Litigation

US News & World Report-Best Lawyers in America®,"Best Law Firms", Tier 1 Litigators

Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher has been recognized each year by US News & World Report-Best Lawyers in America© “Best Law Firms,” since the award’s inception in 2010. The respected national publication ranks the firm’s litigation attorneys among the best in Hawaii in numerous practice areas.

Benchmark Litigation recognizes the firm as the 2020 - 2022 Litigation Law Firm of the Year-Hawaii and a "Highly Recommended" law firm. Additionally, our litigation attorneys are recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers® list, Benchmark Litigation, Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, The Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers™, and Martindale-Hubbell®.

Areas of Expertise

Appellate Practice
Arbitration and Mediation
Banking and Finance Litigation
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Business and Partnership Disputes
Complex Commercial Litigation
Construction Litigation
Consumer Class Actions
Eminent Domain
Environmental Litigation
Foreclosure

Intellectual Property
Landlord-Tenant Disputes
Lender Liability Disputes
Medical Malpractice Law
Mold Litigation
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Personal Injury Litigation
Product Liability Litigation
Real Estate Litigation
Trust and Estates Litigation

OUR PRACTICE STYLE

Our Honolulu litigation law firm possesses some of the most experienced and recognized trial attorneys and real estate attorneys in Hawaii.

Our litigation lawyers have a simple practice style: Work hard and fight hard for our clients—with passion, skill, and diligence.

Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher Litigation Attorneys

DIRECTORS

A. Bernard Bays has been named a “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu by The Best Lawyers in America© and selected to the “Top 25," Hawaii Super Lawyers® list. Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) and the Supreme Court of Hawaii. Mr. Bays is one of only two Hawaii lawyers who are certified by the NBTA.

Trevor A. Brown has been selected to the “Top 25”, Hawaii Super Lawyers® list, Business Litigation, recognized by Best Lawyers in America® in twelve separate categories, named a “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu by The Best Lawyers in America©, in Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers in Business and Chambers High Net Worth Guide, named a "Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation, and has served as Chair of the Litigation Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association.

Doug Chin has been named to The Best Lawyers in America© list, named a "Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation and is rated AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell's® highest rating possible, for his skill and integrity. Mr. Chin served as Hawaii Attorney General, appointed by Governor David Ige.

Kukui Claydon has been selected to The Best Lawyers in America©, Ones to Watch list, and selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers®, "Rising Star" list each year since 2018. Ms. Claydon focuses her practice in the area of complex commercial litigation. Ms. Claydon is admitted to the Hawaii Bar, and earned her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, graduating with honors.

Andrew J. Lautenbach has been named to The Best Lawyers in America© list in the practice areas of Real Estate, Construction and Commercial Litigation, selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers® list, in Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business and named a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation. Mr. Lautenbach is rated AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell’s® highest possible rating for his skill and integrity, and serves as a Director on the Board of the Hawaii Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Sharon V. Lovejoy has been selected for inclusion by Benchmark Litigation’s “Top 250 Women in Litigation in the United States”(2011-14) and Pacific Business News’ 2018 “Women Who Mean Business”. Ms. Lovejoy has been named “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu by The Best Lawyers in America©, multiple times, selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers® list in Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, named a "Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation, is a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and is a Fellow of the Federal Bar Foundation.

Maile S. Miller has been selected to The Best Lawyers in America©, Ones to Watch list, selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star” list each year since 2018, named a “Future Star” by Benchmark Litigation and is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell®. Ms. Miller represents clients in litigation matters. Ms. Miller is admitted to the Hawaii Bar, and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law.

Judith Ann Pavey has been named a “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu by The Best Lawyers in America©, in the practice areas of Litigation-Banking & Finance(twice), Product Liability Litigation (twice) and Medical Malpractice Law, selected to the "Top 25" Hawaii Super Lawyers® list, in Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, and a member of the American Board of Trial Lawyers, American Association of Justice and the American Inns of Court. Ms. Pavey is highly recognized for her experience with both commercial and personal injury litigation.

Terence J. O’Toole, has been named a “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu by The Best Lawyers in America© in the practice areas of Litigation-Banking & Finance (twice), Bet-The-Company Litigation (twice) and Appellate Practice (three times). He has been selected to the “Top 25”, Hawaii Super Lawyers® list, and named a “Star” by Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers in Business and Benchmark Litigation.

Paul H. Sato is Counsel to the firm. Mr. Sato has been named to The Best Lawyers in America© list and is rated AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell's® highest rating possible for legal skill and integrity. Mr. Sato is a seasoned Hawaii litigation attorney who has over 45 years of experience and focuses on commercial litigation, real estate law, corporate law and administrative law.

Stephanie E.W. Thompson has been named to The Best Lawyers in America© list, selected to the 2021 Hawaii Super Lawyers® list and named a “Future Star” by Benchmark Litigation. Ms. Thompson is rated AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell's® highest rating possible for skill and integrity, and served as the 2015 Chairperson of the Litigation Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association.

ASSOCIATES

Robert J. Brown has been selected to The Best Lawyers in America©, Ones to Watch list and selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers®, "Rising Star" list since 2019. Mr. Brown focuses his practice in the area of civil litigation. He is admitted to the Hawaii Bar, and is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. Mr. Brown earned his Juris Doctor from William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Brown served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the City & County of Honolulu. He prosecuted more than 20 felony jury trials on charges ranging from drug possession to murder.

John W. Kelly has been selected to The Best Lawyers in America©, Ones to Watch list and selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers®, "Rising Star" list. Mr. Kelly focuses his practice in the area of commercial litigation, with particular concentration in intellectual property rights. Mr. Kelly is admitted to the New York and Hawaii Bar and earned his Juris Doctor from New York Law School.

Kari K. Noborikawa focuses her practice in the area of commercial litigation and is admitted to the D.C. and Hawaii Bar. Ms. Noborikawa earned her Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School graduating with honors. During law school, she was a legal intern at the United States Department of Justice, Admiralty and Aviation Tort Litigation Branch, as well as a judicial intern at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, serving the Chambers of the Honorable Reggie B. Walton.

Eric S. Robinson focuses his practice in the area of commercial litigation. Mr. Robinson is admitted to the Hawaii Bar, and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law. In law school. Mr. Robinson received numerous CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in courses including: Secured Transactions, Real Property II, and Real Estate Development & Finance. Mr. Robinson was also Managing Editor of the University of Hawaii Law Review, Vol. 42. He received the Gregory Conlan Memorial Scholarship and WSRSL Achievement Scholarship.

Practice Areas

Related Attorneys

Distinctions

What People Say About Us

“A top-notch law firm — highly impressive. Strategic thinkers with an uncommon ability to sift through complex issues to get to common-sense solutions.”
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

“The individuals we work with come with high recommendations and take an assertive stance.”
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

“Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher is simply the best law firm that I have worked with.”
-The Best Lawyers in America©, Client Comment

“I have worked with many attorneys and many legal firms and this is one of the best. They were not my regular attorneys but referred to me due to a conflict of interest. Absolutely impressed and satisfied with the firm, the employees, the attorneys and the quality of services and knowledge.”
-The Best Lawyers in America©, Client Comment

Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher has built an impressive reputation as a go-to litigation firm for regional and global corporations with diverse interests within the state, the mainland and abroad. ‘They are super talented, super smart and have a team approach that complements each others’ skills. They give very sound advice.’
-Benchmark Litigation, Comment

"We selected the firm based on their excellent reputation as a boutique litigation firm. I would stack this firm up against any of the other firms we use for litigation and it would be right up there.”
-Benchmark Appellate, Comment

“I went to a trusted advisor and asked who I should hire to represent us in a very important litigation. This gentleman recommended Starn O’Toole. We have hired them to represent us in two subsequent litigations. The partners at this firm are extremely smart, talented, aggressive, and hard working. This firm is far superior and more capable than other similar firms."
-Benchmark Appellate, Comment

"Outstanding work. They are well prepared, flexible and client-centric."
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

"They're thorough and detailed, and have a very quick response time."
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

“They're excellent, the best I have ever worked with on litigation. They are attorneys but have a business-minded, common-sense approach."
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

“This firm interacted with our team really well and gained our trust. Their writing and legal analysis was of very high quality," says one source.
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

Interviewees note: "They don't wait around, and they go into excellent detail. In addition to their great work, the personality of the people there is great and they're easy to work with."
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

“The ‘brilliant, strategic and analytical’ Terence O'Toole is consistently singled out as a top practitioner in the field of commercial litigation, with one source noting: ‘When I watched him in court I was extremely impressed. His organization and ability are both really good.’“
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

“They have been an excellent representative for us. They are thoughtful in their analysis of the situation, have explored a variety of available options, offered sound advice and followed through with persistence."
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

Sharon Lovejoy’s “name is met with praise from clients, peers, and competitors alike as an excellent litigator. She ‘is thorough, extremely smart, tactical, and strategic’ and is described as the obvious choice for her “very sound litigation advice.’”
-Benchmark Litigation, Comment; Best Lawyers Client Comment

Trevor Brown “is characterized by peers as having 'an analytical mind that is on a different level.’ Clients echo this praise, calling Brown ‘meticulous’ and ‘extremely quick with his response time.'"
-Benchmark Litigation, Comment

Judy Pavey“ is singled out for her depth of experience litigating plaintiff’s personal injury cases in addition to medical and professional malpractice. She is called ‘extremely personable’ and effective in communicating to both juries and judges.”
-Benchmark Litigation, Comment

“Peers widely recognize Andrew Lautenbach’s versatility and strength, for which they identify him as ‘a definite rising star.’”
-Benchmark Litigation, Comment

“Terence O'Toole is a standout practitioner in the litigation field who is regularly retained by significant clients in high-stakes and highly sensitive matters."
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Client Comment

Terence O'Toole “a very worthy advocate" and "a fighter who will defend and promote the interests of his client."
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Client Comment

Sharon Lovejoy “Sources consider her "a multifaceted talent," remarking on her strong track record in complex litigation."
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Client Comment

Trevor Brown "Market sources praise him as "very knowledgeable," noting that "he does excellent work. He's talented, smart and hard-working."
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Client Comment

"The "very talented" Judy Pavey has over 40 years' experience, with notable expertise in white-collar criminal matters, in addition to legal and medical malpractice, personal injury, construction and contract litigation."
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Client Comment

Andrew Lautenbach "is a rising star within the firm. He has extensive trial experience, and has handled a wide variety of contractual disputes, lender liability claims, antitrust cases and real estate litigation."
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Client Comment

Andrew Lautenbach "A market source says: "He has certainly proved himself time and time again as someone who is very strategic in his thinking and very well prepared."
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Client Comment

“I have had the pleasure of working with and against them in the past, and they are a first-rate group of lawyers.”
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

“The team's strengths were its willingness to do whatever it took to get the work done on a timely basis, and an exceptional ability to work with co-counsel.”
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

Interviewees commend the firm for being "very responsive," noting: "It's hard to see how they could do a better job." "The team is excellent," confirms a source.
-Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment