Barnes & Thornburg Names Scott Godes as Office Managing Partner in DC

Godes succeeds Roscoe Howard, who oversaw the expansion of the firm’s presence in the nation’s capital during his seven-year tenure. Howard will step down from office leadership to focus on his white collar practice.

Godes joined Barnes & Thornburg in 2013 as a partner in the Litigation Department and served as co-chair of the Insurance Recovery practice from 2021 to 2026.

“Scott’s success as co-chair of our Insurance Recovery practice, along with his strategic vision for Washington, D.C., makes him the right person to lead this office,” said Firm Managing Partner Andrew J. Detherage. “He steps into this role at an exciting time of growth for the office and the firm. I look forward to the many positive contributions he will make.” 

Barnes & Thornburg opened its D.C. office in 1983, the firm’s first one outside of Indiana. In 2023, the office relocated to its current 35,000-plus square foot space in District Center at 555 12th Street N.W. Suite 1200 to accommodate the firm’s continued expansion in the area. The office is now populated by more than 100 people, including nearly 70 active attorneys — a 150% increase in headcount since 2019. 

“It’s a privilege and an honor to take the baton from Roscoe and continue to guide Barnes & Thornburg’s further expansion in the D.C. market,” said Godes. “Our office is comprised of such a talented group of lawyers and business professionals. I’ve learned so much from watching Roscoe lead the office, and I’m excited to apply those lessons in this role.”

Godes represents corporate policyholders in complex insurance recovery matters. He also serves as co-chair of the firm’s Data Security and Privacy group. Godes received a national ranking in the 2026 edition of Chambers USA for policyholder insurance dispute resolution and is ranked in the top band for that practice area in the District of Columbia. Other recent recognitions include the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers, Thomson Reuter’s 2026 Stand-Out Lawyers list and Cybersecurity Docket’s Incident Response 50 for 2025.  

About Barnes & Thornburg

Barnes & Thornburg operates 26 offices across the United States, enabling more than 900 lawyers to serve clients nationwide. As one of the 100 largest law firms in the country, we provide seamless coast-to-coast coverage for high-stakes litigation, complex transactions and innovative IP matters. Our national reach and knowledge of local markets help clients conduct business confidently wherever opportunities arise.