Robert B. Hinckley Jr., a tenacious legal luminary, adeptly
leads as the Managing Partner of Buchalter's Denver office and holds the
esteemed role of Co-Chair of the Firm's Litigation Group. His expertise
resonates across multiple jurisdictions, including Colorado and California,
while his influence extends to the Orange County office. Possessing a
prosecutorial background, Robert is a resolute and effective trial attorney,
showcasing his prowess through over forty first-chair jury trials, coupled with
numerous bench trials and arbitrations. Notably, his dynamic skillset has
traversed a vast legal terrain, spanning Colorado, California, Florida, Texas,
and beyond, to serve a diverse array of business clientele, from Fortune 500
corporations to privately held enterprises.
Robert is acknowledged as a dependable advisor who infuses
practical solutions into the intricate tapestry of his clients' everyday
business challenges. His domain of specialization lies in commercial litigation,
encompassing the pursuit and defense of a wide spectrum of contractual
disputes, spanning purchase agreements, partnership and LLC conflicts, real
estate clashes, and even negotiations and disputes within the realm of sports.
His adeptness extends to litigating trade secrets, defamation, breach of
fiduciary duty, and various business-centered torts. Additionally, Robert has
cultivated a significant employment practice, championing employers in areas
like non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, wrongful discharge,
harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wage and hour violations. Robert
also stands as a prominent figure in handling complex product contamination
matters on a national scale for carriers through subrogation. A dedicated advocate,
he also offers outside legal counsel to several Colorado companies, focusing on
risk management and litigation counseling. Robert's presence is deeply felt in
state and federal courts, as well as before crucial bodies like the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission, the Colorado Civil Rights Division, and the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Robert is an
integral part of various legal organizations, including his role on the
Executive Committee for the Colorado Defense Lawyers Association, a premier
legal entity dedicated to the defense of civil actions and the promotion of
fairness and integrity within the civil justice system.
Noteworthy Deals and Cases:
• Secured a $7.5 million verdict against Stryker Corporation
after a two-week federal court trial involving claims of corporate raiding and
breach of separate contracts, resulting in payment requirements of nearly $5
million related to client ORP's distribution role for Stryker orthopedic
products. The verdict also included a $2.2 million attorney fee award.
• Achieved a defense verdict in a racially charged
discrimination and harassment case for a nationally recognized fast-food
company, following a jury trial in Los Angeles, CA.
• Garnered a defense verdict in favor of a high-profile
nightclub amid a catastrophic building collapse resulting in significant
personal injury and property damage, after a jury trial in Denver, CO.
• Procured a substantial verdict for a plaintiff homeowner
against a custom homebuilder in a construction defect and breach of contract
case, following a jury trial in Denver, CO.
• Obtained a defense verdict for an underground
boring company in a negligence and breach of contract
case after a jury trial in Fort Collins, CO.
• Secured a defense verdict for a commercial property owner
in a fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and breach of real estate contract
case after a trial in Douglas County, CO.
• Negotiated a favorable settlement in a real estate dispute
for a plaintiff franchisee of a nationally recognized fast-food company
following a trial in Long Beach, CA.
• Attained a favorable Arbitration Order for a custom
homebuilder after an arbitration with a homeowner in a construction defect and
breach of contract case in Denver, CO.
• Achieved a significant victory in the California Second
District Court of Appeals, Los Angeles, obtaining a reversal of a trial court
order that dismissed the client's case based on a statute of limitations
violation while under prior counsel. The case centered on breach of fiduciary
duty and breach of trust claims, ultimately resulting in a favorable settlement
for the plaintiff.
• Successfully affirmed a trial court order dismissing all
claims against a client, a private golf course, related to a property dispute
with an adjacent landowner, in the Colorado Court of Appeals, Denver.
Community Involvement:
• Executive Committee and Treasurer, Colorado Defense
Lawyers Association
• Former Chair, Professionalism and Ethics Committee for
Employment and General Liability Sections, Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
• Judge/Coach for Young Lawyer Mock Trial Program, CDLA
Trial Academy
• Center for Legal Inclusiveness
• Colorado Judicial Institute
• Sponsor of Octoberfest for Camp Music Festival by Mount Evans
Home Health Care & Hospice, benefiting children ages 6-12 who have lost a
loved one
• Denver Bar Association
• Colorado Bar Association
• Los Angeles Bar Association
• Beverly Hills Bar Association
• California Bar Association
• Florida Bar Association
Robert B. Hinckley Jr.'s indomitable spirit in litigation,
his commitment to professionalism, and his dedication to community engagement
have made him a beacon of excellence in the legal arena. His influence
resonates far beyond the courtroom, shaping the landscape of the legal
profession and upholding the principles of integrity and fairness.
