Top best Litigation Lawyers Near me in ZIP 96813

With a dynamic focus on the practicalities and goals of my clients, I concentrate my law practice in: 1) Dispute Resolution and Litigation and 2) Business and Transactional Law. As a tenacious advocate for my clients, I have successfully litigated in the Federal U.S. District Court, Hawaii’s Circuit and District Courts, and the Intermediate Court of Appeals.  My experience in alternative dispute resolution includes mediation and arbitration, both as counsel for clients and as the mediator/arbitrator.. My transactional practice includes the full spectrum of acquiring, selling, and/or operating a business, from handling negotiations and due diligence, to drafting contracts and other legal documentation.  I am also often called upon to give legal consultation, providing clients with the legal insight they need to avoid potentially damaging legal issues and achieve successful results.. With each endeavor, I strive to serve under the highest work ethic and professional standards.  Mindful of the trust that has been placed upon me, I am committed to achieving the goals of my clients and providing them with practical solutions.. Please see our website for more information.

Trevor Brown represents clients in both litigation and transactions. His real estate experience ranges from resort acquisition and development to acting as trial counsel to establish beach access rights based on Kingdom of Hawaii land use. Mr. Brown's corporate experience ranges from negotiating corporate restructurings to acting as trial counsel to force the break-up of related land development corporations. He holds Martindale-Hubbell's highest possible professional rating (AV) for both his skill and integrity. Mr. Brown is recognized in Best Lawyers in America in nine categories: Business Organization (including LLC's and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Commercial Transactions/UCC Law, Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, Commercial Litigation, Trusts & Estates Litigation, Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law and Real Estate Litigation. Mr. Brown has been named by Best Lawyers in America, 2017 "Lawyer of the Year" in Honolulu, in the practice area of Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law.. Mr. Brown has been selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers list since 2013, and named to the 2015 Top 25 list, Business Litigation. Mr. Brown is also recognized by Benchmark Litigation (Litigation Star) for his litigation expertise, and is a former Chair of the Litigation Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association.. Mr. Brown has acted as special counsel to provide legal opinions in complex financing transactions. He served as a Co-Reporter for the Opinion Committee of the Real Property and Financial Services Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association. The Committee's Hawaii 2000 Report on Lawyer's Opinion Letters in Mortgage Loan Transactions is published at 22 U. Haw. L. Rev. 347 (2000). Mr. Brown has also served on subsequent bar committees addressing lawyers' opinion letters.  Mr. Brown lives in Kaimuki with his wife and three children.

Terence "Terry" O’Toole is a director of the Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher law firm. He manages the firm’s litigation department and has over 45 years experience in the area of commercial and complex litigation. Mr. O'Toole holds Martindale-Hubbell's highest possible professional rating (AV Preeminent) given by legal peers, based on their knowledge of his work, reputation and integrity.. Mr. O'Toole has been named 2011 Bet-The-Company, Hawaii "Lawyer of the Year", 2012 Banking & Finance Litigation, Hawaii "Lawyer of the Year" 2014 & 2018 Hawaii "Lawyer of the Year", Appellate Practice and 2015 Hawaii "Lawyer of the Year", Banking and Finance Litigation, by Best Lawyers in America. He is also recognized by Best Lawyers in America; in ("Appellate Practice", "Arbitration", "Bet-The-Company”, "Commercial Litigation", "Construction Litigation", "Banking & Finance Litigation", "Mergers & Acquisitions", and "Real Estate Litigation”).  He is recognized by Chambers USA as a Star, and one of the top Leading Lawyers in Band 1 Litigation for commercial litigation.  Mr. O'Toole has been selected for inclusion to the Top Listed, Top 25 Hawaii Super Lawyers list. Mr. O'Toole is also recognized as a Local Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation, Benchmark Appellate and Benchmark Plaintiff.. Although Mr. O’Toole’s practice includes a full range of litigation matters, his primary area of emphasis is trial work involving real estate litigation, hospitality industry related litigation, construction claims and disputes, lender liability and international claims and litigation.. Mr. O’Toole has been lead counsel in jury and non-jury trials in federal and state courts in California and Hawaii; and he has represented multi-national companies on claims and litigation matters arising out of other venues in the Pacific Rim.  He has also handled numerous arbitrations under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association and similar organizations.

Summer H. Kaiawe concentrates her practice in the areas of business and real estate litigation, intellectual property, and land use and environmental law.. Ms. Kaiawe has experience in a variety of litigation cases, including those in the areas of patent infringement, contract disputes, quiet title, title insurance and escrow, lender liability, seller's real property disclosure and boundary disputes, and wrongful death.  Ms. Kaiawe advises clients on a range of intellectual property matters, including the registration and protection of trademarks and copyrights, licensing, and privacy and publicity rights.  Certified with an environmental law certificate from the William S. Richardson School of Law, Ms. Kaiawe has also advised clients regarding compliance with state and federal underground storage tank regulations, CERCLA liability, and due diligence in connection with real property transactions.. Ms. Kaiawe is committed to giving back to the local community, and currently serves on the Boards of Directors for several non-profit organizations, including Aloha Harvest, the Hawaii State Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Division, and the William S. Richardson School of Law Alumni Association.. While in law school, Ms. Kaiawe served as a class representative on the Student Bar Association, a board member of the Law and Business Organization, a member of the American Inns of Court, and competed on the Client Counseling Moot Court Team.  She also served as the 2010 Linnel Nishioka Environmental Law Fellow.

Stephanie E. W. Thompson concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial and real estate civil litigation.  Ms. Thompson has assisted in the representation of various clients from multi-million dollar corporations to small businesses and individual interests in legal matters ranging from wrongful termination and unfair competition, to negligence, commercial litigation, general business and trust disputes.  Ms. Thompson has also participated in other legal matters involving construction and environmental issues, trust and estates, fraudulent transfers of land, and wrongful death claims.. Ms. Thompson holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell for both her skill and integrity. Ms. Thompson has been selected for inclusion as a Rising Star for Hawaii Super Lawyers 2015. She is the 2015 Litigation Section Chair for the Hawaii State Bar Association.. Ms. Thompson has developed and presents the workshop, “E-Discovery: What Is It, and Why Every Business Must Plan For It”.  This informative and timely workshop covers the importance of a records retention policy, data mapping of a business’ electronic data, and litigation hold protocols. The aim is to bring awareness to companies that there are steps they may take that may reduce the legal fees related to the e-discovery phase of litigation.  Ms. Thompson was a guest on Hawaii Public Radio's The Conversation, discussing E-Discovery issues related to using a "Bring Your Own Device" policies. Click to listen.. Some examples of her work include:. Commercial Litigation.  Represented a large financial institution involving employment contract related claims.  Ongoing representation of a multi-million dollar real estate development company involving partnership claims.  Arbitration resolving leasehold interests, ejectment and foreclosure claims.. Construction Transactions and Litigation.  Ongoing revision and formation of construction contracts for construction corporations.  Represented private parties in a construction defects suit involving their multi-million dollar residence.  Represented an apartment owners association in the mediation of contract and construction defects claims.. Labor/Employment Disputes.  Represented an employer in federal court involving claims of fraud and wrongful termination.  Represented private corporation in the arbitration of employee disputes related to covenants not to compete.. Trust & Estate Litigation.  Represented a major land-owning estate in the defense of claims of malfeasance.  Ongoing representation of an estate in prosecution of claims relating to fraud and wrongful death.. Pro Bono.  Representation of a Hawaii non-profit in the analysis and revision of its Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws.  Representation of several low-income families in matters related to adoption, child custody, and divorce issues.

Sharon V. Lovejoy has over 20 years of experience in representing clients in a wide variety of litigation matters with primary focus in commercial, real estate and business litigation.  Ms. Lovejoy  has been named in Best Lawyers in America (in “Appellate Law”, "Arbitration", "Banking & Finance Litigation", "Construction Litigation" and “Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law”), in Super Lawyers (in “Business Litigation”) and was honored to be appointed as  a fellow in Litigation Counsel of America trial lawyer honorary society, and one of 5 Hawaii lawyers to serve a 3 year term as a lawyer delegate to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judicial Conference. She is President-elect of the Federal Bar Association, Hawaii Chapter, 2012-13. Ms. Lovejoy is listed in Benchmark Litigation's Top 250 Women in Litigation, and is recognized as a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation and Benchmark Appellate.. Ms. Lovejoy is admitted to practice law in Hawaii, Texas, Florida, Colorado and the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. Ms. Lovejoy has represented various business interests, from multi-national corporations, hospitality industry leaders and large commercial lenders, to small businesses and individual interests, in legal matters including real estate litigation, large commercial foreclosures, construction disputes, environmental litigation, landlord  and tenant  matters,  trust and probate litigation and general business disputes.. She has extensive experience in both state and federal courts, and has handled cases before appellate courts and in alternative dispute resolution forums.  Ms. Lovejoy holds Martindale-Hubbell’shighest possible professional rating (AV) given to her by other legal professionals based on their knowledge of her work, reputation and integrity.

Mr. Lautenbach is a member of the bar of the State of Hawaii and the State of California.  He is admitted to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Lautenbach has ten (10) years of experience in complex commercial litigation, holds Martindale-Hubbell’s highest possible professional rating (AV), and has been selected for inclusion by Hawaii Super Lawyers as a Hawaii “Rising Star” in the area of business litigation since 2013. Mr. Lautenbach has also been selected for inclusion to the 2016 Best Lawyers in Hawaii list, Real Estate Litigation.. Notable matters that Mr. Lautenbach has handled include:. Lahaina Fashions v. Bank of Hawaii -- Represented Bank of Hawaii and its affiliates in a jury trial that concerned allegations of fraud, interference, and civil conspiracy related to the sale of a commercial property, where the plaintiff sought damages in excess of twenty-million dollars.   Following six-weeks of trial, the Maui jury returned a verdict in favor of the Bank on all counts, and judgment was entered accordingly.  The Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals issued an order affirming the judgment in the Bank’s favor, and, following oral argument, the Hawaii Supreme Court has published a unanimous opinion, again affirming the judgment in the Bank’s favor on all counts.. Mr. Lautenbach’s oral argument before the Hawaii Supreme Court can be heard in its entirety (click here).. Ko Olina Development, LLC v. Centex Homes – Represented the master developer of the Ko Olina Resort in a dispute concerning its contractual right to purchase certain commercial apartments and to control certain limited common element areas within the Beach Villas at Ko Olina condominium project.  Following a bench trial, the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii confirmed and enforced Ko Olina Development’s right to purchase the commercial apartments, but allowed Centex Homes to transfer control  over the limited common element areas to the Association of Apartment Owners.  The trial court’s judgment was affirmed by the Ninth Circuit.. Ariyoshi v. Equinix, Inc. – Represented officers and directors of a private company in suit by common shareholders alleging they were improperly "frozen out" by board, management and venture investors. The matter was dismissed with prejudice and attorneys’ fees were awarded to the client.  The matter was later settled.. Ko Olina Development, LLC v. AOAO – Represented Ko Olina Development, as the owner of commercial apartments within the Beach Villas at Ko Olina Condominium Development, in arbitration against the Association of Apartment Owners concerning Ko Olina Development’s right to use the commercial apartments for commercial purposes open to the general public.  The arbitrator ruled in favor of the client and awarded attorneys’ fees.  The judgment was confirmed and enforced.. Resort Management Company, LLC v. AOAO – Represented resort manager in dispute with an Association of Apartment Owners concerning, among other things, the AOAO’s failure to make payments to the resort manager and allegations of mismanagement.   The matter was settled.. Trump International Hotel and Tower® at Waikiki Beach Walk® -- Successfully represented the developer of the Trump International Hotel and Tower® at Waikiki Beach Walk® in numerous disputes related to the sale of condominium units within that development.. Lender litigation – As approved litigation counsel for MetLife Bank, Bank of America, First Tennessee Bank, and Nationstar Mortgage, Mr. Lautenbach has successfully defended numerous lender liability claims.

Mr. Hunter joined Kobayashi, Sugita & Goda in 2012 and practices in the firm’s commercial litigation section.. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2012, and was inducted into the Order of the Coif and Thurston Society. Mr. Hunter was an Executive Board member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Team, and was a team member for three years. He took first place at the International Competition for Mediation Advocacy in Toronto, Canada.. Mr. Hunter received the 2011 American Bankruptcy Institute Medal of Excellence in Bankruptcy. He was also awarded the 2012 Ferguson Admiralty Law Scholarship. While in law school, Mr. Hunter received CALI Excellence for the Future Awards and Witkin Awards for Academic Excellence in Antitrust, Bankruptcy, Commercial Contract Drafting, International Negotiation and Dispute Resolution, Maritime Law, Negotiation and Settlement, Real Estate Transactions, and Regulated Industries.. Mr. Hunter was a judicial extern at the Federal Bankruptcy Court in San Jose, California, for the Honorable Judge Stephen Johnson. He also worked as a judicial extern in the San Francisco Superior Court, Law and Motion Department, for the Honorable Judges Peter Busch and Charlotte Woolard.. Before entering law school, Mr. Hunter was a real estate investment sales broker for CB Richard Ellis in Honolulu. During that time, he was involved in over 75 sales and 135 leasing transactions for nearly a billion dollars in commercial real estate assets. He was engaged in projects in Hawaii, Guam, and the Caribbean.. Mr. Hunter holds a business degree from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. He also is a licensed real estate broker.. Mr. Hunter is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He is admitted to practice before all state courts in the State of Hawaii, and the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. Mr. Hunter also serves as a volunteer mediator with the Mediation Center of the Pacific.

Leighton represents clients in a wide range of high-stakes litigation, including disputes related to employment matters, contracts, personal injury, and commercial transactions.. Leighton’s clients have included numerous high-profile corporations, executives, agencies, and organizations, including major airlines, hospitals, and hotels.  Leighton has significant litigation experience, having participated in jury and non-jury trials in both state and federal courts.. Prior to joining the firm, Leighton was a partner at Marr Jones & Wang LLLP, where he handled numerous employment litigation matters, conducted in-house trainings on best employment practices, and participated in corporate investigations.  Leighton also practiced commercial litigation at Watanabe Ing, LLLP where he defended numerous corporations, governmental entities, and individuals in civil actions. Leighton served as a law clerk at the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit, State of Hawaii, to the Honorable Riki May Amano and the Honorable Terence T. Yoshioka.. Mr. Hara is admitted to practice before all of the state and federal courts of the State of Hawaii, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

David Robyak earned a BA in History, cum laude, from Washington & Lee University in 1990, an MA in History in 1997 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he was inducted into the Phi Alpha Theta honor society, and a JD, magna cum laude, from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2014. In his second and third years of law school, David served as Research Assistant to Professor David Callies, an internationally acclaimed scholar of real property and land use law. David spent almost 9 years living in China where he studied Chinese, taught English, and worked as a training center Service Manager for a large multinational education company. Mandarin is his second language. After law school, David worked for the law firm of Turbin Chu Heidt before joining Klein Law Group where he hopes to develop a varied practice building on his personal injury background.

Calvert G. Chipchase is a partner practicing in the areas of commercial and real property litigation, land use, zoning and entitlements and employment law and labor relations.. A second generation Hawai‘i lawyer, Mr. Chipchase earned his law degree from the University of Hawai‘i, William S. Richardson School of Law, where he was the class valedictorian and a member of the Hawai‘i Law Review Editorial Board. Before joining Cades Schutte, Mr. Chipchase clerked for the Honorable Richard R. Clifton, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the Honorable Alan C. Kay, United States District Court for the District of Hawai‘i.. Mr. Chipchase is a Lecturer in Law and guest lecturer at the Richardson School of Law. Mr. Chipchase has taught courses in real property, land use, appellate practice, legal writing and scholarly writing. In addition to his responsibilities at the law school, Mr. Chipchase frequently speaks to business groups and provides continuing legal education seminars to Hawai‘i realtors and planners regarding land use, environmental law and historic preservation.

Brian W. Tilker is a director at the law firm of Torkildson Katz.  He concentrates his practice on business litigation, and has represented clients in a wide-variety of matters in both state and federal courts.  In addition to the practice of law, Mr. Tilker is a Lecturer in Law at the William S. Richardson School of Law, teaching a first- year course in legal writing and advocacy.

Bennett Chin is the head of M4’s Design Professionals Defense & Counseling Group, primarily representing and counseling architects and engineers. He has represented clients in a wide range of projects including shopping centers, airports, municipal works, transportation projects, residential projects, hospital projects, commercial high-rises, restaurants and government buildings. He has given seminars on loss prevention and risk management and has lectured for numerous organizations, including AIA, ACEC, University of Hawaii School of Architecture, Lorman Education Services, California BAR/BRI and Hawaii BAR/BRI.. Mr. Chin attended the University of California, Berkeley and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy. He obtained his law degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law.. His legal career has spanned being a partner in a small civil litigation practice in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he mediated, arbitrated and tried cases for various clients, to serving as a Senior Complex Litigation Attorney with Sedgwick, Detert Moran & Arnold, LLP in their San Francisco offices. At Sedgwick, Mr. Chin represented architects, landscape architects, civil engineers, developers and contractors in all aspects of construction litigation including discovery, mediation, arbitration and trial. He also managed the eDiscovery team in the defense of a large window manufacturer in a product liability class action lawsuit.. Later, Mr. Chin served as Claims Consultant for XL Insurance – Design Professional in their San Francisco offices. He managed a large volume of design professional claims and loss prevention matters. Mr. Chin was directly involved in negotiating large losses through mediation and mandatory settlement conferences. He assisted insureds with contract review and assessment of their risk management practices.

Although Phil Brown has been a full time litigation attorney since 1985, he became a Hawaii attorney after moving to Honolulu in 1993.  Mr. Brown started this office in 1997 after working for some of the finest law firms in Hawaii, New York and Virginia.. Upon graduation from Washington and Lee University School of Law in 1985, Mr. Brown was an associate at Hunton and Williams.  In 1987 Mr. Brown joined the New York office of Reid and Priest (later known as Thelen Reid and Priest).  Mr. Brown often credits these two highly regarded, national law firms as the main reason for his strong background in commercial litigation.  In 1993 Mr. Brown moved to Honolulu and joined its then largest law firm, Carlsmith Ball.  At Carlsmith Ball, he litigated against some of Hawaii’s finest attorneys, including famed Plaintiffs attorney, David C. Schutter.  Following one oral argument, Mr. Schutter offered Mr. Brown the opportunity to join Schutter and represent the claims of some 4000 annuity holders in a case against a national financial institution.  Mr. Brown candidly admits when he met Schutter, Brown had little experience representing the rights of Plaintiffs.  However, Brown accepted the challenge and two years later mediated a Thirty-Nine Million Dollar settlement for the annuity holders.. Mr. Brown started his own boutique litigation office in 1997.  Relying on his diverse experience, Mr. Brown represents Plaintiffs and Defendants in Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Litigation, and Personal Injury cases.. Mr. Brown has Martindale Hubbell’s highest legal/ethics ratings and is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers under Civil Trial Practice, Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury.  Mr. Brown is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers.  Mr. Brown has also been recognized in Honolulu Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Hawaii and was honored by the National Trial Lawyers Association as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer.