PHOENIX

Benjamin C. Thomas

One of Arizona's leading trial lawyers, Ben Thomas has tried nearly 200 cases before juries in Arizona and other states involving a wide range of legal issues, including insurance coverage and bad faith, commercial litigation, personal injury and product liability. Ben is widely respected for his expertise in coverage issues. Previously, Ben was one of two Phoenix attorneys under the age of 50 to receive the distinction as a “Legend in Litigation.”

Ben has lectured on numerous subjects before legal and insurance defense audiences, as well as various other forums, and he enjoys sharing his nearly 40 years of experience with his clients and the younger lawyers in the firm. He is a member of the Arizona Association of Defense counsel and has served on its board of directors.

He received his B.S. and law degrees from the University of Missouri, finishing law school in 1973. After a year as a law clerk at the Arizona Court of Appeals, he took an associate position with the former O’Connor Cavanagh law firm, which at that time was Phoenix's premiere litigation firm. After six years with that firm, Ben started a private practice, devoted largely to automobile liability, premises liability, product liability and coverage work, that evolved into Thomas, Thomas & Markson.

Ben continues to exhibit a strong commitment to diversity within the legal profession. He has sponsored a writing/essay contest entitled “The Importance of Enhancing Diversity in the Legal Profession: A Law Student’s Perspective.” Additionally, Mr. Thomas chaired a seminar through the State Bar of Arizona entitled “Considering Ethnic and Cultural Issues in Jury Trials.” This seminar emphasized the necessity for sensitivity to cultural and ethnic issues when developing trial presentations to juries in Arizona.