Richard C Godfrey

Mr. Godfrey, a litigation partner in the Chicago office of Quinn Emanuel, has been described as “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, 2023) “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, 2023, 2025) 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 disputes, and others. As was reported in Chambers’ 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2025 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,” who “is able to tackle once-in-a-lifetime challenges that seem unsolvable and find a solution.”

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, 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.