Richard C Godfrey

Practice Areas

Mr. Godfrey, a litigation partner in the Chicago office of Quinn Emanuel, has been described as an “an exceptional trial lawyer” and “stellar example of outside counsel,” having an “extraordinary, encyclopedic knowledge of the law,” “who relishes the challenge and can be counted on to deliver a first-rate product every time.” (Chambers 2017, 2006, 2008, 2011) “The classy stalwart … has excelled at representing corporations at the trial and appellate level in all types of complex cases,” (Lawdragon 500 Hall of Fame, 2017), including in some of the nation’s largest, most high-profile litigation matters. In addition, Mr. Godfrey routinely advises senior management and corporate Boards regarding litigation strategy, including crisis and risk management. His “undeniably wide-ranging practice” (Chambers 2006) includes defending against class actions and individual suits involving mass torts, antitrust and trade regulation, contracts, consumer fraud, fraud and false advertising, discrimination and employment discrimination, ERISA, environmental, franchise and distribution, insurance, products liability, trade secrets, tax and others. As was reported in Chambers’ 2020 and 2021 reviews: Mr. Godfrey “is highly strategic and has vast experience;” “he is second to none on high-level strategy” and “[t]here’s nothing he hasn’t seen--he’s an avid litigator.”

At Quinn Emanuel, Mr. Godfrey serves as Chair of the Complex Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) practice group. Prior to joining Quinn Emanuel, Mr. Godfrey served as a litigation member of Kirkland &Ellis LLP’s Global Management Executive Committee from 1999 through 2015, having reached his maximum term limit.

In addition to his practice, Mr. Godfrey is a Trustee of various cultural and educational institutions, including Boston University, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Augustana College, The Newberry Library and The American Air Museum in Britain, among others. Mr. Godfrey also serves as Chancellor for The Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Professional Memberships

Trustee, Augustana College (Rock Island, IL: 1996–2003, 2005–2012, 2015–current)

Trustee, Boston University (2007–2021, re-elected to Board in September 2022); also currently Chair, Boston University School of Law Dean’s Advisory Board, and formerly (i) Chair of the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees, and (ii) Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustee’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee

Life Trustee, Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Trustee, The Newberry Library, and Chair of the Board’s Finance Committee

Chancellor, The Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church

Member of The Commercial Club of Chicago; former Member of the Civic Committee (2007–2021)

Member of the American, Illinois, Chicago, 5th and 7th Circuit Bar Associations; Member, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation

Fellow, The American Bar Foundation

Member, The National Association of Distinguished Counsel

Member, Chicago Inn of Court

Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America

Trustee, The American Air Museum in Britain

Member, Baylor Law Executive L.L.M. National Advisory Panel

Personal

Boston University School of Law, J.D. (magna cum laude)