Donald E Godwin

Practice Areas

Donald E. Godwin is considered one of the most respected and tenacious trial lawyers in Texas. For more than 40 years Don has tried significant jury cases in courts throughout Texas and across the United States. Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, he has the ability to translate complex matters of law and fact into easily understandable language for courts and juries.

Don’s practice covers a broad range of areas with an emphasis on complex litigation, including:

Oil and Gas

Bet the Company Litigation

Environmental

Fiduciary Duties

Will Contests

Major Family Law Disputes

Business Torts

Don Godwin and his Mission Critical Litigation team secured a defense victory in a non-competition/non-solicitation agreement case brought against their clients by an international multi-billion dollar building conglomerate, which was seeking more than $40 million in compensatory damages, in addition to punitive damages and attorney’s fees. The two-week jury trial was presided over by the Honorable Judge Maricela Moore in the 162nd Judicial District Court and was one of the first complex commercial litigation jury trials to commence in-person in Dallas County since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, which began in March 2020.

Don was the Lead Trial Lawyer in the successful defense of Halliburton in connection with all civil litigation and investigations concerning BP’s Macondo well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico, the largest environmental lawsuit in the history of the United States. As well as being recognized as a leading trial lawyer in the United States, Don has also earned the reputation among corporate executives, their legal departments, and other highly visible individuals as a master negotiator where the risks are substantial and the future and successes of such clients are on the line.

Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Mr. Godwin is one of the most widely respected attorneys in the nation. Reflecting the standard of long-term excellence established in his legal practice, he has been named to the 50 Lions of the Texas Bar by Texas Lawbook; ranked in Chambers USA in the area of General Commercial Litigation, selected to the Lawdragon 500 honoring the 500 leading lawyers in America (Hall of Fame Lifetime Member), named among the Top 100 Lawyers in Texas by Thomson Reuters 10 times, and chosen among Thomson Reuters Texas Super Lawyers since the award was initiated in 2003. He has also been honored by selection on the list of The Best Lawyers in America since 2012 in the area of Commercial Litigation along with a variety of other honors.

Career

Representative Experience:

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

Federal and state securities fraud

Officers and Directors liability

Contract disputes

Breach of confidentiality agreements

Breach of trade secret agreements

Environmental disputes

MASS TORT LITIGATION

Defended Halliburton, Dresser and Brown & Root in their asbestos- and silica-related litigation throughout Texas.

Defended major apparel company in its asbestos litigation in South Texas.

Defended major manufacturing company in its asbestos litigation in Montana.

ENERGY LITIGATION

Disputes involving take-or-pay gas contracts

Gas processing and gas balancing agreements

Disputes involving cross-licensing agreements

Royalty disputes between producers and interest owners

Gas well blowout disputes in Louisiana and Texas

Actions for theft of oil from tank farms

Refinery explosions involving multiple deaths and serious bodily injuries

Pipeline explosions in neighborhoods resulting in deaths, bodily injuries and property damages

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES LITIGATION

Defended attorneys against claims involving negligence, fraud, unjust enrichment and breach of fiduciary duties.

Defended accountants against claims of negligence, fraud and failures to prepare financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Professional Memberships

American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)

Dallas Bar Association, Chairman, Antitrust & Trade Regulation Section, 1980

State Bar of Texas

The William ‘Mac’ Taylor American Inn of Court (Master of the Bench Member)

Executive Board Member, SMU Dedman School of Law, 2002 to present

Publications

Frequent lecturer on a variety of topics related to litigation, jury selection, cross-examination techniques and closing arguments at CLE seminars, institutes and trade-association groups throughout the United States

Frequent lecturer at Mealey’s Institutes on a variety of topics involving defending companies against asbestos claims and how to successfully negotiate global settlements of asbestos and silica claims

Dallas Morning News: Donald E. Godwin and Godwin Bowman PC Defend Diamond Doctor

Texas Lawbook: Donald E. Godwin Named Among 50 Lions of the Texas Bar by Texas Lawbook

Super Lawyers: Donald E. Godwin Featured in Super Lawyers Where are They Now

Texas Lawbook: As BP Oil Spill Trial Begins, Don Godwin Takes Center Stage

Dallas Business Journal: Halliburton’s Point Man in Spill Fight

DCEO: Defending Halliburton

Personal

Board of Directors, Haggar Clothing Co.

Chair, Dallas Symphony

Corporate Underwriting Chair, Prevent Blindness and UT Southwestern Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Ball event

Executive Board Member, SMU Dedman School of Law

Outside Counsel and Trustee, Episcopal School of Dallas, 2002 to 2011

Awards

Education

Industry Sector Expertise

Board Certified, Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1979

Clients

Hilltop Holdings, Inc.

Hilltop Securities, Inc.

Halliburton Company

Ray Hunt

Haggar Clothing Co.

Ross Perot, Sr.

PlainsCapital Bank

Prime Lending, Inc.

Texas Capital Bank

Alinda Hill Wikert

Tenneco Gas Pipeline Company

Tenneco Inc.

Dallas Cowboys

Jerry Jones

John O’Quinn

Hill Feinberg

Katherine Perot Reeves

Sharon McCutchin

Harold Simmons

Lon Smith Construction Company