Rob Zavaglia is a Partner and Office Chair in Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP's Denver office. He is a member of the firm’s Professional Liability, Labor & Employment, Commercial Litigation/D&O, Tort & Catastrophic Loss, Construction & Design Law, Insurance Coverage & Extra-Contractual Liability and Appellate practice sections. He is also Chair of the firm's Aviation national practice team, Vice-Chair of the firm's Architects & Engineers Design Liability and Western Construction practice teams, and part of the firm's Executive Committee. Rob has a broad practice that includes acting as personal and corporate counsel as well as serving as first-call litigation counsel in matters involving business and employment, aviation, construction, coverage and professional liability disputes.

In professional liability litigation, Mr. Zavaglia regularly represents attorneys, medical professionals and institutions, financial planners, securities brokers, and appraisers in claims arising from their professional duties. He also defends architects, engineers, contractors, and sub-trades in residential and commercial construction defect cases. As lead counsel, he has successfully tried cases involving conflicts and breaches of fiduciary duty, specialty financial products, real property defects and disclosures, aviation losses, and civil and structural engineering disputes. His insurance practice includes defending producers in failure to procure cases, representing carriers in declaratory relief actions, and coverage analysis in first- and third-party claims, including bad faith mitigation and defense.

Mr. Zavaglia’s products liability defense includes extensive experience in the medical and aviation industries, where he has defended manufacturers of implants, surgical devices, and pharmaceutical products, as well as aviation manufacturers and maintenance providers involved in incidents and investigations. His aviation practice is informed by his years as a single-engine general aviation pilot.

In addition to his defense work, Mr. Zavaglia serves as outside general counsel to private corporations and as personal counsel to high-net-worth individuals. His work spans various issues, including business partnerships, due diligence, commercial leasing and real estate transactions, employment contracts, confidential business practices, contract enforcement, and risk mitigation strategies.

Mr. Zavaglia also maintains an active appellate practice, representing clients before Colorado appellate courts and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He has been specially admitted to numerous jurisdictions nationwide and has tried cases to verdict in both Colorado and Wyoming. Additionally, he served as the Colorado legislative liaison for the Defense Research Institute, tracking state initiatives affecting business and litigation interests.

Recognized for his professional accomplishments, Mr. Zavaglia was first named a “Colorado Rising Star” in 5280 Magazine’s April 2009 edition and has been consistently recognized by Colorado Super Lawyers in subsequent years.

Colorado State Courts

U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

U.S. District Court for the District of Montana

United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

United States Supreme Court

• National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association
• Aviation Insurance Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
• Colorado Bar Association
• Denver Bar Association
• Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

• FMG Trial Academy Instructor
• Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
• SuperLawyers, Rising Star 2009-2018

• O Charting, Where Art Thou? Patient Charting Perspectives From a Litigator
• The Physician Apology: An Intersection of Poor Results and Civil Liability
• Legal Landmines: Key Project Concerns from Start to Finish, accredited by the American Institute of Architects