PENNSYLVANIA RECORD

The Philadelphia-based law firm Blank Rome announced this week that

attorney Alan J. Hoffman has been elected to another three-year term as the firm’s managing partner.

Hoffman, whose current term as managing partner and co-chairman ends on Dec. 31, 2014, will commence his new term on Jan. 1, 2015, according to a Blank Rome news release.

Meanwhile, the firm’s other co-chair, T. Michael Dyer, has announced he will be retiring from the practice of law in late December.

Hoffman will then take over as sole chairman of the firm while simultaneously carrying out his duties as managing partner.

“It is a true honor to be elected by my fellow partners to serve as Chairman and Managing Partner of Blank Rome,” Hoffman said in a statement. “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work beside Mike as Co-Chairman for the past five years, and look forward to building upon the strong foundation that we have established to ensure continued success and growth in the years ahead.”

In his own statement, Dyer said he has been able to witness firsthand Hoffman’s “pragmatic and steadfast leadership approach” at Blank Rome, something he says has resulted in many accomplishments that have benefitted the law firm’s lawyers, clients and the community at large.  “I am confident that in his new role as Chairman and Managing Partner, Alan will continue to successfully lead the Firm to continued innovation and growth and in its ongoing commitment to providing outstanding service and value,” Dyer stated.

Hoffman, who has served as firm co-chairman since 2008 and managing partner since 2011, began his career with Blank Rome in 1992, according to a biography.

The attorney has held numerous leadership positions with the firm during the past two-plus decades.

Hoffman previously headed up the firm’s Litigation Department, chaired the Lateral Recruiting Committee, served as co-chair of the Distribution Committee, and was the administrative partner at the firm’s Wilmington, Delaware office.

As the firm’s managing partner, Hoffman has introduced “innovative approaches to ensure effective support models are in place throughout the Firm” the most recent of which was the creation of the Associate Resource Center, according to the firm’s press release.

Hoffman, the firm said, has also made it a priority to “support and encourage” participation in pro bono and diversity initiatives.

According to his professional biography, Hoffman began his career working as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Justice Department.

As a private attorney, Hoffman has represented both corporations and individuals in commercial disputes, government contract litigation, civil and criminal environmental matters, securities cases, intellectual property issues and banking cases, his bio states.

Hoffman also serves as national lead trial counsel in the defense of more than 150 environmental pollution and product liability cases on behalf of a multi-national chemical company, according to his biography.

The multidistrict litigation involves water contamination in cities within 17 states across the country.

To date, the company’s share of settlements has been less than a half of one percent, his bio states.

Hoffman is also considered an expert on class action litigation, having written extensively on the topic.

Hoffman, a Philadelphia native, is a graduate of the Villanova University School of Law.

The Legal Intelligencer reported Thursday that since Hoffman and Dyer took over as co-chairman of Blank Rome, the firm has seen significant revenue growth, with revenue growing 3 percent in 2009 from $312 million to $322 million.

In 2012, the publication reported, the firm saw a 6.3 percent growth in revenue, from $309.5 million to $329 million.