
• Won Lake Wright Hospitality, LLC v. Holiday Hospitality Franchising, Inc., et al., defeating $16 million hotel franchise claim on summary judgment in federal court and winning award of $868,000 in attorneys’ fees.
• Won DACS, Inc. v. Sierra Shelving, et al., winning patent portfolio, award of product, and $450,000 fee award, and shutting down competitive company in state court intellectual property dispute.
• Won certiorari to the United States Supreme Court in Garris v. Norshipco, a maritime wrongful death case and later won defense judgment at trial, earning selection as one of the “top ten” annual defense wins in Virginia Lawyers Weekly.
• Won Ballard v. Sony Pictures Entertainment, obtaining dismissal of copyright and Lanham Act case regarding the movie “The Wedding Planner,” which grossed $97 million.
• Won seven-figure settlement in Wood Logic v. Lehigh, a patent and trade secret case for the inventor of the “Woodpegger.”
• Won Matter of Earl Industries, B-309996, a $60 million bid protest at GAO overturning award of contract for repair of the Navy’s East Coast Frigate fleet.
• Resolved Turner Construction Company v. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, et al. on favorable terms for the Owner of $33 million construction dispute regarding Virginia Tech's football stadium after being hired by the Commonwealth of Virginia to represent the University.
• Statewide Coordinating Counsel, Fortune 100 pharmaceutical company, regarding high profile prescription drug litigation.
• Defended wide range of clients in employment law and defamation disputes.
• Represented maritime clients include shippers, shipowners, shipyards, terminals, and equipment manufacturers in all aspects of maritime law and asbestos defense.
• Defended numerous consumer fraud cases.
• Long history of public service including: Board of Visitors, Old Dominion University; Chairman, Virginia Beach General Assembly Delegation Judicial Endorsement Panel; Commissioner, Virginia Port Authority; Member, Greater Norfolk Corporation Board; Commissioner, Virginia Beach Resort Advisory Commission; and Captain and intelligence officer in the United States Naval Reserve.