5.20.2022
Wilentz Of Counsel John A. Hoffman has been named an NJBIZ 2022 ICON Award honoree. The list recognizes New Jersey’s most influential leaders in business over the age of 60 for their “notable success and demonstration of strong leadership both within and outside of their chosen field.”
John A. Hoffman’s legal career at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. spans nearly 60 years. He led Wilentz as President and Managing Director, then Chairman of the Board. He served on the Management Committee and as Treasurer for approximately 40 years. In January 2022, Hoffman became Of Counsel.
Hoffman has handled complex administrative law and utility cases. Starting his public utility practice as special rate counsel, he represented the public in major rate cases. He was retained as special rate counsel by the Attorney General and the Department of the Public Advocate, Division of Rate Counsel to appear before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) in rate increase application proceedings involving JCP&L, New Jersey Bell Telephone Company, and PSE&G. Hoffman’s storied history of achievements includes his landmark zero rate increase win for the people of New Jersey before the NJBPU and affirmed by the Appellate Division, in New Jersey Bell’s 1970s’ case seeking a $160M rate increase.
Subsequently, Hoffman began representing major public utilities in regulatory proceedings and served as co-chair of NJBPU’s Transition Committee for former Governor McGreevey. He represented PSE&G for 30+ years, and Verizon and New Jersey Natural Gas. Representing PSE&G, he was lead counsel in landmark electric restructuring litigation before the NJBPU, which led to transfer of generation assets from the regulated business and culminated in Hoffman’s win representing PSE&G before the New Jersey Supreme Court, which affirmed the restructuring opinion. He also served on the New Jersey American Water Company and New York American Water Company boards of directors.
An active and respected business leader, Hoffman serves on the RWJBarnabas and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) boards of directors. He was chairman of RWJUH’s board (2009-2012), chairman of RWJUH Foundation’s board of trustees (2001-2004), Treasurer for RWJUH for 15+ years, and now is Chairman of the RWJBarnabas Governance Committee. He also served on the board of trustees and the legal and finance committees for the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (2003-2009).
Hoffman was a Trustee and Chairman of the New Jersey Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection. Recently, he was appointed and served two years as a Commissioner of the State Commission of Investigation, which investigates and issues reports on organized crime and inappropriate actions by public agencies. He also was a member of the New Jersey Racing Commission, which supervises horse racing in New Jersey.
Hoffman’s efforts in redevelopment have helped cities grow and improve their inner-city businesses. In the public sector, he assisted construction of two major performing art centers and a major campus for Middlesex College, which serves 10,000+ students. In the energy sector, he helped restructure the electric industry, benefiting both the industry and its customers. His service on major hospital boards has helped ensure needed healthcare for New Jersey’s underserved residents.
NJBIZ ICON honorees (https://njbiz.com/introducing-the-2022-njbiz-icon-honorees/) is published by BridgeTower Media. Chosen by a panel of independent judges with experience in business and the justice system, honorees were selected based on their accomplishments as “business leaders over the age of 60 for their notable success and demonstration of strong leadership both within and outside of their chosen field.” The aforementioned organization is a private peer review organization, not court-specific, public certification vehicles. No aspect of this advertisement has been submitted to or approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.