Joseph De Hope focuses his practice in insurance coverage, professional liability defense (attorneys, accountants, insurance and real estate professionals and directors and officers) and complex litigation in the state and federal courts.

In addition to litigating coverage, Mr. De Hope has tried cases involving personal injury, products liability, governmental liability, professional liability, intellectual property and punitive damages. His reported appellate cases relate to insurance coverage, bad faith, governmental liability and equitable indemnity.

Mr. De Hope has arbitrated or mediated more than 200 cases as counsel for a party and more than 300 cases as a mediator or arbitrator. In addition, has handled more than 500 special investigation claims for insurers. Mr. De Hope has been retained as an expert in property, casualty and title insurance disputes and his breadth of experience also includes providing coverage opinions in life and disability matters. Prior to joining Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in July 2003, Mr. De Hope was of counsel to the Brydon Law Group and prior to that was a partner with Bullen, McKone, McKinley, Gay, Keitges and Pach. Since 1977, his practice has emphasized the direct representation of insurance companies, professional liability defense and the defense of complex litigation in state and federal courts.

Mr. De Hope is an active member of the American Bar Association Professionals’ Officers’ and Directors’ Liability Committee; he is also a member of the Property Insurance Law and Insurance Coverage Litigation Committees. Mr. De Hope’s professional memberships also include the California Bar Association, Bar Association of San Francisco and the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS). He is a past member of the Defense Research Institute, Northern California Defense Counsel Association, the Northern California Fraud Investigator's Association and the California Conference of Arson Investigators.

In July 2006, Mr. De Hope was appointed to a three-year term on the State Bar of California’s Committee on Administration of Justice, which studies and reports recommendations on proposed changes in civil procedure, court rules and administration, rules of evidence and other matters impacting the administration of justice in the civil courts. In May 2008, Mr. De Hope was appointed as 2008-2009 Vice Chair of this committee In July 2009, Mr. De Hope’s term was extended for one year and he serves as the committee’s 2009-2010 Chair.

Mr. De Hope holds the AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability. Mr. De Hope has been an active lecturer on matters relating to casualty and property insurance and the fraudulent presentation of claims. He has lectured for the California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), the Sacramento Claims Association, the Sacramento Independent Insurance Adjusters Association, the California Conference of Arson Investigators, National Business Institute and numerous insurance companies. His presentations include:

• “Lessons Learned from E&O Claims, Parts I and II,” Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West (IBA) 24th Annual Blue Ribbon Conference, Kohala Coast, Hawaii, May 2010.
• “The Underwriters Options: To Re-Draft or Not to Re-Draft,” Hinshaw’s 2009 Insurance Services Symposium, Chicago, Illinois, October 2009.

Mr. De Hope's publications include:

• “Suggestions for Insurance Agents Responding to Questions Regarding Mold,” Commentary section, Mealey’s Litigation Report: Insurance Broker Liability, Vol 4, #5, July 2008.
• “Insurance Agents or Brokers: If You Are Sued, These are the Top 10 Questions Your Attorney Will Ask You – Also, Top 10 Tips to Avoid Attorneys Altogether,” co-author, Commentary section, Mealey’s Litigation Report: Insurance Broker Liability, Vol 3, #6, August 2007.

Joe is the proud father of three and grandfather of one. He plays trumpet in the Walnut Creek Concert Band and leads an 18-piece big band (swing music) called It’s About Time. He is a past chair of the Pastoral Council at St. Stephen Church and is actively involved in liturgical ministries.