Tom Godbold, a partner in Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.'s Washington D.C. and Houston offices, has practiced in the firm's Litigation Section since 1984.  A member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, his experience includes the representation of corporations, officers, directors and high net worth individuals in general and commercial litigation, including securities litigation, class action litigation, professional liability defense, and tax controversies.  He has represented clients as plaintiffs and defendants in a wide-range of industries including energy, health care, construction, pharmaceutical and professional services. 

In addition to his general/corporate litigation experience, Tom has tried a number of accounting malpractice cases to jury verdicts, and has handled a variety of matters for the accounting profession. Other significant cases include representing: 

• Dubai-based commercial developer in fraud litigation in the U.S.
• Large hospital system in antitrust litigation
• Major pharmaceutical company in tax controversy litigation in federal court
• Major energy company in tax controversy litigation in federal court
• Chemical company in construction litigation dispute in federal court
• Former CEO and COO of a public energy company in arbitration proceedings to collect their severance packages
• Former CEO of a public energy company in federal securities litigation
• Securities class action case against a Big Four Accounting Firm in state court
• Global technology services and outsourcing company in a case involving computer consulting malpractice
• Large Dallas law firm in a legal malpractice suit
• Pro bono cases:
  • A mother in a custody case to determine the primary residence of her child
  • A national civil rights organization in a breach of contract dispute

• Co-Head – Litigation Team, 2002 - 2010 (managed 22 member legal practice)
• Co-Chair – Firm-wide Diversity Committee, 2003 - 2010 (led formulation and implementation of global diversity initiatives)
• Chair – Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas, 2005 - 2006 (led 36 member board in charge of governing 80,000 lawyer bar association)
• President – Houston Bar Association, 2002 - 2003 (led 11,000 member voluntary bar association)
• Chair – Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, 2002 (led non-profit legal aid program)
• Chair – Dispute Resolution Center, 2001 (led non-profit mediation center)
• Chair – Firm–wide Employment Committee, 1998 - 2000 (led attorney recruitment effort)

• American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
• American Board of Trial Advocates, Member
• Presidential Citation, State Bar of Texas, for service as Chair of the State Bar Board of Directors (2006)
• Presidential Citation, State Bar of Texas, for service as Chair of the Legal Services for the Poor Funding Request Work Group (2004)

1982 - J.D., University of Houston School of Law
1979 - B.B.A., Finance, The University of Texas

From 1982 to 1984, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Carl. O. Bue, Jr., of the United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.

Tom is admitted to practice law in Texas, District of Columbia and Colorado.

Tom loves golf and is a big fan of the University of Texas Longhorn football team.

• Texas Access to Justice Foundation, Board of Directors (2007 - present)
• John Wesley United Methodist Church
  • Church Council, Chair (2002)
  • Lay Leader (2000 - 2001)
• Houston Graduate School of Theology, Board of Trustees (2003 - 2008)
• Champions Golf Club, Inc., Board of Directors (1997 - 2009)