Daniel P. Hoffer
Partner
Dan represents entertainment executives and talent in disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, defamation, trade secrets, conversion, interference, and related torts. His clients regard him as a trusted strategist and advisor, adept at counseling them in avoiding litigation.
In addition to his litigation work, Dan has overseen and coordinated nationwide reductions in workforce for a national media and entertainment company. He is proficient at drafting employment-related documents, including governance and compliance policies, confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements, executive employment agreements, and employee policy manuals.
Before joining Venable, Dan served with distinction as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Related Practices
Experience
Experience
Government Experience
- Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Representative Matters
Litigation
- Obtained summary judgment in an invasion of privacy action that raised novel questions about vicarious liability and ratification
- Obtained dismissal of an ousted partner's wrongful termination complaint on behalf of a global law firm
- Secured a seven-figure jury verdict in a breach of employment contract action on behalf of the former general counsel of a national mortgage lender
- Certified as class counsel on behalf of more than 1,000 current and former employees seeking unpaid wages and business expenses
- Obtained a motion for summary judgment against an on-air personality's discrimination and related claims on behalf of a national media and entertainment company
- Defeated contract and fraud cross-claims brought by a former co-owner, on behalf of an industrial supplies manufacturer; resulted in favorable resolution of lawsuit
- Defeated class certification of unpaid wage claims brought by current and former employees in a wide variety of industries, including automobile services, retail and convenience, and food delivery
- Defeated trade secret, interference, and related claims brought by a former advertiser on behalf of a national media and entertainment company
- Defeated a radio broadcaster's application for preliminary injunction on behalf of a national media and entertainment company; subsequently defeated the broadcaster's contract and fraud claims
- Obtained dismissal on behalf of an insurance brokerage through appeal of interference and related tort claims brought by those insured by the brokerage's client
- Defeated a breach of contract claim asserted by the supplier of an automatic tube filling and sealing machine, on behalf of a cosmetics manufacturer; negotiated a favorable resolution of client's cross-claims
Advice, Counseling, and Compliance
- Oversaw and prepared documents necessary to effect a nationwide reduction in force for a national media and entertainment company
- Drafted pre-employment background and hiring guidelines for an international financial services company
- Drafted a pre-employment drug screening policy for a national manufacturing company
Insights
Insights
Credentials
Credentials
Education
- J.D. cum laude Pepperdine University School of Law 1994
- B.A. English Literature cum laude California State University, Northridge 1991
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
Recognition
Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law - Management, 2023 – 2024
- Los Angeles Business Journal, Leaders of Influence, Labor and Employment, 2023
- Super Lawyers
- Southern California, 2009 – 2022
- Employment Litigation Defense, Los Angeles, 2013
- Rising Stars, Southern California, 2005 – 2007