About Taite
Taite Westendorf earned a J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law in 2005 after completing undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia, where they received a B.A. in psychology and sociology in 2002. Those academic years set the stage for a career rooted in criminal defense and public service. Westendorf’s legal training combined classroom study with early exposure to trial work and courtroom procedure.
Westendorf began practicing in the mid-2000s and by 2006 was serving as a Senior Assistant Public Defender in the Virginia Beach Public Defender’s Office. In that role Westendorf handled a heavy caseload and worked on a range of criminal matters for people who could not afford counsel. The position provided extended courtroom experience and regular contact with judges, prosecutors and clients in Virginia’s state courts.
After more than a decade in public defense, Westendorf moved into private practice and in 2017 became a partner at Westendorf & Khalaf, PLLC. The firm listing shows Westendorf in a leadership role there. As a partner, Westendorf has balanced casework, client counseling and the administrative demands that come with running a small firm. Colleagues and local bar members recognize Westendorf’s steadiness in trial settings and on motion practice.
Westendorf holds certification from the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission as a Certified Criminal Lawyer for Indigent Defendants. That credential reflects training and peer review standards specific to handling assigned criminal cases. It also ties back to Westendorf’s years in the public defender’s office and ongoing work in criminal matters.
Professional involvement has included membership in the Virginia Beach Bar Association beginning in 2017. Westendorf was also a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers from 2012 until 2017. Those affiliations have provided channels for continuing legal education and contact with other defense attorneys across the state and country.
The arc of Westendorf’s career moves from classroom to courthouse to firm leadership. The record shows sustained work on criminal defense, both in public service and in private practice. Westendorf now practices at Westendorf & Khalaf, PLLC, handling criminal defense matters in Virginia.
