“Clients turn to Todd 'when they have a really big national problem,’” Chambers USA reports, “because he is ‘good at understanding the client’s philosophy,’ ‘can dismantle arguments,’ and is ‘as good as anyone in the country on his feet.’”
Overview
For more than 25 years, Todd has defended major U.S. corporations against hundreds of threatened class actions and other key litigation matters throughout the United States, with particular emphasis on matters for financial services and insurance clients. He also represents clients in complex securities litigation, arbitration and regulatory investigations and proceedings involving the SEC, FINRA, state regulators and state attorneys general. A member of the firm’s Board of Directors and its Executive Committee, and co-chair of its Financial Services and Insurance Industry group, Todd provides clients with access to significant resources to resolve the thorniest litigation challenges.
Experience
Served as lead or co-lead counsel defending putative class action litigation located in 26 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin. These matters primarily involved the financial services and insurance industries, including claims for fraud, breach of warranty, RICO, breach of contract, consumer protection, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and state and federal statutory claims.
Defended investment companies and advisors, open and closed-end funds, and broker dealers in defense of putative securities fraud class actions, SEC, FINRA and other regulatory proceedings, individual lawsuits and arbitrations.
Defended numerous national property casualty and auto insurers in putative class actions defense challenging alleged discrimination in pricing (i.e., "redlining"), claims handling practices, total loss calculations, diminished value and other contract claims, UM and UIM sales practices, and parallel proceedings by state and federal regulatory bodies.
Defended the homeowners insurance industry defense against regulatory and class action claims that carriers are prohibited from depreciating labor on actual cash value (ACV) policies.
Defended the life insurance industry in putative class actions nationwide claiming that it is improper to include profits and expenses in the cost of insurance (COI) calculations/deductions on universal life policies.
Defended numerous consumer class action claims under federal and state consumer protection laws including TILA, FDCPA, FCRA, FCBA, TCPA and the FACTA.
Defended loan originators and loan servicers in litigation throughout the U.S., including claims securitization of mortgages, buy-back claims, indemnity actions and other mortgage-related litigation.
Represented clients in affirmative litigation involving large-scale fraudulent schemes in financial services and insurance industries.
News & Insights
News
Publications
"Belaboring Depreciation: The 'Labor Depreciation' Class Action Tidal Wave," The Brief by American Bar Association, March 2022
Recognitions
Recognitions
Named to 2021 POWER30 for Business Litigation, Minnesota Lawyer, 2021
Recognized each year since 2004 as one of America’s Leading Business Lawyers by Chambers USA. In a recent edition, sources say he "is an expert in financial and class action litigation matters."
Named each year since 2004 in The Best Lawyers in America© in the areas of business litigation, commercial litigation and insurance law and named Lawyer of the Year in 2020
Listed each year since 2008 as a “litigation star” in Benchmark Litigation, “The Definitive Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys.”
Regularly selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers® in business litigation
Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal, 40-Under-40 Award Recipient, 2008
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
The Guthrie Theater Board of Directors
The Children’s Theatre Company, Board of Directors
- Board Chair (effective July 2019)
WithAll, Board of Directors
- Executive Committee and Governance Committee, Chair
Minnesota Business Partnership Board of Directors
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- Minnesota
- Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
- U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Education
University of Denver College of Law, J.D., with highest honors
St. Olaf College; Keble College, Oxford University, B.A.
