Maile S. Miller, Honolulu Lawyer

Maile S. Miller

Director

What People Say About Maile S. Miller

"Maile Miller and Kukui Claydon of Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher provided outstanding support as local counsel for a high-stakes and high profile litigation. Their work was of the highest caliber in all ways, legally, strategically and practically. They were cost-conscious and efficient. I give them my highest recommendations."
Best Law Firms Client Comment

"I have worked with this firm on a number of occasions over the past Six years. They are top notch! ."
Best Law Firms Client Comment

"We worked with the team at Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher in a complex litigation and found them to be thorough and creative, driving towards the goal with focus. There was little or no wasted effort on side issues, and there were many, many side issues which could have derailed the efforts and wasted time and energy. The team was thoroughly professional, always well-prepared, civil and able to maintain cordial relations with a determined adversary. The conclusion of the litigation was entirely satisfactory to us."
Best Law Firms Client Comment

"The commercial litigation case we entrusted with Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher is somewhat complicated and involves an understanding of a foreign culture as the party to be represented by this firm is a foreign individual, not having had any exposure to the U.S system. Nevertheless, the lead lawyer has been very patient, putting forth many good ideas with reason."
Best Law Firms Client Comment

"Andrew Lautenbach and Maile Miller of Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher made an amazing team. They were incredibly personable and let us know at every turn that we were important, and they were determined to fight for us. My business partner and I watched them regularly go the extra mile. Our lawsuit was complex, but they learned our business and did a great job of grasping the complexities. They were always clear on what our options were, the relative potential of each path we could take, and they never minced words on the likely results of the different actions. When money was an issue, we asked them to weigh the costs of different options, and they gave us their take on our best bets. They went after all the right documentation, asked all the right questions, and made a strong enough case for the other side to settle, and they succeeded. I would highly recommend Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher to anyone."
Best Law Firms Client Comment

"Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher is an outstanding firm, devoted to their clients interests even above their own interests. The level of analysis and expertise is impressive. They are always looking to find a way to move the clients interest forward."
Best Law Firms Client Comment

Maile Miller is a Director of the firm.  Ms. Miller is a vital member of the firm’s litigation team, representing clients in a variety of matters.  Ms. Miller’s practice focuses on construction, business, and land use litigation, frequently appearing before Hawaii’s State and Federal Courts, in addition to administrative agencies such as the City and County of Honolulu’s Zoning Board of Appeals. 

Ms. Miller represents a wide variety of corporate and public entity clients, ranging from Hawaii companies, to Fortune 500 firms, to international manufacturing corporations. 

Ms. Miller has been selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star” List in the practice area of Business Litigation since 2018.

Ms. Miller has been named to The Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch list in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Litigation, Land Use and Zoning Law and Environmental Litigation.

Ms. Miller has been named to the 2023 Benchmark Litigation list as a "Future Star".

Ms. Miller holds Martindale-Hubbell's® highest possible professional rating AV Preeminent®.  This rating is given by her legal peers based on their knowledge of her work, reputation and integrity.

Ms. Miller is also active in the Hawaii Federal Bar’s pro bono program, assisting clients with their cases as they proceed through the federal court system.  Ms. Miller has been selected as a lawyer representative to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, and will serve in that position through 2023.

Examples of notable matters Ms. Miller has worked on include:

Complex Construction Defects Litigation.Represented a national grocery store chain in a complex construction dispute over defects in a flagship store.  The case involved multiple parties and claims, and was litigated for several years before ultimately settling shortly before trial.

Insurance Litigation. Represented a Hawaii hardware company in an insurance bad faith dispute against its insurance carrier.  The case settled prior to trial.

Product Liability Litigation. Represented an international airplane manufacturing company over a products liability dispute relating to a helicopter crash.  The case settled shortly before trial.

Contract Litigation. Represented the estate of a deceased individual in a breach of contract action by a former service provider who sought over a million dollars in compensation.  A unanimous jury verdict in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii was entered in favor of the estate on all issues, and attorneys’ fees and costs were awarded.

Real Estate Disclosure Litigation. Represented a national developer regarding a contract dispute brought by an individual purchaser of units.  The claims were successfully defeated on summary judgment before the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. 

Land Use Zoning Litigation. Representing a national developer regarding entitlement and environmental claims.  Multiple cases are proceeding before the Zoning Board of Appeals, Circuit Court of the First Circuit in the State of Hawaii, and the Hawaii Supreme Court.

Eminent Domain Litigation. Representing a government agency in connection with the condemnation of dozens of property interests for major infrastructure improvements.

Construction Litigation. Representing a Fortune 500 international engineering, construction, and design firm in a construction dispute with a subcontractor relating to work done for a Federal Government project in Hawaii.

Prior to joining the firm in 2014, Ms. Miller served as Research Assistant to both Professor David Callies and Dean Aviam Soifer while she attended the William S. Richardson School of Law.