Catherine F. Hoffman

Catherine F. Hoffman is a distinguished shareholder at Baker Donelson’s Fort Lauderdale office and a member of the Intellectual Property Group. With an impressive legal career, she focuses on advising clients in intellectual property protection and litigates cases involving advertising, unfair competition, and related claims. Ms. Hoffman provides strategic global brand guidance to clients across various industries, ensuring robust protection and growth for their intellectual property.

Ms. Hoffman has extensive experience assisting clients in financial services, technology, telecommunications, hospitality, consumer products, and entertainment. Her expertise spans mergers, joint ventures, trademark clearance, litigation, cancellation, and opposition proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. She tailors her approach to balancing clients’ return on investment with their risk tolerance, offering customized brand management and protection solutions.

Before joining Baker Donelson, Ms. Hoffman served as a law clerk for the Honorable C. Clyde Atkins in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. She later worked as a staff attorney for Honorable John W. Dell and Honorable George W. Hersey at Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal.

Her experience as managing partner of a boutique intellectual property firm sharpened her specialized legal skills and leadership in IP law. Before practicing law, Ms. Hoffman worked as a software engineer developing banking software, giving her a rare combination of deep technical knowledge and legal insight that is especially valuable in complex technology and fintech-related IP cases.

Ms. Hoffman earned her J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1989 and holds a B.B.A. from Emory University. She is admitted to practice in Florida, the U.S. Supreme Court, and multiple U.S. District Courts in Florida.

Recognized for her contributions to the legal field, Ms. Hoffman has been named as one of Florida’s Super Lawyers and the Best Lawyers in America. Her practice areas include data protection, intellectual property litigation, trademark law, and cross-border business. Ms. Hoffman’s comprehensive legal knowledge and strategic approach make her an invaluable resource for clients seeking to safeguard and grow their intellectual property.

Law Office Affiliations

• Shareholder, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
• Member, The Florida Bar, Intellectual Property Committee
• Member, Broward County Bar Association
• Member, International Trademark Association
• Member, International Network of Boutique Law Firms

Licensed State

• Florida

Education

• University of Miami School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Emory University
  Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

Awards & Badges