Travis J. Rhoades

Biography

Travis represents businesses and their insurers in injury, death, and property damage claims. Much of his practice involves the defense of product liability claims for consumer, commercial, and industrial product manufacturers, and their insurers. He is national and regional counsel for several manufacturing and contracting clients for product liability and toxic tort lawsuits.  He represents parties in each step of the chain of distribution in food safety matters.

Travis has represented clients in formal and informal meetings with government  agencies responsible for product safety. He developed a professional interest in fire and explosion litigation, and represents manufacturers, installers and maintenance contractors of burner controls, fire and explosion suppression systems, and sprinkler systems in claims and lawsuits around the country. He has appeared in courts in 39 states, and coordinated claims and cases with local attorneys across North America in his two decades of practice.

In each matter, he works to understand his client’s goal, and ensures that any decision that will have a meaningful impact on the outcome is understood and approved. He develops strategies in each case based on his understanding of his client’s needs and wishes, the law, the court, and the people involved.

Travis is active in the Defense Research Institute, Wisconsin Defense Counsel, and the National Fire Protection Association.  He maintains connections to experts, consultants and local attorneys across the country and in Canada, which pays dividends for his clients in terms of early notice of claims, practical advice for navigating procedure in other jurisdictions, and changes and updates in the law.

Travis attended high school at Ramstein Air Force Base in then-West Germany.  He met his wife Michelle at the BX at Scott Air Force Base, and they have four children. He recently hung up his youth-sports coaching whistle and settled into the maddening pursuit of a sub-80 round of golf.

Community Service Activities

Board of Directors, Downtown Montessori Academy, 2007 – pres.

Board of Directors, Milwaukee Sport Club, 2014-2020

Practice Areas

Industrial Accidents
Insurance Defense, Coverage, and Disputes
Mass Tort and Toxic Tort Litigation
Negligence and Personal Injury Defense
Product Liability
Construction Law
Risk Management

Bar Admissions

State of Wisconsin
State of Illinois
U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court - Western District of Wisconsin

State Certifications

State Certification 1
State Certification 2

Education

Marquette University Law School, J.D. 1998
Southern Illinois University, B.A., History, 1995

Professional Organizations

Wisconsin Bar Association
American Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
Wisconsin Defense Counsel, Board of Directors, 2012-2020
National Fire Protection Association