Atty. David R. Godofsky

Atty. David R. Godofsky

David Godofsky is a partner in the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group of Alston & Bird. He is chair of the Retirement and Benefits Committee of the firm, and during his tenure as Leader of the Employee Benefits Group (including ERISA Litigation) the firm was named “Law Firm of the Year” by U.S.

Call (202) 239-3300 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About David R. Godofsky at a glance

David R. Godofsky is a employment attorney based in Washington, District of Columbia, practicing at Alston & Bird LLP. Admitted to practice in District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar, Tennessee, Tennessee Bar Association, and Missouri, The Missouri Bar. Educated at University of Virginia (J.D., 1982). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - ERISA (2026). Serands clients in Washington, DC and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • David Godofsky is a partner in the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group of Alston & Bird
  • He is chair of the Retirement and Benefits Committee of the firm, and during his tenure as Leader of the Employee Benefits Group (including ERISA Litigation) the firm was named “Law Firm of the Year” by U.S
  • News – Best Lawyers® for ERISA Litigation in 2016 and Employee Benefits (ERISA) in 2015 and 2017
  • David is part of the firm's team of litigators which represents major employers in cutting-edge class action and other bet-the-company litigation matters nationwide
  • David has represented clients in the Supreme Courts of Florida and Illinois
  • David’s ability to integrate legal analysis with cost, funding, administration and benefit design considerations is informed by his years of experience as an actuary and consultant
  • David is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, Enrolled Actuary, former director of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries and former vice chairman of the Education & Examination Committee of the Society of Actuaries
  • He currently serves on the program committee of the Enrolled Actuaries Meeting and as chair of a task force of the Actuarial Standards Board
  • In response to his comment letters, the U.S
  • Department of the Treasury corrected an error in pension funding regulations and changed the rules for determining whether cash balance plans satisfy the backloading requirements
  • Before joining the firm, David spent 18 years designing, implementing and administering employee benefit plans, determining costs and helping employers control costs and get the most for their employee benefits budgets
  • His clients seek his advice for practical, workable solutions to complex problems and for the ability to make highly technical concepts understandable to executives, employees, judges and arbitrators

Practice Areas Explained

David R. Godofsky's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases David R. Godofsky handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Employment Law

Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.

David R. Godofsky is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in District of Columbia →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in District of Columbia

Practicing law in District of Columbia. Legal matters in District of Columbia are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Washington are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate District of Columbia state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in District of Columbia brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in District of Columbia courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional District of Columbia attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Washington or all attorneys in District of Columbia.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about David R. Godofsky

Where is David R. Godofsky's law office located?
David R. Godofsky's law practice is located in Washington, District of Columbia. The firm is Alston & Bird LLP. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does David R. Godofsky handle?
David R. Godofsky focuses on employment. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in District of Columbia.
Where did David R. Godofsky go to law school?
David R. Godofsky earned their education at (J.D., 1982).
How can I contact David R. Godofsky for a consultation?
You can contact David R. Godofsky directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has David R. Godofsky received?
David R. Godofsky's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - ERISA; Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:; Best Lawyers in America — COVID-19.

Education

J.D.
University of Virginia
- 1982

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - ERISA
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — COVID-19
- 2026

Bar Admissions

District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar
Tennessee, Tennessee Bar Association
Missouri, The Missouri Bar

Reviews

These reviews belong to platform users; they do not constitute advertisement or promotion for the attorney. Opinions are published for informational purposes only.

No reviews yet.