Catherine Hoffman

Practice Areas

Ms. Hoffman is a member of the firm’s Trademark and Intellectual Property Litigation practice groups. She brings to the firm her vast experience in managing global intellectual property portfolios for foreign and domestic clients. Ms. Hoffman litigates and counsels clients primarily in the areas of intellectual property, unfair competition and false advertising. She helps brand owners leverage their branding, marketing and other IP assets. Ms. Hoffman’s approach to protecting intellectual property for her clients focuses on achieving a proper balance on return on investment of the client and managing the client’s risk tolerance.

Ms. Hoffman was co-counsel for Plaintiff on the patent infringement case Powell v. The Home Depot USA, Inc., in which the Plaintiff was awarded damages and attorneys’ fees of over $24.5 Million for intentionally infringing a radial arm saw safety device.

Ms. Hoffman represented a German Trade Association representing manufacturers in Solingen, Germany, the world’s “Cutlery Capital” to protect the “SOLINGEN” Certification Trademark against Martha Stewart’s company, the Home Shopping Network and Emeril Lagasse with a favorable settlement.

Ms. Hoffman’s is current lead counsel for a developer and various restaurant and lounge venues on Miami Beach, which are embroiled in international disputes over the intellectual property rights.

Ms. Hoffman won summary judgment for her Danish client on a false advertising claims and further has successfully settled many cases for her US and non-US clients on many types of claims. Ms. Hoffman also manages global intellectual property portfolios and related enforcement matters for clients in the USA and around the world. Ms. Hoffman also focuses her practice in the hospitality industry representing restaurants, nightclubs and venues not only on intellectual property matters, but in related shareholder disputes and real estate matters.

Career

After earning her law degree, Ms. Hoffman served as a law clerk to the Honorable C. Clyde Atkins (S.D. Fla.) and later served as a staff attorney for the Honorable John W. Dell and the Honorable George W. Hersey at the Florida Appellate Courts, Fourth District Court of Appeal. She was also Managing Partner of a boutique intellectual property firm for 12 years. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Ms. Hoffman was a software engineer for Burroughs Corporation and Electronic Data Systems focusing on software in the banking industry.

Professional Memberships

International Trademark Association; Task Force Leader for Enforcement Committee of the International Trademark Association 2020-2021 and 2022-2023 terms; Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy; Intellectual Property Committee, Business Law Section, The Florida Bar; Broward County Bar Association

Education

Awards