Robert J. Hoffman
Robert J. Hoffman
Robert J. Hoffman
Partner and Co-Global Practice Group Leader - Business and Commercial Disputes
Biography
Bob is a seasoned trial lawyer whose national practice is focused on resolution of commercial disputes between businesses and among business owners. He also has significant experience representing clients in cases involving allegations of wrongdoing by both customers and employees, including consumer class actions, significant individual consumer claims and claims involving restrictive covenants.
Bob is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, and he has been consistently recognized by leading legal publications and organizations as a top business litigation attorney in the Midwest. He has successfully handled trial or other resolution of cases on a national basis, including dozens of first-chair jury trials in Missouri, Kansas and California.
In addition to his civil trial practice, Bob has been heavily involved in work seeking the exoneration and release of wrongfully incarcerated individuals.
Bob has served on the firmwide governing Board and he is a member of the firm's LGBTQ Global Allies Network.
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Chambers USA, Missouri: Kansas City, Litigation: General Commercial (2022-2025)
- 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 (2011-2024)
- Missouri "Local Litigation Star," Benchmark Litigation Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys
- Recipient of Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers “Case of the Year Award” (2022)
- Recognized as a “Legal Champion” by Missouri Lawyers Media (2022)
- 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
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
Education
University of Kansas, J.D., Order of the Coif, 1993
University of Kansas, B.A., 1990
Related Capabilities
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Business & Commercial Disputes
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Real Estate
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Real Estate Disputes
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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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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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Financial Institutions
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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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Higher Education
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Class Actions
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Employment & Labor
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Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure
Experience
- Successfully defended major international bank against class action claim involving alleged conflicts of interest and breaches of fiduciary duties.
- More than 20 years of ongoing representation of a national bank in hundreds of claims involving allegations of wrongful foreclosure and wide-ranging allegations of common laws torts related to foreclosures and eviction proceedings.
- Obtained a complete defense verdict and favorable attorneys’ fee award on behalf of a commodity brokerage business facing bet-the-company allegations of anti-competitive behavior.
- Successfully resolved claims in defense of the then Governor of Missouri alleging defamation and retaliatory discharge of State employees.
- Obtained a multi-million-dollar verdict and punitive damages award on behalf of an individual minority shareholder who was defrauded as part of a corporate squeeze out.
- Plaintiff-side prosecution of municipality’s claims against accountants and auditors for negligence in preparation and audit of financial statements resulting in multi-million-dollar settlement.
- Obtained a defense verdict for an international bank facing claims of fraud and omission in connection with the sale of allegedly contaminated real estate.
- Obtained a defense verdict for the seller of an office building against allegations of fraud and fraudulent omission in connection with the transaction.
- Successfully led the trial effort to exonerate and obtain release of an innocent person who was wrongfully incarcerated for more than 43 years.
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