Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) proceedings, including mediation and arbitration, often present opportunities for our clients to resolve disputes without the attendant burdens and expense of litigation in state or federal court.
Our attorneys have experience in all aspects of dispute resolution, and have represented our clients in local, national, and international ADR proceedings in disputes touching many sectors and practice areas, including real estate, tax, bankruptcy, trusts and estates, medical and professional malpractice, torts, labor and employment, insurance defense, commercial transactions, intellectual property, environmental law, and corporate transactions. Our attorneys also have experience serving as mediators and arbitrators under leading ADR and arbitration institutions. Our attorneys work together with our clients to determine whether participating in an ADR proceeding would be the best — and most cost-effective — option in view of our clients’ interests and goals.
What We Do
- Dispute Prevention Negotiations
- Mediation
- Arbitration
- Mini-Trials
- Settlement Conferences
We assist our clients in a wide range of disputes, including but not limited to those involving:
Real Estate
Our attorneys have represented clients in virtually every type of dispute involving real estate. We represent owners, purchasers, sellers, lessees, landlords, tenants, developers, property managers, U.S. and international investors, real estate investment trusts, family trusts, local charitable trusts and foundations, non-profit institutions, entrepreneurs, limited liability companies, corporations and partnerships, and borrowers and lenders in arbitration tribunals, mediation, and negotiations. Our representations include those involving land use, contract, quiet title, lease rent, sale and purchase, insurance, and neighbor disputes. We have been engaged in mediations and arbitrations involving single-family residences, multi-family units and projects, and commercial, industrial, and resort/hotel properties.
Intellectual Property
The attorneys in our Intellectual Property group include the most experienced patent, trademark, and copyright litigation attorneys in Hawai‘i, and have represented clients as plaintiffs or defendants in infringement disputes, arbitrations, domain name arbitrations, and mediations.
Construction Law
Our attorneys have significant experience in assisting our clients with construction-related issues, including mediating and arbitrating payment issues, mechanic’s liens, Miller Act bonds, payment and performance bond disputes, product liability and construction defect disputes, and bid procurement and award disputes.
Tax Law
Our attorneys assist our clients through all phases of tax dispute resolution, including arbitration and settlement.
Employment Law and Labor Relations
Our attorneys assist our clients in arbitration, mediation, and other ADR proceedings involving employment law and labor relations disputes, including but not limited to those involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, employee benefits and executive compensation, workplace safety, workers’ compensation, and union relations.
Trust and Probate
Our attorneys frequently represent clients in negotiation, mediation, and other ADR proceedings involving contested trust, estate, conservatorship, and guardianship matters.
Chair(s)
Kelly G. LaPorte
Partner
Attorneys
Trisha H.S.T. Akagi
Partner
Calvert G. Chipchase
Partner
Dennis W. Chong Kee
Partner
Jarrett A. Dempsey
Associate
John P. Duchemin
Partner
Christopher T. Goodin
Partner
C. Michael Heihre
Partner
Amanda M. Jones
Partner
Darene K. Matsuoka
Associate
Lindsay N. McAneeley
Of Counsel
Patricia J. McHenry
Senior Counsel
Colin O. Miwa
Senior Counsel
Allison Mizuo Lee
Partner
Michi Momose
Partner
Bryce M. Nakamura
Associate
Kirk M. Neste
Partner
Trisha L. Nishimoto
Partner
Peter W. Olson
Senior Counsel
Jeffrey M. Osterkamp
Partner
Jeffrey S. Portnoy
Partner
Paul M. Saito
Partner
David Schulmeister
Senior Counsel
Kristin S. Shigemura
Partner
W. Keoni Shultz
Partner
Michael R. Soon Fah
Associate
Lisa K. Swartzfager
Partner
Mauna Kea Trask
Partner
Roy A. Vitousek III
Partner
Keith Y. Yamada
Partner
Nicole K. C. Yamane
Associate
Milton M. Yasunaga
Senior Counsel
Theodore D.C. Young
Partner
Troy Young
Associate