Thad Lightfoot, Adjunct Environmental Law Professor, Passes Away

Thad Lightfoot, a prominent Minneapolis attorney and an adjunct environmental law professor, passed away unexpectedly yesterday. 

While this semester was Lightfoot’s first time teaching Environmental Law at the Law School, many members of our community have enjoyed working with him in his legal practice, and in his leadership roles in our state and local bar associations. His death is a loss to the Law School and to the entire Twin Cities legal community.

Lightfoot was a partner in Dorsey’s Regulatory Affairs group since 2012. His practice focused on representing clients in private party environmental litigation matters and governmental enforcement actions, and advising clients on compliance with federal, state, and local environmental laws. 
Lightfoot began his legal career as an associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in its Washington D.C. office. He later entered public service as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Environmental Enforcement Section. Following his time at the Justice Department, He relocated to the Twin Cities where he worked at two law firms before forming his own firm –The Environmental Law Group– in 2000, and then later moving to Dorsey. 

Lightfoot was very active in the community and in bar associations. He served as president of the Hennepin County Bar Association (2017-18), and was a long-time member of the Board of Directors of the Minnesota State Bar Association. He also maintained a strong commitment to pro bono work throughout his career. 

A private memorial service will be held at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth Wed. Dec. 23 at 10 a.m. To live stream the service, please follow this link which will be available prior to start of Wednesday's service.