Hawaii Lawyers

Barry Sooalo has practiced law in the courts of Washington D.C., Hawaii and American Samoa. Barry's Sooalo's broad and highly specialized experience in the areas of criminal law, government relations, lobbying and legislation, customs law, business transactions, civil litigation, and appellate law, makes him a much sought after litigator and legal counsel in Hawaii for clients from Hawaii and for clients from abroad who require legal counsel and representation for legal matters in Hawaii and elsewhere. Mr. Sooalo is a veteran of the US Army.

J. Porter DeVries began his career at the Wall Street firm of Segal Gebski, where he represented clients encountering construction, business, real estate, and international disputes. With Condominium and Community Association clients, Porter focuses on enabling Boards of Directors to establish and maintain the highest standards of good governance. Underscoring the firm’s proactive approach, he leads DeVries’ preventative counseling and strategic planning services, as well as ensuring that Boards are legally protected in disputes and thrive in the myriad aspects of governing Hawaii’s diverse associations. Leading the firm’s Real Estate and Commercial Litigation sector, Porter routinely...

Na Lan is a director of Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert. Her practice areas are immigration law, condominium and community association law, business and real property transactions, and dispute resolution for Mandarin-speaking investors and business owners. Born and raised in China, she is fluent in both Mandarin Chinese and English.

She earned her law degree from the University of Hawaii’s William S. Richardson School of Law, where she graduated cum laude. She was the Managing Editor of the Asia Pacific Law & Policy Journal, and also served as an intern for Judge Craig Nakamura of the Hawaii Intermediate Court of...

Mr. Yoo's practice focuses on tax and bankruptcy litigation. He has represented clients in both criminal and civil cases against the California Franchise Tax Board, State Board of Equalization and Employment Development Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS). He has handled matters including IRS and sales tax audits, tax fraud investigations, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) and innocent spouse claims. Mr. Yoo also represents debtors and creditors in Chapter 7, 11 & 13 bankruptcy proceedings, including tax bankruptcy cases.

Lauren has served as a deputy prosecuting attorney in the counties of Hawaii and Maui. Previous to that she practiced with small firms in the areas of immigration, criminal, estate planning, probate, and divorce.

Diligent and Tenacious Representation, Realistic and Practical Solutions

With a dynamic focus on the practicalities and goals of my clients, I concentrate my law practice in: Dispute Resolution and Litigation /and/ Business and Transactional Law.

- Dispute Resolution and Litigation: 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.

- Business and Transactional Law: My transactional practice includes the full...

Jim Bickerton is an experienced and accomplished Hawaii Attorney. For more than 35 years he has represented clients in an array of areas, including Commercial and Real Estate Litigation, Consumer Class Actions, Professional Liability, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, and First Amendment and Defamation matters. Jim's skilled and knowledgeable advocacy has led to hundreds of successful outcomes.

Jim has received numerous awards. He has been named among Hawaii’s A+ Attorneys, as well as Best Lawyer in Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Litigation, Legal Malpractice, Personal Injury, and Plaintiff Medical Malpractice. Jim has also been named a Super Lawyer for consecutive years....

Judith Ann Pavey has successfully handled personal injury cases in Hawaii since 1977 and continues this important work as Of Counsel at Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher. The law firm is ranked by U.S. News-Best Lawyers® since 2010 as "Best Law Firm" in its core business of Real Estate Law and Commercial Litigation, and also Personal Injury Litigation, Medical Malpractice Law and Product Liability Litigation(since 2012), solely based on Ms. Pavey's contribution. Ms. Pavey has been named by The Best Lawyers in America©, as a Lawyer of the Year in Honolulu in the practice areas of Banking & Finance Litigation...

I was born and raised in central Missouri and received my bachelor's degree in International Studies from the University of Missouri in 1996. Following graduation, I moved to Honolulu and attended the University of Hawaii's William S. Richardson School of Law where I received my juris doctorate in 1999. After receiving my JD, I served as a law clerk to the Honorable Victoria S. Marks in the First Circuit Court of the State of Hawaii. In 2000, I accepted a position as a Deputy Public Defender for the State of Hawaii and began my legal career working...

Mitchell S. Wong has been a lawyer in Hawaii since 1991, when he began his career at the law firm of David C. Schutter. At the time, the law firm was known as Schutter & Glickstein, and the focus of the law firm's practice was personal injury and civil litigation. In time, Mr. Wong became a partner at the law firm, which was then restyled as Schutter Dias Smith & Wong. In 2004 Mr. Wong started his present law firm. While Mr. Wong has continued his diverse work in civil litigation, he also expanded his practice to include family...

Attorney Marcus Landsberg grew up in Los Angeles but visited his family in Hawaii every summer during his childhood. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas, and after spending a couple of years teaching English in Japan, he earned his Juris Doctorate at the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii.
Marcus spent six and a half years working at the Public Defender’s Office before opening his own firm. With more than 15 years of experience, he has obtained successful case results on behalf of his clients in Honolulu and throughout Hawaii. Not only...

Although the Law Offices of William H. Lawson are physically located in the State of Hawaii, we have assisted on Hawaii matters for clients and co-counsel from all over the United States and many parts of the world. To date, Mr. Lawson has represented residents of: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Montana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia & Wisconsin as well as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Guam, Samoa, Korea, Japan, Micronesia & the Philippines....

John L. Olson is an attorney who handles a wide variety of matters from litigation (civil, probate, trust disputes); advising businesses in day to day matters, including contracts and management; transactional work for individuals and business; criminal defense; to Estate Planning in Kona and Kamuela. As a sole practioner he gained a width breadth of knowledge to assist his clients in just about anything. He was born and raised on the Island of O`ahu, and moved to Kona in 1973 with his wife. There, they raised two sons: Robert and Peter Olson, both of whom are...

I practice in the area of civil lawsuits and disputes and specialize in disputes involving personal injury, trusts/estates, real estate transactions, business/corporations, and sex assault claims. I represent clients in federal court, state court, arbitrations, administrative hearings, and mediations. I have received an AV-Preeminent peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubbell. If you would like to discuss any legal issues, please feel free to contact me. E-Mail: dchen@rmhawaii.com Phone: (808) 225-6535 Fax: (808) 521-0597

I realize there are many law firms competing for the privilege of representing you in your legal matter. I realize you have a difficult decision in determining which law firm would best serve your interests. I have worked hard for the past 21 years to distinguish my law firm from the others, and to build my reputation as an aggressive advocate for my clients offering honest and well reasoned legal advice. As you browse our website, you will quickly get a feel for what we call our “Commitment to Excellence.” Marc J. Victor has represented clients in more than...

Brown University 1985 BA with Honors.
Bates College of Law (Houston) 1988.

After thirty years of hammering insurance companies in Texas, I chose to live the dream and move to Maui, Hawaii. Texas is tough, and so are the court systems. But I was a winner there, and I'll bring a sharply honed set of skills to bear on your case here in Hawaii. I'm a tough, smart trial lawyer with the resources to file your case and win it. I'll hire experts on liability and damages. I'll cross examine the hell out of the opposing witnesses....

I was raised here on Maui. After graduating from Baldwin High, I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah. Following graduation, I attended Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law. Having grown up on Maui, I have a unique understanding about the island and its people that many Maui attorneys lack. I know what it means to have the “Spirit of Aloha” that makes our island home so special.

My mission is to meet your needs in a way that you understand, eases your mind, and makes you feel empowered in Hawaii’s legal system.

I have zealously...

Bill was a founding member of the firm in 1989 and was a partner through 2003. He is currently “Of Counsel” to the firm in light of his executive responsibilities with National Golf Courses, Inc. In his nearly 25 years of trial practice in Hawaii, Bill has represented a wide variety of clients as plaintiffs or defendants in matters involving wrongful death, serious personal injury, real estate and business litigation, and environmental litigation. Over the years, his clients have included major insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate, Colonial Penn, USAA, Home Insurance, National Union and United Pacific, major corporations...

Mark Davis has been recognized as one of the best trial lawyers in Hawaii and in the United States. Mr. Davis, a graduate of Tulane University and Washington University School of Law, has focused his law practice over the last thirty years representing injured victims in cases involving serious personal injury and medical malpractice. He has achieved record verdicts and settlements in Hawaii for numerous cases over the course of his career.

Rick Abelmann is a bankruptcy attorney admitted to practice in Hawaii and New York. He graduated in economics before entering law school, and worked for both small and large business and firms in the past. Rick previously practiced corporate and securities law in Hong Kong with Clifford Chance, one of the largest law firms in the world, and also spent time working on the trading floor for the equities division of the Wall Street investment bank Morgan Stanley. He worked on transactions valued at hundreds of millions of dollars on a regular basis.

After leaving the corporate world,...

Honolulu real estate attorney Peter Starn has over forty-five years experience in the areas of commercial real estate development and operations. Mr. Starn has extensive experience in corporate finance, mergers, and acquisitions. His real property practice includes the development, sale, acquisition, financing, and restructuring of hotels, office buildings, condominiums, and shopping centers, with particular expertise in the hotel industry. Much of Mr. Starn’s practice centers on international transactions. He has also managed large complex litigation matters for corporate clients and for large land holding trusts in Hawaii. Mr. Starn holds Martindale-Hubbell’s highest possible professional...

Bridget represents clients in a wide range of civil and commercial litigation matters, with an emphasis on consumer class actions. Her experience includes representation of injured consumers against hotels, restaurants, banks, and other corporations, of debtors, creditors, and bankruptcy trustees in bankruptcy litigation matters, and of citizens and public figures in civic matters of public importance. Bridget has practiced in the State, Federal District, and Bankruptcy Courts of Hawaii and Washington State, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and has argued before the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel. Bridget was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers from 2013-2017 and...

Mr. Zahaby moved from Kauai, Hawaii to Honolulu in 1994 and has been back and forth between the two islands ever since. He believes that attorneys should act as counselors helping their clients to make wise decisions with aloha rather than encouraging litigation. Mr. Zahaby concentrates on non-litigation, non-adversarial practice in the areas of real estate, estate planning and asset protection planning through creation of Limited Liability Companies.

Peter S.R. Olson is an attorney who handles a wide variety of matters, including: litigation (civil, family, and criminal), transactional, and business formation/advisement in Kona and Kamuela.

He was born and raised in South Kona on the Big Island of Hawai`i. He is the son of John L. Olson, founder of the firm. Peter has assisted his father at the firm since he was five years old.
Peter received his Juris Doctor and Environmental Law Certificate from Univerisity of Hawai`i at Manoa's William S. Richardson School of Law in 2005. After law school, he clerked for the Honorable Glenn...

Barry is a full-time trial lawyer with over 40 years' experience. He graduated from the University of Georgia Law School in 1975, and spent the first 12 years of his career practicing in Aspen, Colorado.

While in Aspen, he was private counsel to the city and the county governments,represented a major local bank, and worked toward development of commercial and residential projects, with related land use processes.

He litigated complex land use and real estate zoning, entitlements and permitting cases, tried commercial disputes, and defended the accused in Colorado's state and federal courts.

Barry came to Honolulu in 1987, joining the litigation section...

I am a Hawaii bankruptcy attorney and have 28 years of bankruptcy experience. My entire practice focuses on helping people like you get out from under the crushing burden of debt.

Not all bankruptcy lawyers are the same. Many are very good at putting people on a conveyor belt and moving their cases down the line. After helping thousands of individuals, families and business owners successfully “dump the debt” in bankruptcy, I have learned that nothing is more important than personal attention to each client’s case. When you hire me, you get me. When you call my office, I talk to...

I graduated from the University of Washington law school and was recruited by a Hawaii law firm in 1989. I started my solo practice in Paia in 1994 with a focus on estate planning, probate, real property and small business representation.

Robert S. Miyashita is a Partner at Bickerton Law Group who focuses his practice on claims involving serious and catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, and medical malpractice.

Robert was born and raised on the island of O‘ahu. After living and practicing law in Florida, he and his wife decided to return back home so they could raise their daughter in Hawai‘i where she would be able to learn the unique culture of the state and appreciate the true essence of aloha and ‘ohana. The combination of Robert's past experiences and his strong belief to do what is right makes him a...

Lars Peterson’s practice emphasizes bankruptcy law, criminal defense, insurance coverage disputes, and personal injury. He also practices general civil and commercial litigation and handles commercial transactions and business-related matters.

Mr. Peterson is a U.S. and German attorney. He has been admitted to practice in all courts in the State of Hawai’i and the State of Georgia, the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai’i, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and is eligible to practice in Germany and European Union member states.

Lars Peterson was born and raised in Germany and relocated to Hawai’i in 1999....

Clare Hanusz founded Aloha Immigration in June 2017, after working with the Immigration Practice Group at Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert in an Of Counsel affiliation since October 2013.

Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Clare has lived in Honolulu since 1995 (with an 18-month move to Melbourne, Australia from 2012-2013). After graduating from Ohio University’s Honors Tutorial College in 1991 she moved to Arizona worked for the Valley Religious Task Force on Central America, advocating for immigrants and more just U.S. foreign policies. The opportunity to meet and work with refugees and their attorneys in Arizona propelled Clare...

Kendal was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, and graduated from the Kamehameha Schools. He received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and his Juris Doctorate from the Houston College of Law (formerly South Texas College of Law) in Houston, Texas. Kendal is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association, the HSBA Family Law Section, and the HSBA Bankruptcy Section, the American Bankruptcy Institute, and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. He is also a member of the Bradley University Chapter of Delta Tau Delta. Kendal and his wife are the...

Amy Lawson Woodward is an associate attorney at the Law Office of William H. Lawson, concentrating her practice in the area of plaintiffs' personal injury litigation. Prior to joining her father's firm in 2016, Ms. Woodward practiced law at Carlsmith Ball LLP (one of the top corporate law firms in Hawaii), focusing predominantly on litigating commercial disputes.

Ms. Woodward is ranked in the "Top 10 Under 40" personal injury attorneys in Hawaii by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys (NAOPIA). She has obtained favorable awards for injured individuals at arbitration and successfully advocated for clients in...

As the landscape for legal services evolves, our fundamental goal is to continuously elevate our level of service to clients and control costs at the same time. To accomplish this important goal, a creative approach to solving legal problems becomes crucial. We believe creativity means finding the right solution unique for each individual client, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. We also rely on innovative technologies to enhance client value. It is our pleasure to provide you with such services. We are here to help and we take pride in doing so. Contracts Immigration Environmental Law Agency...

John Robert Egan is an experienced Immigration Attorney, and has served as the Chairperson of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Hawaii Chapter in 2008-2009. His immigration law practice experience includes two and a half years as supervising attorney of the Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic at the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM). His university teaching experience includes five years developing curricula and teaching about Humanitarian Law and Assistance in the Program on Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance at UHM. He has also taught as an adjunct professor at...

Greg Dunn has over 25 years experience as a bankruptcy attorney having completed over 12,000 bankruptcy cases as well as helping families avoid bankruptcy through other debt relief solutions. Greg has also helped many families save their homes from foreclosure. Greg has stopped creditor harassment and pay garnishments.

He is a former Navy JAG attorney who served on the U.S.S. Missouri. Greg is also a Kamehameha Schools graduate born and raised on the Leeward side of the Island of Oahu. Greg has helped local families and members of the military in filing for bankruptcy relief and saving homes...

The Hawaii criminal law firm of Harrison & Matsuoka, handles felonies and misdemeanors, drug crimes, sex crimes, white-collar crimes, murder, assaults, gun charges, and domestic violence cases. We have extensive experience in Federal Court, State Court, and Military Courts. Harrison & Matsuoka cares more than just about the case, we care about our clients. Facing a criminal conviction can be devastating to an individual's life, job, reputation, and family. We understand that this experience is traumatic and we are resolved to handle your case in a sensitive matter and by endeavoring to keep your case matter confidential. You can expect...

Duane R. Fisher concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate law, hotels and resorts, construction law, business structure and operations and commercial transactions. Mr. Fisher has represented a wide range of business organizations, from hotel owners, telecommunications companies, general contractors, Wall Street investment firms and multibillion dollar energy development companies to closely held corporations and sole proprietors, in both private transactions and before federal and state administrative agencies.

Ms. Hirota began her law practice in Ohio as an associate with Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, a large law firm in Cincinnati. After practicing immigration law in Ohio for two years, Ms. Hirota returned to her family in Hawaii and joined Lynch & Farmer in 1997. She was named a partner of Lynch Ichida Thompson Kim & Hirota in 2002 and left that firm to found Hirota & Associates in 2009. Ms. Hirota’s practice concentrates solely in U.S. Immigration and Nationality law. Ms. Hirota is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, having served on the following...

As an attorney and counselor at law, Christopher D. Thomas has founded his practice on the principles of assertive, energetic, yet personable representation of clients who face the most difficult of legal challenges. Chris understands the daunting tasks facing those he represents, and approaches these problems with the most proactive and resourceful strategies available. He knows that clients want real results, want them quickly, and in the most cost-effective manner possible. Whether via aggressive courtroom litigation, use of alternative dispute resolution, or just practical down to earth advice, success is founded by moving boldly forward to resolution in the...