John Scott Hoff, a founder and a partner of the Firm, Mr. Hoff possesses a background which uniquely qualifies him for his specialty in aviation law, insurance defense, and litigation.
While on active duty, Mr. Hoff attended graduate school at night while simultaneously pursuing and obtaining an MBA in Accounting and Finance from California State University at Fullerton in 1971. Thereafter, he attended law school at Southwestern University in Los Angeles, graduating with a Juris Doctorate in 1975. Mr. Hoff also studied law at Oxford University (Worcester College) in Oxford, England in 1973 through Berkeley. He completed a second Masters Degree in Military History from the American Military University in 1995. Mr. Hoff is a graduate of the Air War College (AWC) 1995; Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) 1991; and Squadron Officer School (SOS) 1979.
After completing his legal studies and leaving active duty after 8 years in the USAF in 1975, Mr. Hoff began his legal career as a staff and trial attorney in the Headquarters of the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of the Chief Counsel, Litigation Division, in Washington, D.C. (1975-76).
Mr. Hoff entered private practice in late 1976 by joining the Chicago law firm of Lord, Bissell and Brook in Chicago, performing litigation in the aviation section of the firm. Mr. Hoff specializes in Aviation Litigation and Insurance Defense. His practice brings together a unique blend of aviation, insurance defense, environmental and litigation.
In addition to Mr. Hoff’s aviation and legal credentials, he continues to serve as a Colonel in the Active Reserves of the USAF. He was selected “Outstanding Reserve Officer” for the entire USAF in 1982 and again in 1993 for his Division and Command. Further, he holds the credential of a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) since conferment in 1981, as well as a Certified Cost Estimator (CCE). He is also a licensed Illinois Real Estate Broker (REB).
Mr. Hoff has authored numerous articles on aviation and military matters. He was a featured speaker at the SMU Air Law Symposium and the Aviation Insurance Association.
He was the past President of the Aviation Insurance Association (AIA), and also serves as its past Vice President and Secretary, as well as Director of the Attorneys Section. He is also President of the Great Lakes Chapter of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI).
He also is a member of a wide variety of legal and aviation organizations including the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA); Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association (LPBA); the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI); the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA); the Air Force Association (AFA); the Reserve Officer Association (ROA); the Air Force Museum Association (AFMA); and is a founder of the Aero Club of Chicago.
Mr. Hoff is admitted to practice law in the following states: Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, California, Michigan, New York, Minnesota and the District of Columbia, as well as numerous Federal Courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Mr. Hoff’s courtroom skill and litigation proficiency have resulted in numerous favorable verdicts, settlements and dismissals for his clients.
Alex Herran is a Senior Trial Attorney admitted to the Illinois Bar and The United States District Court Northern District of Illinois in 1991. Mr. Herran is also a member of The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits. Mr. Herran earned his B.S. in 1986 at Illinois State University and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, 1991.
Mr. Herran’s practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation. He has extensive trial experience in both state and federal courts including aviation litigation, commercial litigation, insurance defense litigation, product liability litigation, personal injury and wrongful death litigation, chancery proceedings, as well as arbitrations and mediations. Mr. Herran has also successfully argued various appellate matters throughout the State of Illinois and Federal District Courts and has been admitted to practice pro hac vice in over twenty courts throughout the United States.
Mr. Herran has participated in various multidistrict litigation matters and has served as an attorney on the Executive Committee of several Commercial Aviation disaster cases pending in various United States Federal District Courts, including American Airlines Flight 587 (U.S. District Court Southern District of New York) and Egypt Air (U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York).
Mr. Herran enjoys travel, reading, and golf. He is active in various academic and philanthropic causes. Mr. Herran is also fluent in Spanish. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association.
Jeffrey F. Clement is an attorney admitted to the Illinois Bar and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in 2006. He has been employed with the Firm since 2004. Jeff earned both a J.D. and an M.B.A. from DePaul University’s joint-degree JD/MBA program in 2005. At DePaul University, Jeff served on the staff of the DePaul Business and Commercial Law Journal, and earned the “CALI Award” for Advanced Copyrights. He has been published in the DePaul Business and Commercial Law Journal. Mr. Clement also served an internship with the World Intellectual Property Organization at the United Nations in New York. Jeff is a member of the Chicago Bar Association. He is a native of Florida and pursued his undergraduate studies at Florida State University, where he earned a B.S. in Marketing and Entrepreneurship.
Timothy J. O’Connell is an attorney admitted to the Illinois Bar and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in 2006. Tim is a graduate of the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, receiving his Juris Doctorate in May of 2006. Tim is a graduate of DePaul University in Chicago, where he majored in English. He is also the recipient of a Master of Arts Degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. In his capacity as an attorney at Hoff & Herran, Tim has been involved in numerous multidistrict aviation litigation lawsuits. He has done research and writing on various legal subjects for both state and federal courts, including personal jurisdiction, waiver of liability, and governmental tort immunity. Tim is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association.
