Attorney Info
Robert B. Hopkins
Partner
Duane Morris LLP
Suite 2000
111 South Calvert Street
Baltimore, MD 21202-6114
USA
Phone: +1 410 949 2937
Fax: +1 410 949 2976
Email:
rbhopkins@duanemorris.com
Robert B. Hopkins practices in the area of litigation with a concentration on transportation, products liability and commercial litigation both domestically and internationally. Mr. Hopkins also has represented clients in administrative proceedings before various federal agencies, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Coast Guard, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Hopkins has also counseled clients in large scale product recalls and reporting obligations under the laws enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Mr. Hopkins is a 1988 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law and a graduate of Trinity College.
Areas of Practice
- Commercial Litigation
- Products Liability
- Insurance and Reinsurance
Representative Matters
- Capsizing of Passenger Vessel LADY D. Representation of shipowner in various civil actions and before the National Transportation Safety Board with regard to the above capsizing.
- Various Consumer Product Safety Commission Matters. Representation of manufacturers/importers before the Consumer Product Safety Commission in consumer product recall and penalty cases. Advices to manufacturers/importers as to reporting obligations under Consumer Product Safety Commission statutes/regulations.
- The Elk River Collision Proceedings. Representation of major shipowner in one of the most serious marine collisions to occur in Maryland waters in last 30 years.
- Hoechst Celanese Corporation v. Aetna, et al. Lawsuit brought on behalf of international corporation against various insurance companies to recover multimillion-dollar environmental remediation claim.
- U.S. v. Shelton, et al.; National Fireworks Association v. Consumer Product Safety Commission, et al. Consolidated case dealing with certain issues of first impression as to statutes enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- First Marine Distributors v. M/V MARY LOU. Represented foreign ship owner in defeating claims brought relating to oil furnished in Egypt.
- Wallenius Lines North America, et al. v. U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, et al. Represented international transportation company in invalidating federal policy of for dealing with stowaways. Case was influential in subsequent changes in U.S. immigration laws.
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- Baltimore City Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Maryland State Bar Association
- Maritime Law Association of the United States
- American Maritime Cases, Vice President
Admissions
- Maryland
- Court of Appeals of Maryland
- U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Fourth and Eighth Circuits
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
Education
- University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., 1988
- Trinity College, B.A., 1985
Experience
- Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2008-present - Ober, Kaler, Grimes & Shriver
- Shareholder, 1988-2008
Board Memberships
- Maritime Law Association of the United States, Board Member
- Admiralty Law Institute, Board Member
- American Maritime Cases, Vice President
Civic and Charitable Activities
- Baltimore City Planning Commission
- Commissioner - Saint David's Episcopal Church
- Stewardship Committee - Friends of Clifton Mansion
Honors and Awards
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Maritime Law Category
- Listed in Maryland Super Lawyers
- Listed in Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition, March 2009
Selected Publications
- "Split Vote by CPSC Signals That Tracking Labels Must Be Placed on Children's Products by August 14, 2009," Duane Morris Alert, May 27, 2009
- "CPSC Delays Enforcement of Lead and Phthalate Testing and Certification Requirements", Duane Morris Alert, February 2, 2009
- "With Consumer Product Industry Struggling to Comply with New Safety Act, CPSC Holds Fast on Lead Ban, but Eases Other Compliance Positions", Duane Morris Alert, January 23, 2009
- "General Conformity Certificates Must Accompany Many Consumer Product Shipments Starting November 12, 2008," Duane Morris Alert, October 14, 2008
- "With Efforts Underway to Overhaul the CPSC, Now Is the Time to Re-Examine Consumer Product Safety Compliance Programs," Duane Morris Alert, May 28, 2008
- "American Maritime Cases: Seventy-Five Years (Plus) of Admiralty Reporting," Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce, 33 (April 2002), 205
