Larry Hoffman

1930 - 2025

Lawrence "Larry" Jay Hoffman passed away on September 11, 2025 at his Coconut Grove home, just weeks after his 95th birthday. Larry is survived by his wife Deborah "Debi" Hoffman, their four children: Lisa Hoffman, Kenneth (Hillary) Hoffman, Heidi Hoffman, and Mark (Maia) Hoffman, and ten grandchildren: Julian (Betsy) Hoffman, Alexander (Stacia) DeSalvo, Andrew Hoffman, Hanna DeSalvo, Joanna Dudley, Kevin (Megan) Hoffman, Gregory (Talia) Hoffman, Allison Dudley, Jordan Hoffman, and Mia Hoffman, and four great-grandchildren: Quinn DeSalvo, Avery DeSalvo, Orly Hoffman and Isla Hoffman.

As a dear friend remarked, "Larry was a man of all seasons and places. He never stopped being productive and successful in every endeavor he undertook. Larry was a mentor to a remarkable number of people; he accomplished more than can be imagined. Of course, all these activities were done with constant kindness and thoughtfulness... he was a gentleman and a scholar."

Larry received a B.A. from the University of Florida in 1952 and went on to receive a J.D., graduating magna cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law in 1954.

One of three co-founders of Greenberg Traurig in 1967, Larry's strategic thinking and visionary approach to growth elevated a Miami-only law firm to the top ranks of the U.S. legal market. Under his leadership, the firm expanded beyond its South Florida roots and became a global law firm with more than 2,850 attorneys worldwide and 49 locations across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

A successful business owner prior to practicing law, Larry pioneered the concept of running a law firm like a business. He was one of the first law firm leaders to hire professional managers to run the business side of the firm, so the lawyers could focus on practicing law. He created staff positions in the roles of marketing, professional development, and IT long before they were commonplace in law firms.

Larry served as mentor to many Greenberg Traurig attorneys, including those leading the firm today. The firm named their Attorney Development program "The Hoffman Center" to honor his commitment to the continuing education of the firm's lawyers. Also in his honor, the firm established both the "Larry J. Hoffman/Greenberg Traurig Distinguished Professorship in the Business of Law in 2006" and "The Larry Hoffman Greenberg Traurig Startup Practicum in 2016 at the University of Miami School of Law."

The University of Miami School of Law had a profound impact on Larry, and he continued to support the school throughout his life: he taught securities, tax, and corporate law as part of a course in advanced business planning at the University of Miami School of Law and in 2014, Larry and his wife, Deborah, established "The Hoffman Forum," a Leadership Symposium, presented in cooperation with the Aspen Institute Artist-Endowed Foundation Initiative and the University of Miami School of Law. The program's mission was to convene national and international leaders around significant public issues. These all-day programs took place in New York City at the Museum of Modern Art, The Whitney Museum, and The Jewish Museum, among others. Currently, the Hoffman Forum sponsors a lecture at the annual Global Entertainment & Sports Law + Industry Conference.

Larry truly understood the importance of putting people first. During Hurricane Andrew, Larry was the first and only person in the office, making phone calls and checking in on the firm's attorneys and staff. He led hurricane relief efforts, making sure that all the firm's attorneys and business staff were taken care of, including finding homes for those displaced, making food, water, and ice available, obtaining generators, and providing any other assistance anyone in the firm needed. Additionally, under Larry's leadership, firm members re-built three Head Start schools in Homestead during a weekend of service and completely re-furnished those schools. These efforts offer only a glimpse of Larry's broad and unending commitment to philanthropy and to giving back to the community that gave him so much. Larry was a strong supporter of causes throughout South Florida, including the Chapman Partnership and numerous arts organizations. His leadership in and commitment to the Miami community was recognized by Mosaic Miami, a leading social impact organization, which awarded the Silver Medallion to him in 2008.

Beyond his professional and philanthropic endeavors, Larry was a family man at heart. He was interested in fostering his family's development as concerned citizens of the world. This led him to plan legendary family trips across the globe, including places in Europe, Asia, Canada, and the United States, in order to give them exposure to other cultures and ways of life. Through this, he encouraged his children and grandchildren to be aware of and be involved in their communities, locally and globally.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at Temple Beth Am, 5950 N. Kendall Drive, Pinecrest, Florida. Shiva will take place at Temple Beth Am on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.. Donations in Larry's memory can be made to the Larry J. Hoffman Greenberg Traurig Professorship in the Business of Law at the University of Miami School of Law. Make checks payable to University of Miami and include "Larry Hoffman Tribute" in the memo line and mail to: University of Miami, Division of Development and Alumni Relations, C/O: School of Law, Post Office Box 025388, Coral Gables, FL 33102.