Hans was raised in Savannah, Georgia. At age fifteen, he and his family moved to Kentucky to be closer to his mother’s family. Hans majored in finance and minored in philosophy while at the University of Louisville. He worked his way through college while working third-shift part time at United Parcel Service. Quickly promoted several times, by his senior year he had advanced to a full-time position as a financial analyst in United Parcel Service’s Air Group where he analyzed past aircraft fleet maintenance expenditures in order to make projections for the future.
While he certainly enjoyed putting his finance degree to work, Hans had already made plans to attend law school on scholarship. Law school was a natural fit for him and he made the Dean’s list all six semesters while at The Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. During his second year, Hans was selected to be a member of the Brandeis Journal of Family Law. Also in his second year, Hans advanced to the semi-final round of the Pirtle-Washer Oral Advocacy Competition and tied for third with the woman whom he would later marry, Jeri Barclay. During his final year, Hans was selected to represent the law school at the prestigious Kauffman Securities Law Moot Court Competition in New York City. He and his teammate-and still good friend-Shane O’Bryan, made the best showing in the law school’s history by finishing third in the nation. Hans finished law school ranked in the top ten with a grade point average high enough to gain him membership into the nation’s oldest, largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Additionally, Hans was asked to join the most prestigious honor society at the Brandeis School of Law, the Brandeis Society.
Following graduation, Hans went to work for the small, well-respected plaintiff personal injury law firm where he had clerked during law school. Just two weeks after receiving his bar results, Hans, and the attorney with whom he worked, successfully tried a two-week medical malpractice case. He was hooked on trial work from that moment forward. Since then, he has been involved in a number of large jury verdicts and settlements, including serving as co-counsel on a $25,700,000 settlement arising out of childhood sexual abuse (this settlement consolidated 243 indivdual lawsuits alleging childhood sexual abuse against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville and was settled in 2003. At the time, it was the second largest settlement against a diocese in US History.) To learn more about the case, you can read the Courier Journal Newspaper article here.
At only thirty-years of age, Hans made the decision to start his own firm. The dynamic success of The Poppe Law Firm comes as no surprise to anyone who knows Hans. He is passionate about the work he does and the people and small businesses he represents. Because of this, he chooses to limit his caseload to only twenty cases at any given time. This ensures he can give each of his clients the personal attention they need and deserve.
Practice areas
22 years
22 years
22 years
Languages spoken
English
8700 Westport Rd
Ste. 201
Louisville, KY, 40242
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
IN | Active In Good Standing | 2002 | 07/03/2022 |
KY | Authorized to Practice Law | 2000 | 06/21/2022 |
Legal answers | 0 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Super Lawyer | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2019 |
Super Lawyer | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2018 |
Super Lawyer | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2017 |
Trial Lawyer of the Year | Kentucky Trial Court Review | 2016 |
Super Lawyer | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2016 |
Super Lawyer | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2015 |
Super Lawyer | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2014 |
Top Lawyers | Louisville Magazine | 2013 |
Top 100 Trial Lawyers | National Trial Lawyers | 2013 |
Super Lawyer | Super Lawyers | 2013 |
Top 40 Under 40 | National Trial Lawyers | 2013 |
Top Lawyer | Louisville Magazine | 2012 |
Top 100 Trial Lawyers | National Trial Lawyers | 2012 |
Super Lawyer | Super Lawyers | 2012 |
Top 40 Under 40 | National Trial Lawyers | 2012 |
Top 100 Trial Lawyers | National Trial Lawyers | 2011 |
Top 100 Trial Lawyers | National Trial Lawyers | 2011 |
Top Lawyer | Louisville Magazine | 2011 |
Super Lawyer | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2011 |
Top 100 Trial Lawyers | National Trial Lawyers | 2010 |
Top Lawyer | Louisville Magazine | 2010 |
Super Lawyer | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2010 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Owner | Poppe Law Firm | 2004 - Present |
Associate | McMurry & Associates | 2000 - 2004 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Kentucky Justice Association, Annual Convention Committee | 2010 - Present | |
Kentucky Justice Association, Legislative Committee | 2009 - Present | |
Kentucky Justice Association Rules Committee | 2009 - Present | |
American Association for Justice, Leaders Forum | 2009 - Present | |
Kentucky Justice Association, Website Committee | 2007 - Present |
Kentucky Justice Association | Board of Governors | 2005 - Present |
Kentucky Justice Association | 2000 - Present | |
American Association for Justice | 2000 - Present |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Self | What The Insiders Don't Want You To Know About Semi-Truck Wrecks | N/A |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville | Juris Doctor | 2000 |
University of Lousiville | BS - Bachelor of Science | 1996 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Techapalooza | Cool Stuff You Can Do At Trial | 2012 |
Litigating Nursing Home Negligence Cases | Litigating Nursing Home Negligence | 2012 |
KJA Annual Convention | Advanced Trial Skills | 2010 |
Common Themes & Defenses in Medical Malpractice | Common Themes & Defenses in Medical Malpractice | 2010 |
Car Wreck Litigation | Car Wreck Cases-Early Assessment of the Case | 2009 |
Trial Skills | Legal Malpractice-The Evil of Which We Do Not Speak | 2008 |
Bad Faith Claims Handling | Bad Faith | 2008 |
Car Wreck Litigation | Essentials for Winning Your Auto Wreck Casae | 2007 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Jury awards $1.6 million to family of Cumberland Gastroenterology patient | $1.6M |
Jury Awards Poppe Law Firm Client $21.2 Million For Unnecessary Pacemaker | On Appeal |
Jury Awards Woman $3.8 Million | $3,800,000 |
Jury Awards Widow $5.1 Million | $5,100,000 |
Posted by Tonya
February 1, 2019
Posted by James
October 2, 2015
Posted by Steph Horne
July 14, 2011
Kevin Weis, Personal injury Attorney on Apr 19, 2019
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I have known Hans my entire career and he is as skilled a trial lawyer as you will find anywhere with proven results. He is tenacious in pursuing justice and cares deeply about obtaining justice for his clients. He is also invests his time to developing young lawyers and improving the civil justice system, You can do no better.
David Travis, Litigation Attorney on Oct 3, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Peter Palmer, Litigation Attorney on May 19, 2016
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I have had the pleasure of working with Hans on cases before, as well as having known him as a member of the local community. He is a tremendously skilled litigator with a proven track record of success. He is not afraid to take on a big challenge, and fights for his clients every step of the way. I am glad to recommend/endorse Hans - he is very deserving.
Damon Willis, Personal injury Attorney on Mar 30, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
John Doyle, Medical malpractice Attorney on Feb 12, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Hans is a great attorney. I've discussed several referrals with him over the years. He is smart, thorough, and very experienced.
Tad Thomas, Personal injury Attorney on Dec 17, 2015
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I had the privilege of working with Hans on a case where we represented co-parties. Without a doubt Hans possesses excellent court room skills and is a great hire in any personal injury or civil matter.
Chauncey Hiestand, Litigation Attorney on Aug 21, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Hans has the highest respect from his peers and is one of the preeminent trial lawyers in town.
Michael Waddington, Personal injury Attorney on May 27, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse Hans. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community.
Lee Tucker, Personal injury Attorney on Apr 14, 2013
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Hans is a tremendous attorney. I appreciate his compassion, thoughtfulness, tenacity, and hard work. He is very skilled at what he does and I feel very lucky to be working with him in a wrongful death case. I endorse this lawyer.
Lawrence Jones, Medical malpractice Attorney on Sep 30, 2012
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I strongly endorse Hans Poppe. Without question, Hans is one of the best trial lawyers I have ever known. He is without peers when it comes to courtroom performance. He is smart, well-prepared and relates well to juries. Frankly, if I was catastrophically injured or killed by the medical negligence of a doctor, I'd be very pleased if my family hired Hans to represent my estate.
Andrew Matteson, Litigation Attorney on Jul 8, 2011
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Highly Recommended!