Beverly B. Godbey

Beverly B. Godbey

Principal

Beverly knows the power of asking nicely. 

Beverly expertly navigates her clients’ insurance needs by speaking softly at times. But when the situation demands it, she is prepared to carry a big stick and head into battle. Her unparalleled understanding of the complexities of insurance coverage, combined with her professional, unflappable demeanor, makes her a formidable opponent and a powerful advocate for her clients. In addition to handling coverage disputes, Beverly routinely provides critical insights for policyholders in all types of insurance matters, including policy reviews and comparisons.

Beverly has received many accolades throughout the years for her insurance coverage and commercial litigation work. Beverly is a dedicated leader who has worked tirelessly to improve the legal profession; she holds the unique distinction of being the only person to serve as the President of the Dallas Young Lawyers Association, President of the Dallas Bar Association, and Chair of the Board of the State Bar of Texas. Beverly has published numerous articles and is a frequent speaker on insurance-related topics. She also provides pro bono legal services through The Human Rights Initiative and The Senior Source, and has received awards for her tireless efforts, including the Fellows Justinian Award from the Dallas Bar Foundation in 2017.

Beverly truly is in a class of her own. Even the State Fair of Texas awarded her a Blue Ribbon for original needlepoint. Prior to joining Amy Stewart Law, she was a Partner and Co-Chair of the Litigation Section at Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP (now Foley & Lardner LLP) in Dallas, where she practiced commercial, tort and insurance law for over 32 years. Beverly is married to the Honorable David Godbey, United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas. They are the proud parents of two Duke University graduates. 

Education

J.D., Tulane School of Law, 1982

B.S., Southern Methodist University, 1979, magna cum laude

  • Phi Beta Kappa Society

Court Admissions

Licensed in Texas

Licensed in Georgia

U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth, Eighth, and Eleventh Circuits

U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Representative Experience

  • Recovered policy aggregate limit for two different employee theft claims in the same policy year
  • Negotiated insurance terms in construction contracts, leases, and other commercial contracts
  • Achieved defense verdict in two-week products liability trial in state district court
  • Obtained reimbursement of defense costs in numerous cases in which the insurer initially denied any duty to defend
  • Analyzed indemnity agreements and directors and officers insurance policies for independent directors of publicly traded companies
  • Negotiated enhanced coverage for publicly traded clients in directors and officers, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, crime, and commercial general liability policies
  • Won summary judgment in federal court on duty to defend and violations of the Texas Insurance Code
  • Named as an expert witness on coverage and bad faith issues for insurance companies and policyholders
  • Panel member of arbitrators for the American Arbitration Association
  • Umpire/appraiser in property damage appraisals (commercial and residential)

Awards and Recognition

  • Rated AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 (Peer Review Rating) by Martindale-Hubbell® [AV® Preeminent™ and BV® Distinguished™ are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell® certification procedures, standards, and policies; more information can be found at www.martindale.com.ratings]
  • Selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® listing in the field of insurance law and commercial litigation (2015 to 2024); Best Lawyers lists are published by BL Rankings, LLC 
  • Elected fellow of the American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel (2019)
  • Named one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas: Insurance Law by D Magazine (2011 to present)
  • Named as Texas Super Lawyers® (2005 to 2007, 2011 to 2013, 2018 to present) by Super Lawyers as published by Thomson Reuters; Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding attorneys who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement 
  • Recipient of the Fellows Justinian Award presented by the Dallas Bar Foundation (2017)
  • Presented with Presidential Citations by the State Bar of Texas (2012, 2013)
  • Presented with the Larry Schoenbrun Jurisprudence Award by the Anti-Defamation League (2011)
  • Named one of the Best Women Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine (2010)
  • Presented with the Rainmaker Award by the Equal Access to Justice Foundation (2004)

Professional and Community Involvement

State Bar of Texas, Past Chair of the Board; Former Co-Chair,  Nominations and Elections Committee; Past Director, District 6, Place 2

Texas Supreme Court Task Force on the Texas Bar Exam, Member

Texas Equal Access to Justice Commission, Former Member

American Bar Association, Member

American Law Institute, Member

Advisor on Principles of the Law of Liability Insurance

Dallas Bar Association, Former President

Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Former President

American Arbitration Association Arbitrator (2015 to present)

Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow

Dallas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow

Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Foundation, Founding Fellow

Texas Center for Legal Ethics, Former Chair of the Board

Texas Association of Defense Counsel and the Defense Research Institute, Member

International Association of Defense Counsel, Member

Campaign for Equal Access to Justice, Former Chair

Lakehill Preparatory School Board of Directors, Advisory Director

The Senior Source, Director

Crossroads Community Services, Director

Dallas Museum of Art, Member

First United Methodist Church in Dallas, Member; Church Council, Former Chair; Staff Parish Relations Committee, Former Chair

Junior League of Dallas, Sustainer

Attorneys Serving the Community, Former Chair

Publications and Presentations

  • September 2021, "Updates and Developments on E&O and D&O Coverage Issues," State Bar of Texas, 18th Annual Advanced Insurance Law Conference, San Antonio, Texas
  • July 2021, "Insurance Law Update," State Bar of Texas, 44th Annual Advanced Civil Trial Conference, San Antonio, Texas
  • May 2021, "Directors and Officers Liability Insurance :: Update on Market Trends, Best D&O Policy Coverages, and D&O Cases," Dallas Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section, Dallas, Texas
  • November 2020, "Market Update on Business and M&A Insurance," co-presentation for the State Bar of Texas, 18th Annual Advanced Business Law Conference, Dallas, Texas
  • June 2019, “ALI Restatement :: The Law of Liability Insurance,” co-presentation for the State Bar of Texas, Advanced Insurance Law Conference, San Antonio, Texas
  • Feb | Mar 2018, “Your Brain on Ethics :: How that Thing Between Your Ears Can Lead You Astray,” presentation for the Justice James A. Baker Guide to Ethics and Professionalism in Texas, Texas Center for Legal Ethics, Austin, Texas (February) and Dallas, Texas (March)
  • June 2017, “Professional Liability Insurance :: Errors and Omissions to Avoid,” presentation for the State Bar of Texas, Advanced Insurance Law Conference, San Antonio, Texas
  • December 2016, “Proactive Approaches to Ethics and Professionalism,” presentation for newly licensed Texas lawyers package, Justice James A. Baker Guide to Ethics and Professionalism in Texas, a 4-hour online CLE available through the Texas Center for Legal Ethics
  • August 2015, “Insurance Coverage for Drones,” article for Headnotes, a publication of the Dallas Bar Association
  • January 2015, “Transfer of Risk and Insurance Requirements in Business Contracts,” presentation for American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education
  • January 2015, “Drafting Risk Transfer and Insurance Provisions in Business Contracts :: Strategies for Mitigating Risk,” presentation for American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education
  • June 2014, “Common Pitfalls of Certificates of Insurance,” webinar presentation for Lorman Education Services
  • November 2013, “Misrepresentations in an Insurance Application,” article for Headnotes, a publication of the Dallas Bar Association
  • April 2012, “Case Law Update,” presentation for the State Bar of Texas, Advanced Insurance Law Conference 2012, Dallas, Texas
  • April 2011,  “Insurance—What Your Management Team Needs to Know,” presentation for the 33rd Annual Corporate Counsel Institute, Dallas and Houston, Texas
  • April 2011, “ERISA—A Primer for Coverage Lawyers,” presentation for the State Bar of Texas, Advanced Insurance Law Conference 2011, Dallas, Texas

Employment

Prior to joining Amy Stewart Law, Beverly was a Partner and Co-Chair of the Litigation Section at Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP in Dallas from 1986 to 2018.