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.
Practice Areas
Credentials
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George Mason University School of Law (JD, 2005)
- Moot Court Board
- President, Association for Public Interest Law
- James Madison University (B.A., 1999)
- 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