Todd Davis

Of Counsel

tdavis@bklawva.com

d. 703-691-1235
o. 703-691-1235
f. 703-691-3913

Todd Davis

Todd Davis serves as Counsel in Blankingship & Keith’s Education Law practice group, where he advises educational institutions on a wide range of regulatory, administrative, and litigation matters.

He brings nearly two decades of legal experience in higher education, government service, and private practice, with a particular focus on federal student aid compliance, institutional policy, and risk management.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Davis served as a General Attorney in the Office of General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Education, where he was the senior counsel for the Office of Postsecondary Education and Federal Student Aid. His work included advising on the implementation of the FUTURE Act and FAFSA Simplification Act, as well as data use provisions under the Higher Education Act. He played a central role in the Department’s compliance with the class-action settlement in Sweet v. Cardona, coordinating with federal agencies, outside counsel, and loan servicers on behalf of more than 300,000 student borrowers.

 

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Mr. Davis also previously served as Associate General Counsel at Strategic Education, Inc., advising Strayer and Capella Universities on Title IV compliance, audit response, and Title IX policy implementation. He held a similar position at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he was primary counsel for Student Affairs and Compliance and Risk Management. His work included overseeing responses to investigations by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Justice, guiding public records compliance, and leading successful efforts to improve campus free speech policies.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Davis practiced in the Division of Business & Administrative Law at the U.S. Department of Education, handled government contracts as Procurement Sales Support Manager at Unisys Corporation, and litigated a variety of matters in private practice in Northern Virginia.

Credentials

Education
  • George Mason University School of Law (JD, 2005)
    • Moot Court Board
    • President, Association for Public Interest Law
  • James Madison University (B.A., 1999)
Bar Admissions
  • Virginia Bar
  • North Carolina Bar

Professional Honors & Activities

  • Member, National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA)
  • Member, Winter CLE Planning Committee (2018)
  • Member, North Carolina Bar Association, Education Section  
    • CLE Presenter (2019): “Title IX Regulations – Where We Are Now and Where We’ll Be Soon”
  • Fairfax Bar Association
    • President, Young Lawyers Section (2010–2011)
    • Past President (2011–2012)
  • Board Member, Fairfax Bar Foundation (2009–2010)
  • Board Member, Arlington Bar Foundation (2004–2005)
  • Recipient, All-Iron Dukes Award, James Madison University Alumni Association (2016)

Community Service

  • City of Fairfax, Virginia
    • Election Officer (2020–2025)
    • Deputy Chief, 2022 Midterm Elections

Representative Cases

  • Lead counsel for the U.S. Department of Education in post-settlement compliance and implementation in Sweet v. Cardona
  • Department legal representative during 2022 Negotiated Rulemaking on borrower defenses and closed-school discharges
  • Primary compliance counsel for federal and state audits involving large, multi-campus higher education institutions
  • Advised and trained institutional leadership on FERPA, Title IX, and Clery Act compliance
  • Led successful university-wide policy reforms resulting in “green light” rating for free speech from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education
  • Represented the U.S. Department of Education in bid protest litigation before GAO and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims