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H. Lee Godfrey (1939-2025)

H. Lee Godfrey (1939-2025)

Former Managing Partner

H. Lee Godfrey (1939-2025)

Houston

(713) 651-9366

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  • Overview
  • Honors
  • Education
  • Publications
  • Memberships

Honors & Distinctions

Honors and Awards

  • President Clinton’s Choice for U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, 1996
  • Fraternities: Phi Delta Phi; Order of the Coif; Chancellors; Consul
  • Managing Editor, Texas Law Review, 1968-69
  • Texas Law Review Ex-Editors Association (President, 1976)
  • Visiting Professor, Rice University, Commercial Law, 1980-82
  • Author, “Civil Voir Dire in Texas: Winning the Appeal Based on Bias or Prejudice,” 31 South Texas Law Review 409 (1990)
  • “Honorary Barrister Award” from the University of Texas Law School Board of Advocates (1999)
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Texas Business Litigation), 1991-2006 editions (American Legal Media)
  • 1999 University of Texas Board of Advocates “Barrister of the Year”
  • Leon Green Award, “for outstanding contribution to the legal profession,” by the Texas Law Review Association (2002)
  • International Who’s Who of Commercial Litigators 2005 (Law Buisiness Research Limted 4th Edition)
  • Member of the University of Texas Law School Foundation Board of Trustees (2005-2008 term)
  • Recognized as one of the seven top litigators in the United States and one of the top 25 litigators worldwide by The Best of the Best 2006, Legal Media Group
  • Listed as one of the 2006 Lawdragon 3000 Leading Lawyers in America
  • Named one of the top 10 Super Lawyers in Texas by Law & Politics Magazine (2003-2008) (Thomson Reuters)
  • Named one of the top three antitrust lawyers, one of the top four energy and natural resources lawyers, and one of the top seven general commercial litigators in Texas by Chambers USA 2006
  • Recognized in Who’s Who Legal: Texas 2007 (Law Business Research Limited) as a pre-eminent lawyer in the area of commercial litigation.
  • Received Anti-Defamation League’s 2007 Karen H. Susman Jurisprudence Award
  • Recognized in BENCHMARK Litigation Guide as one of America’s Leading Litigation Attorneys (2009)

Education

Education

  • The University of Texas School of Law (J.D., with Honors, 1969)
  • The University of Texas (B.A., 1966)
  • Yale University
    • Institute of Far Eastern Languages
  • United States Air Force (Honorable Discharge, 1965)

Publications

  • Author, “Civil Voir Dire in Texas: Winning the Appeal Based on Bias or Prejudice,” 31 South Texas Law Review 409 (1990).
  • Lecturer: American College of Trial Lawyers Texas Trial Academy for Public Interest Lawyers, 2006;
  • American Bar Association Antitrust Litigation Course (2003 and 2004 programs);
  • “Affiliate Marketing Transactions,” Southwest Kansas Royalty Owners Assn. Annual Conference, 2003;
  • “Diagnosis of a Dispute,” Third Annual Conference on Resolving Commercial Disputes Without Trial, Tulane University and The University of Texas, 1993;
  • “Expert Witnesses; Preparation and Examination,” Houston Bar Association, 1989;
  • “Jury Selection & Opening Statements in Texas Civil Practice,” South Texas College of Law 1989 Discovery and Civil Trial Practice Institute;
  • “Arguing the Complex Case,” The Art of Persuasion (A Performance Enhancement Course), The State Bar of Texas, 1989;
  • “What You Need to Know About Discovery to Avoid Paying Sanctions,” Houston Bar Association Discovery Institute, 1987;
  • “Pleadings and Attacks on Pleadings,” Advanced Civil Trial Practice, The State Bar of Texas Evidence Series, 1983.

Leadership & Professional Memberships

Associations

  • American Law Institute
  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • International Society of Barristers
  • American Bar Association, Section of Litigation
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • State Bar of Texas
  • District of Columbia Bar Association
  • New York Bar Association
  • Houston Bar Association
  • Fellow, Houston Bar Association
  • Texas Bar Foundation
  • Chairman, State Bar of Texas Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, 1995-1996 and a committee member until 1998
  • Chairman, Judicial Selection Advisory Committee for the Southern District of Texas, 1993
  • Committee on Selection, Tenure & Compensation of State Judges, State Bar of Texas, 1980-81

News & Awards

More News & Awards
  • 6.02.2025

    News

    H. Lee Godfrey, 1939-2025
  • 2.17.2022

    News

    Susman Godfrey Once Again Leads Litigation Firms on Lawdragon’s Top 500
  • 8.29.2021

    News

    42 Partners Headline Lawdragon’s Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers for 2021
More News & Awards

© 2025 Susman Godfrey L.L.P. “Susman Godfrey®” and “Choose Exceptional®” are registered trademarks of Susman Godfrey, LLP. All rights reserved.

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