James M. Hoffman

James has experience handling matters on behalf of creditors in many states. He is litigation counsel for a client that transacts a regulated business in 16 states as well as other clients that do business in multiple states involving diverse issues. For example, he:

• Represents a public company in litigation between management and the majority shareholders to prevent corporate waste.
• Represents a receiver in three (3) consolidated receiverships involving more than 200 creditors, more than $50 million in claims and approximately $40 million in assets.
• Has represented attorneys and law firms in the acquisition of other firms or developing shareholder agreements.
• Assisted several clients to contemporaneously closing on the sale of multiple franchised restaurants in Maryland.
• Prevailed on an appeal where the District Court affirmed the Bankruptcy Court's decision upholding a contract between a bankruptcy trustee and an individual owner of a business in bankruptcy when the individual owner waived the right to participate in portions of the remaining bankruptcy case.
• Expedited injunctive relief on behalf of a client before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The client alleged in the Complaint that a former franchisee had, among other things, violated federal trademark law, engaged in unfair competition, and violated the franchise agreement. The order granting injunctive relief was entered less than one (1) month after the filing of the Complaint and pleadings with the Court, and the Office of the U.S. Marshals assisted James to enforce the Court’s order.
• He is litigation counsel to the largest private vendor of “811” one call notification services in the United States.
• Represented a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee in the pursuit of assets and the investigation of more than a hundred million dollars of claims. Ultimately, general unsecured creditors were paid 100% of their allowed claims.
• James represented a Receiver who is liquidating a nationwide collection law firm, which proceeding is more than five (5) years old.
• With the assistance of the Bankruptcy Court and the U.S. Marshals, James, on behalf of a Chapter 7 Trustee, compelled a two (2) time heavy-weight champion to turn over possession of his heavyweight belts and a gold ring he was given at the Boxing Hall of Fame.
• He represented multiple trustees in connection with complex, individual bankruptcy proceeding. Ultimately, the Court authorized the removal of the debtor (an attorney), his family and all personal property from their home. The U.S. Marshals and local police assisted counsel in the removal of the individuals and the disposal of all the personal property. The real property was liquidated, the Court awarded sanctions of more than $70,000 against the attorney and his family in favor of the bankruptcy trustees and the Court denied the debtor his discharge.