Insurance Attorney Joins Barnes & Thornburg

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Scott N. Godes, a veteran trial lawyer with deep experience in insurance coverage matters and technology issues, has joined Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s Washington, D.C., office as a partner in the Litigation Department and the Policyholder Insurance Recovery and Coverage Group.

Godes has assisted a variety of clients over the years to obtain more than $1 billion in insurance coverage. In one of his most significant matters, he was co-lead counsel in a landmark class action trial. It was the first case of its kind to determine that insurance coverage was available, without aggregate limits, for thousands of asbestos claims., In addition, he represents clients facing cybersecurity, data breach, cyberattack, privacy and other technology-related claims. Godes previously served as co-leader at Dickstein Shapiro LLP’s Cyber Security Insurance Coverage Initiative and as a leader of that firm’s Insurance Coverage Group’s Intellectual Property Practice. He is a co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Computer Technology Subcommittee of the Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee of the Section of Litigation.

“We are excited to add another seasoned lateral attorney of Scott’s caliber to Barnes & Thornburg’s growing Washington, D.C., office,” said Karen A. McGee, Managing Partner of Barnes & Thornburg’s D.C. office. “Over the last several months, we have focused on attracting lateral attorneys and other professionals who fit the firm’s strategic growth platform, and we hope to continue our efforts in the future.”

Godes is the sixth attorney or professional who has joined the Washington, D.C., office this year. Veteran lobbyist Michael Williams recently joined the firm’s Federal Relations Group while Barnes & Thornburg earlier this year welcomed a government contracts, defense and national security group that included attorneys Dorn “Bo” McGrath, David Hickey, and Will Jack, and senior public policy advisor Joseph Corrigan.

About Scott Godes

Scott Godes has represented policyholders in declaratory judgment, breach of contract, and bad faith insurance coverage actions, insurance-related bankruptcies and adversary actions, federal court receiverships, insurer rehabilitation actions, and commercial arbitrations. He has litigated and advised clients regarding insurance coverage for data breaches and cyber security issues; directors and officers and securities claims; errors and omissions claims; crime and fidelity claims; general liability claims; consumer class action claims; business interruption, extra expense, and contingent business interruption claims; first-party property claims; computer data, hardware, and software claims; mass tort liabilities; product liability claims; class actions; asbestos claims; environmental property damage; flood claims; and class actions.

In addition to his insurance coverage experience, Godes has litigated complex commercial and government contract disputes and business-related torts. He has represented clients before state and federal courts, in administrative proceedings, and in commercial arbitrations. He also has served as in-house counsel to an Internet company.

Mr. Godes received a law degree, with honors, in 1998 from The George Washington University Law School, where he was managing editor for the Public Contract Law Journal and was a member of the Moot Court Board. He received his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Middlebury College (1994), and his J.D., with honors, from The George Washington University Law School (1998).

With more than 600 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from its offices in Atlanta, Delaware, Chicago, Indiana, Los Angeles, Michigan, Minneapolis, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com.