Litigation

Best Lawyers in America®,"Best Law Firms", Tier 1 Litigators

Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher has been recognized each year by 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-Hubbells® 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’sTop 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.

SENIOR LITIGATION COUNSEL

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.

ASSOCIATES

Jordan E. Marzan focuses her practice in the area of commercial and construction litigation.  She is admitted to the Hawaii Bar and earned her Juris Doctor from University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law graduating cum laude. 

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.

Darwin Peng focuses his practice in the area of commercial litigation. He is admitted to the Hawaii Bar and the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. Mr. Peng earned his Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School, where he was a Notes Editor for the Stanford Law & Policy Review.

Eric S. Robinson has been selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers®, "Rising Star" list.  Mr. 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.

Cori J. Terayama  has been selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers® “Rising Star” list and concentrates her practice in the areas of real estate law, commercial transactions and corporate law.  Ms. Terayama is admitted to practice in Hawaii and the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. Ms. Terayama earned her Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School where she was a member of the Federal Circuit Bar Journal. 

What People Say:

 "We get the best service from Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher."
-Best Law Firms Client Comment

"I was once told by a lawyer who is also a friend to hire the best lawyer I could find if I ever was in a position to suffer serious consequences resulting from litigation. Terry O'Toole of Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher represented me in litigation that could have destroyed my business in the middle of the pandemic, and he successfully won on all of the significant claims."
-Best Law Firms Client Comment

"Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher is a great firm, professional and knowledge, client interest focused, and would recommend to anyone having a complicated case in Hawaii."
-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

"Over the last ten plus years, I have worked with numerous partners and lawyers at Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher in multiple legal situations, across both personnel and company related commercial litigation. While some of the cases took years, we successfully prevailed in all of them because of the depth of expertise and dedicated professionalism of the Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher team. I have worked with other firms in Hawaii, and there is no one better than Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher."
-Best Law Firms Client Comment

"Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher are smart, experienced and professional lawyers. Couldn't ask for better representation."
-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