Robert J. Hoffman
Robert J. Hoffman
Robert J. Hoffman
Partner and Co-Global Practice Group Leader - Business and Commercial Disputes
Biography
Robert is a trial lawyer whose national practice is primarily focused on resolution of disputes between businesses and their customers or employees. He has deep experience representing business clients in cases involving a wide range of allegations by both customers and employees, including consumer class actions, significant individual consumer claims, wage and hour claims, non-competition and restrictive covenant claims, as well as actions involving race, age, gender, and disability discrimination. He has successfully handled trial or other resolution of these cases on a national basis, including more than twenty first-chair jury trials in multiple states throughout the Midwest and West.
Robert serves on the firmwide governing Board and is a member of the firm's LGBTQ Global Allies Network.
Civic Involvement & Honors
- Chambers USA, Missouri: Kansas City, Litigation: General Commercial (2022)
- The Best Lawyers in America© , "Lawyer of the Year", Banking and Finance Law (2022)
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation - Labor and Employment, Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions (2010-2022)
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association – Litigation Section, Business Torts Committee
- Missouri Bar Association
- Kansas Bar Association
- Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association – Business Torts and Commercial Litigation Committees
- Missouri "Local Litigation Star,"Benchmark Litigation Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys
Firm Governing Board
LGBTQ Global Allies Network
Recruiting Committee
Admissions
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California, 2015
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Kansas, 1994
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Missouri, 1993
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United States District Courts for the District of Kansas and Western District of Missouri
Education
University of Kansas, J.D., Order of the Coif, 1993
University of Kansas, B.A., 1990
Related Practice Areas
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Business & Commercial Disputes
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Real Estate
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Real Estate Disputes
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Corporate Occupiers & Tenants
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Antitrust Class Actions
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Shareholder Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions
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Food, Ag & Nutrition (Class Actions)
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Class Actions & Mass Torts
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Financial Services
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Employment Class & Collective Actions
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Sports (Class Actions)
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Data Privacy, Telecommunications & Collections
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Toxic Tort
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Banking & Finance Disputes
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Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Investigations
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Regulation, Compliance & Advisory
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Finance
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Consumer Fraud
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Insurance (Class Actions)
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Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices (Class Actions)
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Cross-border Employment Issues
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Campus Free Expression
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Higher Education Team
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Class Actions
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Employment & Labor
Experience
- Lead trial counsel for international bank in defense of class action claim involving alleged conflicts of interest and breaches of fiduciary duties.
- Ongoing representation of nationwide mortgage lender in claims involving wrongful foreclosure, HAMP loan modifications, and common laws torts related to foreclosures and eviction proceedings.
- Representation of multiple payday lending businesses in defense of punitive fines imposed by state regulatory agencies.
- Representation of Governor of Missouri in claims alleging defamation and retaliatory discharge of State employee.
- Prosecution of fraud and breach of contract claims by individual minority shareholder in improper corporate squeeze out.
- Lead trial counsel for international bank defending claims of fraud in sale of allegedly contaminated real property.
- Trial counsel in defense of leading insurance company against class action claims arising out of sale of long term care insurance policies.
- Lead trial counsel for international insurance brokerage in defense of claims of negligent professional conduct.
- Defense of seller of office building against allegations of fraud in sale.
- Regional representation of national trucking company in defense of multiple lawsuits initiated in 16-state region based upon variety of tort and contract allegations.
- Defense of gas pipeline company against claims of fraud and misrepresentation in connection with the prior settlement of complex contract disputes.
- Prosecution of municipality’s claims against accountants and auditors for negligence in preparation and audit of financial statements.
- Representation of accounting firms in defense of claims for negligent misrepresentation arising out of preparation and audit of financial statements.
- Prosecution of claims by executive-level employee for business torts committed by former employer.
- Representation of company and individual equipment operator in defense of wrongful death claim arising out of industrial accident.
- Prosecution of business defamation, tortuous interference and breach of fiduciary duty claims brought by minority shareholder of defendant corporation.
- Representation of defense manufacturer in qui tam claims brought by former employee alleging submission of false claims to United States Government.
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