Tom Hoeflinger
thoeflinger@starrattorneys.com
Tom has enjoyed a diverse career that has exposed him to a variety of clients within both the consulting and legal fields.
A graduate of Virginia Tech, Tom began his career as a project manager and field scientist for an engineering consulting firm with clients that included the Department of Defense, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Navy. During this time, he enjoyed working on a broad range of environmental projects located throughout the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe. These projects included water supply, treatment, and distribution, hazardous waste management, risk assessment, due diligence, and pollution prevention. Within each of these projects, he further enjoyed the wide variety of tasks including research, writing, investigation, and field work. These experiences further honed his abilities in science, math and engineering. More importantly, these experiences provided Tom the inspiration to go on to law school at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, California.
From his first day in law school Tom’s plan was to open his own firm when he graduated, with the goal of gaining as much litigation experience as possible. Tom went on to complete law school a semester early, pass the Colorado bar, and weeks later appeared pro hac vice in California – winning his first case as defense counsel in a complex breach of contract litigation. This set the tone for the next five years, as Tom sought out one challenge after another in the areas of tort, contract, tax, estate planning and bankruptcy. These challenges brought him to both state and federal venues, and provided opportunities to argue against state, national and multinational law firms while serving as a solo practitioner. Highlights include a six-figure settlement for an environmental tort litigation.
After running his own firm for two years, Tom was asked to join a firm in Denver, Colorado where he managed bankruptcy and debt settlement cases, while also directing the firm’s litigation defense wing. Through this work Tom further honed his ability to independently create litigation strategies, manage client assets prior to and after filing bankruptcy cases, and seek out means for clients to avoid both litigation and bankruptcy through negotiation and settlement. Tom now brings his skills to Crested Butte and is excited to serve both the Gunnison Valley and the Western Slope.
In addition to his life as a civilian, Tom presently serves as a JAG officer at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado and provides legal services from estate planning to courts martial, administrative panels, and criminal investigations.
When not serving the community, Tom may be found strapped into his snowboard, snowshoes, or skies, and/or chasing his two pups on the many trails in the Crested Butte area. Otherwise, he will always be found cheering on his Virginia Tech Hokies when they play.
Areas of Practice
Asset and Estate Management, Corporate Dissolution, Bankruptcy and Debt settlement
Admissions
Colorado, 2006 · Attorney Registration Number 37391
U.S. Tax Court, 2006 · Tax Court Bar Number HT0342
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, 2007
Professional and Volunteer Activities
Co-Founder and Board of Directors Member, Mile High Society Project, 2010-Present
Mentor, University of Denver Public Interest Practicum for Students, 2008-Present
Member, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, Denver, Co 2006-2009
Volunteer, National Sports Center for the Disabled, 2006-Present
Donor and Participant, Easter Seals, Kicking It For A Cure, Denver, Co, 2006-Present
Donor, Volunteer and Fundraiser, Love Hope and Strength, Denver, Co, 2007-Present
Education
Thomas Jefferson School of Law; J.D., 2005
Concentration in Environmental Law – scholarly works include:
Wild CO v. U.S. Forest Service: A Study of Water Law in Colorado (Dec 2005)
The Evolution of International Law in Light of Evolving Armed Conflict (Nov 2005)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; B.S., 1998, Environmental Science
Concentration in Aquatic Resources, Minor in Chemistry
Center for European Studies and Architechture; Riva San Vitale, Switzerland
Concentration in global politics, economics and literature