David R. Godofsky

Knowledgeable on ERISA but communication was inconsistent

I engaged David Godofsky at Alston & Bird to handle a complex ERISA litigation matter for our company's retirement plan. There is no question about his deep expertise in employee benefits law; his background from the University of Virginia and his recognition in the field were evident in his strategic approach to our case, especially regarding some COVID-19-related compliance issues we faced. The legal work product itself was solid and he clearly has over a decade of valuable experience. However, my experience was mixed. While David is undoubtedly competent, communication was sometimes a challenge. Responses to emails could take several days, and there were instances where I felt I had to follow up multiple times for updates that should have been proactively provided. For the premium rates charged by a firm like Alston & Bird, I expected a more consistent client service experience. He successfully navigated the legal complexities, but the process felt more transactional than collaborative. If you need a sharp legal mind on ERISA matters and are prepared to manage the client relationship actively, David can deliver. For us, the service aspect just fell short of the expertise.