BALTIMORE, January 13, 2026—Duane Morris LLP has appointed Robert B. Hopkins as the managing partner of its Baltimore office, effective January 1, 2026. Hopkins succeeds Michael C. Hardy, who has served as the office’s managing partner since 2023. Hardy has been elevated to take on a global leadership position as the co-chair of the firm’s Corporate Practice Group firmwide, leading nearly 200 attorneys across all firm offices. Hopkins previously served as the office’s managing partner from 2015-2023.
“With this announcement, we have a win-win. First, our forces in Baltimore will have the advantage of seasoned leadership in Rob, while our firm continues to benefit from Mike’s capable management in new ways,” said Matthew A. Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Duane Morris. “We thank and congratulate Mike for the great job he’s done with the Baltimore office, while we welcome and congratulate Rob back to this role to see us into the next phase of our development for this key market.”
Hopkins is a partner in the firm’s Trial Practice Group. He also serves as a team lead of the firm’s Transportation, Automotive and Logistics industry group. Hopkins is a life-long resident of Baltimore with deep civic ties to the city. He practices in the area of complex litigation with a concentration on products safety, maritime, transportation and commercial litigation. Hopkins has been involved in multiple serious maritime casualties, including the Francis Scott Key Bridge accident. He has also counseled clients in large-scale product recalls and reporting obligations under the laws enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
“I’m excited to return to managing our Baltimore office and continuing the growth momentum that Mike has led the past three years,” said Hopkins. “We have recently executed an option on our Harbor Point office lease to take over additional space. We are currently at capacity and anticipate needing more space to accommodate new attorney arrivals in 2026.”
Hopkins is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law (J.D., 1988) and Trinity College, (B.A., 1985).
About Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP provides innovative solutions to today’s multifaceted legal and business challenges through the collegial and collaborative culture of its more than 900 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally. The firm represents a broad array of clients, spanning all major practices and industries. Duane Morris has been recognized by BTI Consulting as both a client service leader and a highly recommended law firm.
