Blank Rome LLP

Mr. Hoffman serves as co-chairman and managing partner of Blank Rome LLP. In this capacity he oversees the Firm’s day-to-day operations, implements the Firm’s growth strategy for its expanding national and international platform, and manages the overall leadership, direction, profitability and culture of the Firm. Mr. Hoffman was named managing partner in April 2011; he has served as co-chairman since July 2008. Mr. Hoffman served as the Firm’s Litigation Department head from 1996 to 2008. His practice consists of handling complex corporate and criminal litigation and he has extensive trial and appellate experience in both the federal and state courts.

Mr. Hoffman began his career as a federal prosecutor with the United States Department of Justice, having been recruited to serve as part of the Attorney General's Honors Program. As a result of his trial achievements, he received the prestigious Attorney General’s Special Commendation Award.

He has particular experience representing both corporations and individuals in commercial disputes, government contract litigation, civil and criminal environmental matters, securities cases, intellectual property, and banking cases. Mr. Hoffman also serves as national lead trial counsel in the defense of over 150 environmental pollution and product liability cases on behalf of a multi-national chemical company.

In addition to his trial experience, Mr. Hoffman devotes significant time to preventive counseling on behalf of clients, presents seminars to corporate managers on current developments in the law, and conducts corporate internal investigations. Mr. Hoffman has recently been involved in numerous alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and mediation cases in assisting clients to avoid high litigation expenses.

Mr. Hoffman has written extensively on MTBE and Class Action Litigation and served as co-author for two journals on Audit Committees. He is a lecturer at the CPA Club for Continuing Professional Experience, where he speaks on developments in the law as it impacts certified public accountants and other accounting professionals.

Mr. Hoffman has received the highest possible rating from Martindale-Hubbell. 

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• National lead trial counsel for a multi-national chemical company in the defense of over 150 environmental pollution and product liability cases in multi-district litigation involving water contamination in cities within 17 U.S. states; to date, the company’s share of settlements has been less than one-half of one percent.
• Represented a large national mortgage company in a breach-of-contract and RICO action where damages were sought for $26 million. Seven-day trial resulted in verdict for the mortgage company and success on its cross-claim. Case was settled.
• Defended a large national bank in a breach of contract action involving the sale of 12 bank branches following a Department of Justice-mandated divestiture of bank branches; damages sought against client of $416 million, obtained summary judgment and won in counterclaim resulting in award and recovery by our client.

COMMUNITY SERVICE & AFFILIATIONS

Mr. Hoffman is an active leader in the community. He serves as Vice President and Board Member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia; as a Corporate Executive Board Member of the Philadelphia Museum of Art; a Finance Committee Member of Select Greater Philadelphia; and a Member of the Dilworth Plaza Steering Committee. In addition, Mr. Hoffman is one of the founders of the J. Willard O’Brien Villanova Inn of Court, where he served as president; served as the Event Chairman for the American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; and was on the Transition Committee for Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett. Mr. Hoffman also frequently speaks on issues of importance to the legal profession. He was selected to participate in The National Symposium on Diversity in the Legal Profession presented by the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Office of Diversity. He served as a panelist for the plenary session, “A Vision for Collaboration,” which addressed the current state of diversity in the legal profession and the importance of collaboration to advance diversity and inclusion.