David J. Gogal

Principal

dgogal@bklawva.com

d. 703-293-7224
o. 703-691-1235
f. 703-691-3913

David J. Gogal

David is a partner in the law firm of Blankingship & Keith, P.C..  He is a civil litigator with over 35 years of trial practice, primarily before the various Virginia Circuits Courts in Northern Virginia as well as the Federal Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia.

He also has substantial appellate experience arguing before the Supreme Court of Virginia and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. His practice has concentrated on commercial litigation, employment law, real estate law, legal malpractice defense, and appellate representation.

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David is an active member of the Virginia State Bar, currently serving on Bar Council and on the Disciplinary Board, and previously having served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Lawyer Discipline and Chair of the Fifth District Disciplinary Committee. He also served as a member for 6 years on the Professionalism Committee and was appointed to the faculty of the Mandatory Professionalism Course.

David currently serves on the Board of Governors for the Virginia Bar Association and on the Civil Litigation Council. David also has been an active member of the Boyd Graves Conference, and has had the opportunity to chair several committees.

David also serves on the Board of the Virginia Law Foundation and is a member of the Virginia CLE Committee.

Earlier in his career, David held several leadership positions with the Fairfax Bar Association, including serving as President, a Member of the Board of Directors, Chair of the Circuit Court Committee, and a member of the Judicial Screening Committee.  Notably, he has been a Co-Editor of the Fairfax Circuit Court Practice Manual since 2002 (which includes the 2002, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2014 and 2018 Editions).

David received both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia, where he was awarded the UVA Alumni Association Distinguished Student Award.  For over 20 years beginning in 1993, David has returned for most winters to Charlottesville to serve as a faculty member of the National Trial Advocacy College at the University of Virginia School of Law.

Practice Areas

Credentials

Education
  • University of Virginia School of Law (1988)
  • University of Virginia (with High Distinction, 1985)
Bar Admissions
  • Virginia State Bar, 1988
  • Supreme Court of the United States, 2013
  • Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1988
  • United States District Court (Eastern District of Virginia), 1988
  • United States Bankruptcy Court, (Eastern District of Virginia), 1989

Representative Cases

  • McLean v. Ray, 488 Fed. Appx. 677, 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 14857 (4th Cir. 2012)
  • Gen. Tech. Applications, Inc v. Exro Ltda, 388 F.3d 114 (4th Cir. 2004)
  • Premier Signatures International, Inc. v. Feld Entertainment Productions, Inc., 1999 U.S. App. LEXIS 14028; Case No. 98-2456 (unpublished opinion) (4th Cir. 1999)
  • Leonard v. J.C. Pro Wear, Inc., et al., 64 F.3d 657 (4th Cir. 1995); U.S. App. LEXIS 29888; U.S. App. LEXIS 24340; 1995 - 2 Trade Case P71, 108
  • Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Co. v. Hancock, et al, 600 F. Supp. 2d 702 (E.D. Va. 2009)
  • Firestone v. Wiley, 485 F. Supp. 2d 694 (E.D. Va. 2007)
  • Middleburg Training Center, Inc. v. Firestone, 477 F.Supp. 2d 719 E.D. Va. 2007)
  • Physicians Comm. For Responsible Med. v. General Mills, Inc. 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 87047 (E.D. Va. 2006)
  • Continental Cas. Co. v. Graham & Schewe, 339 F.Supp.2d 723 (E.D. Va. 2004)
  • In the Matter of Barbara S. Franklin and Priscilla B. Ransohoff, 709 F. Supp. 109 (E.D. Va. 1989); U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3106
  • McDiarmid Trustee of McDiarmid Land Trust v. Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority Supreme Court of Virginia. February 21, 2019 Not Reported in S.E. Rptr. 2019 WL 827080
  • Shareholder Representative Servs. L.L.C. v. Airbus Americas Inc., 292 Va. 682 (2016)
  • John C. Donnelly, et al. v. Donatelli & Klein, Inc., et al., 258 Va. 171, 519 S.E.2d 133 (1999)
  • George Atkisson, et al. v. Wexford Associates, et al and Wexford Associates, et al. v. George Atkisson, et al., 254 Va. 449, 493 S.E.2d 524 (1997)
  • Hazel & Thomas, P.C., et al. v. Shahram Yavari, et al., 251 Va. 162, 465 S.E.2d 812 (1996)
  • Airbus Americas Inc. v. Shareholder Representative Servs. L.L.C. (90 Va. Cir. 284 (2015)

Professional Honors & Activities

Professional Honors

  • U.S. News - Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation and Professional Malpractice Law (2009-2025)
  • U.S. News - Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Professional Malpractice Law (2022)
  • Virginia Business Magazine, Legal Elite: Labor and Employment Law and Civil Litigation (2012-2024)
  • Virginia Super Lawyer, Business Litigation, Employment & Labor and Real Estate (2006-2025)
  • Virginia Super Lawyer, Top 100 (2020)
  • Arlington Magazine, Top Attorney, Construction Law (2021-2023) and Litigation (2022-2023)
  • Richmond Magazine, Top Lawyer (2013-2021)
  • Washington Magazine, Top Lawyer (2014-2024)
  • Northern Virginia Magazine, Top Lawyer for Employment Law (2020)
  • Recognized in the premiere issue of Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition for Business Litigation (2007)
  • Rated AV Preeminent Attorney- Judicial Edition by Martindale-Hubbell 
  • Rated AV Preeminent Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell 
  • Fairfax Bar Association President’s Award (2002, 2007, and 2013)

 

Professional Activities

VIRGINIA STATE BAR

  • Disciplinary Board, Chair, 2024 - 2025, First Vice Chair, 2022- 2024, Member, 2019 - 2025
  • Bar Council Representative, 2016-2022
  • Standing Committee on Lawyer Discipline, Chair 2016-2019, Vice Chair 2015-2016, Member 2013 – 2019)
  • Fifth District Disciplinary Committee, Chair, 2005-06, Vice-Chair (Section I) 2003-04, Secretary (Section I) 2002-03, Member 2000-06 
  • Member, Standing Committee on Professionalism, 2006- 12  
  • Faculty Member, Mandatory Professionalism Course, 2006- 09

 

VIRGINIA BAR ASSOCIATION

  • Board Member, Board of Governors, 2018-2021
  • Civil Litigation Council Member, 2013-2021

 

VIRGINIA LAW FOUNDATION

  • President Elect, 2025
  • Vice President, 2024 - 2025
  • Member, Board of Directors, 2020-
  • Fellow, 2017-
  • Chair, VA CLE Committee 2021 and 2022   

 

BOYD GRAVES CONFERENCE

  • Member, 2015-

 

FAIRFAX BAR ASSOCIATION

  • President, 2010 - 11
  • President-Elect, 2009-10
  • Vice President, 2008-09
  • Treasurer, 2007-08
  • Secretary 2006-07
  • Member, Board of Directors, 2003-12
  • Co-Editor, Fairfax Circuit Court Practice Manual (2002, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2014, and 2018 Eds.)
  • Circuit Court Committee, Chair 2000- 2003, Vice Chair 1998-2000
  • Law Library Committee, Chair 1995-98; Vice Chair 1994-95
  • Legislative Committee, Chair 1999-2000
  • Convention Committee, Vice Chair 1998-1999
  • Judicial Screening Committee, Member 2002-2003
  • Law-Related Education Committee 1991-95
  • Model Judiciary Program 1991-99
  • Courthouse Construction Task Force 1997-1999
  • Law Day Committee, 1989- 1991

 

FAIRFAX LAW FOUNDATION

  • President, 2008-09
  • Vice President, 2007-08
  • Secretary, 2006-07 
  • Member, Board of Directors, 2003-

 

FAIRFAX POLICE YOUTH CLUB

  • Counsel 2000-
  • President 1997-2000
  • First Vice President 1995-96
  • Second Vice-President 1994-95
  • Treasurer 1990-93

 

LEADERSHIP FAIRFAX 

  • Member, Class of 1998

Community Service

  • President-Elect, Virginia Law Foundation (2025), Vice President, (2024), Board Member (2020 - present)
  • Past President and current Board Member, Fairfax Law Foundation, (2003 - present)
  • Attorney Advisor, UVA Law School VELLA pro bono  program, (2019-present)
  • Chairman, Fairfax Public Law Library Committee (1995-1999)
  • Past President and current Board Member, Fairfax Police Youth Club (1989-present)
  • Employment Law Clinic Volunteer, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, (2015 - present)
  • Fairfax 8th Grade Tour Program, Attorney Guide
  • Leadership Fairfax Member (1997-present)
  • Instructor, Model Judiciary program at Annandale High School, (1989-2000)
  • Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 895, Falls Church, VA (2006-present)
  • Falls Church Recreation Coach (soccer, basketball)

Published Articles

  •  
  • Boyd Graves Report on Compulsory Counterclaims, August 15, 2024
  • Boyd Graves Report of the Committee on Partition Statute/Fine Tuning UPHPA Reforms, August 31, 2022
  • Author/Lecturer, “Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act (UPHPA) and Virginia: A Boyd Graves Conference Analysis and Recent Legislation” (March 2020)
  • Boyd Graves Report of the Committee on the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, August 29, 2019
  • Boyd Graves Report of the Committee on Statutory Recoupment for Contract Statute of Limitations, August 28, 2019
  • Boyd Graves Report of the Committee on the Gap in the Statute of Limitations for Written Contracts Not Signed by the Party To Be Charged, May 1, 2018
  • Boyd Graves Report of the Committee on the Rule on Witnesses if Depositions, June 9, 2017
  • Author/Lecturer, “Effective and Ethical Resolution of Civil Litigation in Virginia”, Virginia CLE, The Verizon Center (March 2017).
  • Editor/Lecturer, “Circuit Court Practice Manual”, (Spring 2025) (Spring 2018), (Spring 2014),(Spring 2010),(Fall 2010),(Spring 2007), (Fall 2004), (Fall 2002).
  • Lecturer/Moderator, “Professionalism in the Court”, 2011 FBA New Orleans Annual Convention, 2012 FBA Bedford Springs Annual Convention.
  • Panel Member, “Avoiding Legal Malpractice” 2010 FBA Tides Inn Convention.
  • Seminar Panel Member, “Successful and Ethical Comp Strategies”, Co-author of Chapter “Ethics-How to Avoid Ethical Pitfalls and Malpractice Claims” (June 2004).
  • Panel Member, “2004 Update: Preventing Legal Malpractice Claims and Ethics Complaints in Your Law Practice” (April 2004).
  • Panel Member, “Preventing Legal Malpractice Claims and Ethical Complaints, 2003 Update: Business Law, Bankruptcy and General Practice” (April and May 2003).
  • Seminar Lecturer, Virginia Real Estate Titles and Title Insurance (December 2002), Author of article “Resolving Title Problems.”
  • Quoted, Student Advocacy Program Provides Real-World Experience in Employment Law, University of Virginia School of Law (March 3, 2025).