Attorneys

Mr. Tharpe received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973 from the University of South Florida and his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law in 1980.

Mr. Tharpe began his legal career in private practice in Tallahassee in 1981.  In 1982 he joined the Legal Division of the Florida Department of Insurance (now the Department of Financial Services) where he represented the Department in administrative and appellate litigation matters. From 1985 to 2009, Mr. Tharpe served as Chief Counsel to the Department’s Division of Agents and Agency Services and supervised a team of Department lawyers specializing in the administrative prosecution of licensees and the defense of Department license denials.  During 2010 and 2011, Mr. Tharpe represented the Department in a number of high profile cases involving unauthorized insurance transactions.  Mr. Tharpe is also experienced in the areas of rulemaking, rule challenges, and declaratory statements.

Mr. Tharpe’s practice focuses on insurance regulatory matters.