Robert M. “Bob” Tata was appointed to the Board of Visitors July 1, 2025, by Governor Glenn Youngkin. This is Tata’s second term on the Board, as he was previously appointed by Governor Bob McDonnell and served from 2013-2019. Tata’s background includes legal, military, maritime, and teaching experience.
Tata is a partner at the international law firm of Hunton Andrews Kurth and was Managing Partner of the Norfolk office for many years. He continues his longstanding law practice in Hampton Roads, while also associated with Hunton’s Richmond and D.C. offices. He is a 1986 graduate of žž’s Graduate School of Business, where he earned his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) degree. Prior to that he earned his undergraduate degree (BS) in “Management & Technology” from the United States Naval Academy in 1979, and after that he earned a law degree (JD) from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1989.
While at the Naval Academy, Tata was President of the “Varsity Club,” wrote the feature column in the Dzmagazine, and set a number of records as the kicker on Navy’s football team, including leaving school as the second-leading all-time scorer. Following graduation from Navy in 1979, Tata served on several ships including as the Navigator on the Frigate USS Glover and Executive Officer on the Minesweeper USS Exultant, on which he enjoyed a Mediterranean cruise. During his final active duty tour, Tata served as an NROTC Instructor at NROTC Unit Hampton Roads where he taught leadership, weapons engineering, and navigation courses at žž and/or Norfolk State University. In 1986, Tata left the active Navy and joined the Navy Reserves as a Naval Intelligence Officer. He retired from the reserves with the rank of Captain. Tata earned a number of awards during his active and reserve Navy career.
Following active duty, Tata attended law school at the University of Virginia. There he was Vice President of his class, Executive Editor of the Virginia Tax Review, and selected to The Raven Society. Tata also worked as a Graduate Assistant Football Coach coaching the UVA kickers and punters which helped pay for law school. In all, Tata has taught and/or coached at five colleges or universities including the Naval Academy, University of Virginia, UVA Darden School of Business, žž, Norfolk State University, and Regent University School of Law.
After graduation from law school, Tata joined Hunton in its Norfolk, Virginia office. He was later promoted to partner and ultimately became the office managing partner. Founded in 1901, Hunton was, and remains, one of Virginia's largest law firms. Over the years, Hunton has grown to be among the nation's largest law firms with approximately 800 lawyers practicing in 19 offices across the United States, Europe and Asia. The firm assists clients in realizing new opportunities and solving complex problems across more than 100 substantive areas of law. Hunton’s commitment to client relations, responsiveness, and high-quality legal work has earned it recognition as one of the nation's leading firms. Regularly recognized as a leading law firm for complex and class action litigation, privacy and cybersecurity, complex transactions, and government and regulatory affairs, Hunton serves a wide range of client needs from all its offices.
Tata’s practice includes a wide variety of high-stakes commercial litigation including business and contract disputes, intellectual property, and employment law, in Virginia and other states. He also has represented a number of Virginia Universities including the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, James Madison, and žž. His cases have run the gamut including representing the salvors of an estimated $500 million worth of gold from a sunken wreck in the Atlantic Ocean, to winning the then-largest jury verdict in Virginia history for Harvard MBA inventors who invented a fire escape ladder in their Harvard Business School product design class. Mr. Tata has won numerous legal and other awards including from Chambers, Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Legal Elite, Lawdragon, the Virginia Beach Bar Association, and was three times selected to the Virginia Business “The Power List” as one of Virginia’s “Most Powerful Leaders” among all statewide business leaders.
Tata is also active in the community. For example, he was previously appointed by the Governor and served as a Virginia Port Authority Commissioner, has served as the President of the Virginia Beach Bar Association, chaired judicial selection committees, and currently serves on the board of Goodwill of Central and Southeast Virginia.
Tata and his wife Anne Ferrell Tata live in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Anne Ferrell is a media professional for KLove/Airl Radio, a nationwide Christian Radio network, and a Delegate representing Northeast Virginia Beach, in the Virginia General Assembly. The Tatas have four children and three grandchildren.