Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher presented a check for $100,000 to University of Hawaii at Manoa, William S. Richardson School of Law on Thursday, November 20, 2008, 10:30 a.m., at Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher, Pacific Guardian Makai Tower, 733 Bishop Street, 19th Floor.
Founder and namesake of the William S. Richardson School of Law, former Hawaii State Supreme Court Chief Justice, William S. Richardson, will be present to accept the gift on behalf of the law school. Chief Justice Richardson was recently honored with the American Judicature Society’s Herbert Harley Award, the premier state award reserved for individuals whose outstanding efforts and contributions substantially improve the administration of justice in their state.
Peter Starn, Chairman of Starn, O’Toole Marcus & Fisher, said, “Our law firm and the law school share a history of mutual support and friendship, and we are proud to support the University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law with this $100,000 gift.”
The gift will establish the Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher Fund for Excellence that will provide scholarships for law students and sponsorship of the moot court program in which the law school has won national honors. Additionally, the gift will fund a continuing lecture series in real estate law, and other programs that support legal education.
University of Hawaii at Manoa, William S. Richardson School of Law Dean, Aviam Soiver said, “This gift is particularly appreciated in these tough financial times.” The gift is part of the University of Hawaii’s Centennial Campaign program.
Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher specializes in large real estate and hotel industry transactions as well as complex commercial litigation. Founded in 1994, the law firm has twenty-four attorneys, ten of whom are graduates of William S. Richardson School of Law. The law firm was selected as one of Hawaii Business Magazine’s “Best Places to Work” in 2008.
Duane Fisher, one of the directors of Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher, indicated this gift is one aspect of the law firm’s community outreach, which includes providing pro bono and reduced cost legal services to community organizations. Several law firm attorneys also have served as adjunct professors at the law school.