Robert M. Konop focuses his practice on fidelity bond and related legal issues. He is a senior litigation attorney with extensive corporate in-house experience in litigation management, claims, underwriting and risk management, and a wealth of experience in the financial institution insurance field. As former lead counsel to the financial institution insurance product division and head of the litigation unit of CUNA Mutual Group, he has managed the defense of credit unions' litigation on all bond, employment and other corporate exposures, and managed credit union business risk, including analyzing and recommending risk mitigation and transfer solutions for credit unions.

Mr. Konop is well versed in corporate governance issues, including the duties and responsibilities of directors, supervisory committees and management, and the regulatory requirements for credit union operations.

Mr. Konop is highly qualified in lending risks matters, including those related to indirect lending programs, auto leasing operations, member business lending and collection issues. He is also experienced in business risk matters, including those involving premises liability, privacy, vendor contracts and insurance contracts.

Additionally, Mr. Konop has assisted with, or directly drafted, insurance contracts, including fidelity bonds for credit unions; directors, employees and volunteers policies (D&O); fiduciary liability policies; commercial multi-peril policies; employment practices policies; and supplemental litigation policies.

Mr. Konop is sought out by many in-house, private firm and credit unions' legal counsel, and their directors, as well as credit union trade associations, for his specialty advice and counsel in the areas of fidelity bond, directors liability, and employment practices insurance and litigation. Mr. Konop joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in January 2005. He is a past leader of the firm’s Fidelity & Surety Practice Group.

Mr. Konop previously served 28 years as in-house legal counsel at CUNA Mutual Group in Madison, Wisconsin, with his most recent position being Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Lead Division Counsel to the Credit Union Protection Division, which provides coverage that protects the assets of approximately 95 percent of all credit unions. In that role, he was a member of the division's leadership team, providing business advice and legal services to the division. He previously was also head of the litigation unit. Additionally, he served as liaison to the National Credit Union Administration, which he consulted with frequently on regulation issues.

Mr. Konop holds the AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability. He is a member of the American Bar Association's Tort and Insurance Practice Section. Mr. Konop is also a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association. From 1983 to 1993, he served on the CUNA Credit Union Board of Directors.

Prior to practicing law, Mr. Konop served as a Civilian Nuclear Engineer in the U.S. Department of the Navy from 1969 to 1971. Mr. Konop has published several articles in the national credit union publication, Credit Union Magazine, on directors' duties in the post-Enron era and on sexual harassment policies. Some of his other publications include:

• “Recent Cases Interpreting Statutory Limitations and The Legal Action Clause – Validity of The Clause’s Trigger Date, co-author, International Association of Defense Counsel Fidelity & Surety Committee newsletter, May 2010.
• “Recent Decisions Interpreting ‘Loss Resulting Directly From’,” International Association of Defense Counsel Fidelity & Surety Committee newsletter, June 2009.
• Chapter contributor, “General Agreement (F) Notice of Legal Proceedings Against Insured – Election to Defend,” chapter, “Financial Institution Bonds 537-576," (Duncan L. Clore ed., 3d ed.) 2008.
• “Definition of Occurrence: Two Recent Decisions Get it Right,” co-author, International Association of Defense Counsel newsletter, May 2007.

He has been a frequent speaker to national as well as state credit union groups on fidelity bond, director's liability and employment practice insurance and litigation, as well as other credit union law topics. His presentations include:

• “Key Issues with Employee Dishonesty and Employee Theft,” HB Litigation Conferences’ “Fidelity Bond and Crime Coverage” conference, New York, New York, December 2009.
• “Maintaining the Attorney – Client Privilege When Communicating with Financial Institution Clients,” Illinois Credit Union League Attorneys’ Conference, Oak Brook, Illinois, October 2008.
• “Employee Dishonesty Claims When a Catastrophe Strikes,” Hinshaw’s 2007 Insurance Services Symposium, Chicago, Illinois, May 2007.
• "Directors Duties and Responsibilities," Illinois Credit Union League Annual Convention.
• "The Role of the Supervisory Committee," Illinois Credit Union League Annual Convention.
• "Emerging Trends for Volunteers," Kansas Credit Union League Annual Convention.
• "10 Top HR Reasons Credit Unions Get Sued," Kansas Credit Union League Annual Convention.
• "Fidelity Bond and Litigation Trends," California Credit Union League Attorneys Summit.
• "Emerging Risks for Credit Unions," National Credit Union Conference for Director's and Senior Managers.
• "Emerging Risks," Detecting Fraud and Managing Risk Conference.
• "10 Top Reasons Credit Unions are Sued," Association of Credit Union Internal Auditors 2003 Annual Conference.
• "Regulatory Changes = New Opportunities/Risks," Economics and Investments Conference.
• "Fidelity Bond Litigation and Claims Trends," CUNA Attorney Conference.
• "Mediation in Employment Litigation – A Mock Mediation," Human Resource Council Annual Meeting.
• "Employment Litigation," CUNA Mutual's Annual Discovery Conference.