About Us
Hoffman Law Firm, S.C. was created in 2002 as an outgrowth of a number of law firms which Mel Hoffman had been associated with since coming to La Crosse from Los Angeles in 1979.
From his initial solo practice, he joined with Terry and James McArdle in 1981, to form McArdle, Hoffman & McArdle, SC. Upon the untimely death of James McArdle in 1984, Mel and Terry continued their law practice as McArdle and Hoffman, SC, until Terry left the area to become the Chief Legal Counsel to the National Guard and Reserve in Wisconsin, in 1989. At that time, Mel offered a partnership to Phil Addis, a local attorney who had been working with them since 1986, and together, they formed Hoffman\Addis, SC, which became Hoffman, Addis, Pittman and Brandau in 1993, when long-time attorney Galen Pittman and Phil's law school friend, Ann Brandau, joined the firm which had, by then, moved to its location at 312 Third Street South.
In 1997, Phil and Ann left to form their own respective firms, and Galen and Mel formed Hoffman, Pittman & Associates, SC, which operated until 2002, when Galen left to become a sole practitioner. Mel continued to operate the Hoffman Law Firm at that location until 2006, when he left the private practice of law to become Legal Counsel and Chief Operating Officer for a national office equipment and supply firm. By 2009, however, the economy had limited his opportunities at that firm and he decided, along with his wife, CJ, who by then had become his Legal Assistant, to begin practicing law once again, but to do so in a manner that would help those in need find a lower-cost alterntative to bankruptcy and other debt-relief alternatives.
With the space next- door to his former office still vacant, they moved into 316 Third Street South, and began Hoffman Law Firm, SC, d/b/a Discount Bankruptcy Services of La Crosse, where they practiced until the end of 2011, when Hoffman Law Firm, LLC and the Law Office of Heidi M. Eglash, LLC, merged and jointly formed the separate law firm called Discount Bankruptcy Services® of La Crosse, LLC.
Mel became a Chapter 7 Panel Bankruptcy Trustee in 1987, under a judicial oversight section of the U.S. Justice Department. In this capacity, and until his resignation in November, 2011, he adminstered chapter 7 bankruptcy cases with the goal of obtaining assets for liquidation and distribution to creditors. On the other side, he also practiced law as debtors' counsel and based upon his understanding of the law, was able to provide every client, and many attorneys who sought his expertise, with the benefit of his experience as a bankruptcy trustee.
Over the years, Mel participated in a variety of community activities from heading the Noon La Crosse Kiwanis Club and the Greater La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce to acting in a number of plays at the La Crosse Community Theatre and other venues. Since 1997 he has also sung and played keyboards and guitar in a local semi-professional 1960's band called 'The Executives'. Mel also served on a number of Boards of Directors and was active in political and other organizations as well over the years.
Today, he and his wife, CJ, are the executive staff of the $20 million Robert and Eleanor Franke Charitable Foundation, Inc., [frankefound.org], serving the needs of the economically and culturally disadvantaged in the La Crosse County area. While no longer accepting new clients individually, he consults on bankruptcy matters with Discount Bankruptcy Services® of La Crosse, LLC, and is "of Counsel" with the Eglash Law Office,LLC.