Mr. Doerhoff has been a civil trial lawyer for 45 years in all state and federal courts in Missouri, with emphasis on personal injury, commercial litigation, university litigation, estate planning, and litigation involving estates and trusts. He is a partner in the Jefferson City firm of Cook, Vetter, Doerhoff & Landwehr, P.C., since 1976, and is a prior member of Smith, Lewis, Rogers & Doerhoff, Columbia, Missouri, from 1971-1975.
Higher Education:
- JD, cum laude, University of Missouri – Columbia 1971
- Order of the Coif
- Lead Article Editor, Missouri Law Review
- Magister, Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity
- Numerous awards for academic achievements and legal writing
- BA with General Honors, University of Missouri- Columbia 1968
- College of Arts & Science; Honors College
- Majored in Political Science, Minored in History and Economics
- Distinguished Army ROTC Military Graduate and Commissioned Officer, 1968
Selected Professional Attainments:
- Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers since 1992
- Fellow of the American Bar Foundation since 1991
- Elected by peers to “Best Lawyers in America” since 1995
- Elected by peers as a “Super Lawyer” in Missouri since 2005
- AV Preeminant peer rating from Martindale Hubbell
- Awarded the Lon O. Hocker Memorial Trial Lawyer Award by The Missouri Bar
- Former Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law in trial practice at UMC School of Law
- Missouri Judicial College faculty for over ten years
- President of the MU Law Alumni Association 1983-1984
Selected Leadership Roles in the Legal Profession:
- President of The Missouri Bar 2002-2003. Led the campaign for passage of Senate Bill 447 to increase funding for legal aid offices across Missouri. Engaged the bar and the public in a “Dialogue on Justice” to increase awareness of how Missouri’s lawyers and judges solve problems and maintain a just and civil society.
- State Coordinator, Missouri Judicial Performance Evaluation Committees 2008 to present
- Chair of the Missouri Judicial Evaluation Commission, 2004 to 2007
- Chair of the Supreme Court of Missouri Civil Rules Committee, 2003 to present
- Co-Chair of the Missouri Fellows of the American Bar Foundation 2009 to 2015
- Delegate to the American Bar Association's House of Delegates, 2006 to 2010
- Member of The Missouri Bar Board of Governors, 1992 to 2004
Publications:
- The Flag, a regular column about current Missouri cases in the Journal of the Missouri Bar, 1983 to 1984; 1991 to 1998
- Numerous papers and presentations on trial practice and civil law for The Missouri Bar, Missouri Judicial College, and the University of Missouri – Columbia, School of Law
- A Trip to Charleytown: The German-American Community at St. Elizabeth, Missouri 1880-1920 (2006, 425 pages)
Personal:
- Born St. Elizabeth, Missouri, December 13, 1946
- St. Elizabeth High School, 1964 (Valedictorian)
- Married to Ruth A. (Wilde) Doerhoff since 1971
- Rotary Club of Jefferson City since 1976 (President 1987-1988)
- American Legion Memorial Post 545 member for over 40 years (former Commander)
- Other civic, fraternal, religious, and charitable organizations