David J. Gogal

David is a senior trial and appellate lawyer with more than 37 years of experience representing businesses, professionals, and institutions in complex civil litigation throughout Virginia. Clients value his steady judgment, deep courtroom experience, and practical approach to resolving high-stakes disputes.

A principal at Blankingship & Keith, P.C., David focuses his practice on commercial litigation, employment law, real estate disputes, legal malpractice defense, and appellate representation. He has spent the majority of his career litigating matters in Virginia’s circuit courts, particularly in Northern Virginia, and regularly appears before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

In addition to his trial practice, David has extensive appellate experience and has argued cases before both the Supreme Court of Virginia and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. His appellate work is informed by decades of trial experience, allowing him to identify and preserve issues early and to present them clearly on appeal.

David has long been recognized as a leader within Virginia’s legal community. He currently serves as President of the Virginia Law Foundation and has held numerous leadership roles within statewide and local bar organizations. His career reflects a sustained commitment to professionalism, ethics, and the development of the practice of law in the Commonwealth.

He has also been deeply involved in legal education. Beginning in 1993, David returned for more than 25 years to Charlottesville to serve as a faculty member of the National Trial Advocacy College at the University of Virginia School of Law, helping train generations of trial lawyers. In 2026, the National Trial Advocacy College will relocate to William & Mary Law School.

David earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia, where he received the UVA Alumni Association Distinguished Student Award.

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 (2009-2026)
U.S. News - Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Professional Malpractice Law (2022, 2026)
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 (2022-2025)
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, 2026
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, 2014,2018, and 2025 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).