NEWS RELEASE
www.ncsconline.org

Chicago Attorney Joins Board of National Court Organization

Williamsburg, VA (Aug. 10, 2009) – Richard C. Godfrey, a senior litigation partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, has joined the Board of Directors of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), a nonprofit that aims to improve the administration of justice through leadership and service to the nation’s state courts. He will serve a three-year term.

“Richard Godfrey is a leader in the legal, business, and civic communities,” said Mary C. McQueen, NCSC president. “His work in courtrooms on the local, state, and federal levels has given him knowledge and expertise that will make him a valuable member of the National Center’s governing body.”

Godfrey has acted as trial and appellate counsel for both individual and class action suits in the areas of antitrust and trade regulation, consumer fraud, discrimination, and toxic tort, among others, and has been lead counsel in litigation for many national corporations including Allstate Insurance Co., Aon, General Motors, and ExxonMobil.

His work has led Godfrey to be recognized in the upcoming edition of “The Best Lawyers in America,” as well as in “Chambers USA” and “Benchmark Litigation.” He also was recognized as a leading American attorney by the Leading Lawyers Network, as one of Illinois’ Super Lawyers from 2005-09 by Law and Politics magazine, and as being a key member of Kirkland & Ellis’ “Litigation Department of the Year” by The American Lawyer magazine in 2008. Godfrey also is a member of the National Center’s Warren E. Burger Society, which honors individuals who have volunteered their time, talent, and support to NCSC in an exceptional manner.

He currently serves as co-chair of NCSC’s Lawyers Committee, and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, The Churchill Centre, and Appleseed, a nonprofit network of 16 public interest justice centers in the U.S. and Mexico. Godfrey also is a trustee of Boston University, Augustana College, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and a member of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago. Godfrey received his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., and his juris doctorate magna cum laude from Boston University School of Law.

The National Center for State Courts, headquartered in Williamsburg, Va., is a nonprofit court reform organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. The National Center, founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, provides education, training, and technology, management, and research services to the nation's state courts.  

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National Center for State Courts, 300 Newport Avenue, Williamsburg, VA  23185-4147