Portrait of James Hoffman

James M. Hoffman

Principal

James Hoffman is a corporate, bankruptcy and litigation attorney. James focuses his practice in the areas of representing various business types, particularly closely held businesses and has a broad base of experience representing creditors, receivers, trustees and debtors in bankruptcy cases and litigation.

In his business practice, James represents businesses through their life cycles from creation to formulating employment and shareholders agreements, creating contracts, collecting debts, selling assets and ownership and closing the business through sale or liquidation. James has represented nine (9) different Chapter 7 trustees, and several Chapter 11 trustees and receivers. Thus, he is “a lawyer’s lawyer.”

Additionally, James has been involved in handling a broad range of litigation before state courts, including disputes involving complex commercial litigation, breach of contract actions, and collection cases.

Prior to bringing his expertise as a bankruptcy lawyer to Offit Kurman, James had been a senior partner within the largest law firm in Montgomery County, Maryland, before leaving after a twenty-year tenure.

    Education

    • University of Maryland (J.D.)
    • James Madison University (B.A., cum laude)

    State Bar Admissions

    • Maryland
    • District of Columbia

    Court Admissions

    • United States District Court for the District of Maryland
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

    Professional Affiliations

    • Served and continues to serve as a director for nonprofit organizations
    • National Association of Bankruptcy Litigators
    • Bankruptcy Bar Association for the District of Maryland, Former Director
    • Bankruptcy Bar Association for the District of Maryland, Chapter 13 Committee, Former Chairman, 3 Consecutive Terms

    Recognitions

    • 2025 Top Attorney for Bankruptcy: Creditors’ Rights / Bankruptcy: Individuals’ Rights, Bethesda Magazine 
    • Selected to Maryland Super Lawyers® for Business/Corporate (2014 - 2027)
    • Washingtonian Top Lawyer (2023 - 2024)
    • Martindale-Hubbell's AV Preeminent® Top Rated Lawyers (2019 - 2023)
    • Named The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation - Bankruptcy (2013-2026)
    • Bethesda Magazine Top Attorneys, Bankruptcy, Creditors' Rights and Corporate (2019-2021, 2023)
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