Since joining Leonard, Street and Deinard in 1980, Bob Thavis founded the firm’s Insurance Coverage practice group and has extensive experience representing corporate insureds in all types of coverage disputes. Bob has experience in litigating insurance coverage under a broad array of policy types, including: underlying claims of securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition and other business torts, intellectual property, construction, product liability, Internet and eCommerce liability, as well as fidelity, property and casualty claims, and in appellate work in both federal and state courts. He has successfully prosecuted claims of entitlement to over $100 million in insurance coverage. He is a frequent author and lecturer, both regionally and nationally, on insurance coverage issues. 

Bob has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers® and has an AV® Preeminent™ peer rating (highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards) from Martindale-Hubbell.

Professional and Civic Activities

• Charter chair, Leonard, Street and Deinard’s Insurance Coverage Group
• Federal Bar Association 
• American Bar Association
• ABA Section of Litigation’s Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee
       - Present recruiting committee co-chair
       - Policyholder website managing editor, 2010-2011
       - Policyholder chair, 2006 Mid-Year Meeting
       - Policyholder vice-chair, 2005 Mid-Year Meeting
       - Policyholder committee vice-chair, 2004 and 2005
       - Policyholder chair, Computer & Technology Coverage Subcommittee,
         2001, 2002 and 2003
       - Policyholder chair, D&O Coverage Subcommittee, 1998, 1999, 2000
       - Charter member and policyholder chair, Emerging Issues
         Subcommittees, 2003 and 2004
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• Hennepin County Bar Association
• Board chair, East Side Learning Center
• Past member and chair, Board of Directors, Capital Community Services Inc.

Presentations

• Moderator, “Are the Shoemaker’s Children Barefoot: How Well Do You Know Your Own Lawyers’ Professional Liability Coverage?,” Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee 25th Annual CLE Seminar, March 2013

Education

• J.D., with honors, Yale Law School, 1980
• B.A., magna cum laude, Minnesota State University Mankato, 1977

Admissions

• State of Minnesota
• State of North Dakota
• State of Wisconsin
• U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
• U.S. District Court for the District of Wisconsin
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court