Jennifer L. Eaton

Having clerked at both the trial and appellate court levels, Jenny has a unique understanding of local rules and a tact for tackling problems with judicial considerations in mind. In addition to serving as lead trial counsel, she regularly serves as self-retained monitoring counsel for clients facing multi-million dollar lawsuits.  Along with her team in the Litigation Practice Group, she also serves as local counsel for matters litigated in the Norfolk and Newport News divisions of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Always looking for ways to use her skillset to serve others, Jenny maintains an active pro bono practice and Chairs the Firm's Pro Bono Committee.

Outside the courtroom, Jenny has leadership roles in legal organizations such as the Legal Aid Society of Southeastern Virginia, Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association, and the James Kent American Inn of Court. Jenny also gives back to the community as a coach to Special Olympics athletes. In 2018, Jenny received the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association’s prestigious Walter E. Hoffman Community Service Award. And in 2019, Jenny was honored by her alma mater as the Taylor Reveley Award recipient in recognition of her service, leadership, and qualities as a citizen lawyer.

• Obtained a defense verdict for maritime employer in federal court trial brought by a former employee alleging negligence and having the defense verdict affirmed on appeal by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
• Prevailed on dispositive motion to dismiss premises liability case against facility owner.
  Briefing, arguing, and obtaining partial summary judgment for an employer limiting its liability for the tortious actions of its employee.
• Prevailed on dispositive motion to dismiss landlord from million-dollar lawsuit based on lack of duty owed to plaintiff.
• Served as part of a local counsel legal team for patent clients in a multi-week federal court jury trial.
  Served as part of local counsel legal team for an AMLAW 100 firm and a generic pharmaceutical company in patent litigation.
• Won judgment for single parent against landlord for failure to provide an essential service in pro bono landlord-tenant trial.

Recognition

Robert L. O’Donnell Pro Bono Service Award (2021)

W. Taylor Reveley Award (2019)

Walter E. Hoffman Community Service Award (2018)

Virginia Business "Legal Elite," Legal Services/Pro Bono (2022, 2023), Civil Litigation (2020, 2021), Young Lawyers Under 40 (2017, 2019)

Special Olympics Virginia Area 2 Volunteer of the Year (2017) 

Education

William & Mary School of Law, J.D., cum laude

University of Virginia, B.S.

Admissions

• American Bar Association
• Hampton Roads Firms In Service Committee, Chair
• James Kent American Inn of Court, Executive Board Member
• Legal Aid Society of Southeastern Virginia, Board Member
• Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association, Executive Board Member

• with Allison M. Mentch, “Will the Expanded Jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals Finally Give Contributory Negligence Some Teeth?,” VBA Journal, Vol. L, No. 1 (Spring 2023).
• with David W. Lannetti, “The Untapped Potential of Attorney Mentorship to Increase Job Satisfaction, Promote Civility, and Improve the Legal Profession,” Journal of Civil Litigation, Vol. XXXIV, No.4 (Winter 2022-2023).