Trial Specialists

PATH TO VICTORY

Historically, victory in the legal environment means triumph: economic satisfaction, a win-win agreement, or sometimes, just being proclaimed right.

Lately, what motivates a claim and the urgency to win has appeared to shift. Fewer opportunities in business have led parties to scrutinize deals gone wrong more closely, and legal action is often sought to recover time and effort invested. Similarly, income loss or medical bills may strongly motivate someone to pursue legal claims when injured by another’s negligence.

The importance of the path to victory has moved to the forefront -strategies, players, and desired outcomes - make the selection of the legal trial team critical for success. The job is to design a road map that considers each twist and turn that may be presented. The experience and intellectual brainpower of the attorneys often accounts for the outcome of litigation by crafting each move on the battlefield along the way.

What it means to win and emerge victorious is different for each person and client. Honored by The Best Lawyers in America®, as Benchmark Litigation's Litigation Law Firm of the Year-Hawaii, Benchmark Appellate, Benchmark Plaintiff, Hawaii Super Lawyers® and Chambers USA Directory of Leading Lawyers, Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher’s litigation team attorneys take the fight for every client as if it were their own battle. To be personally responsible and involved is a hallmark of the law firm which is built on the power of its people.

  • Director, AV® Rated
  • 100+ Trials/Arbitrations
  • Licensed in Hawaii, California (Inactive)
  • Board Certified, Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy
  • Practicing 50+ Years
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Land Use & Zoning Law, Real Estate Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law-Defendants, Trusts & Estates Litigation
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2015 Lawyer of the Year, Legal Malpractice Law-Defendants
  • Super Lawyers®, Top 25, 2010-2021, Hawaii Super Lawyers, Business Litigation
 

 

  • Director, AV® Rated
  • Licensed Hawaii, Arizona (Inactive), California(Inactive), District of Columbia(Inactive)
  • Practicing 30 Years
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2017 Lawyer of the Year, Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2019 Lawyer of the Year, Closely Held Companies and Business Law
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2020 & 2023 Lawyer of the Year, Securities Litigation
  •  The Best Lawyers in America®, 2022 & 2024 Lawyer of the Year, Legal Malpractice Law-Defendants
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Appellate Practice, Arbitration, Business Organizations(including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Commercial Transactions/UCC Law, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Ethics and Professional Liability Law, Trusts & Estates Litigation, Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law, Product Liability Litigation-Plaintiffs, Real Estate Law, Real Estate Litigation, Securities Litigation
  • Super Lawyers®Top 25, Hawaii Super Lawyers, Business Litigation (2015, 2018-2021)
  • Chambers USA Leading Lawyers For Business, General Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Law
  • Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide-Private Wealth Law
  • Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Star
  • Hawaii State Bar Association, Litigation Section, Chair, Christian Legal Society of Hawaii, Director
  • Law Clerk to the Honorable Herbert Y.C. Choy, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Senior Editor, Yale Law Journal

 

 

  • Director, AV® Rated
  • Licensed Hawaii
  • Practicing 25+ Years
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Government Relations Practice, Administrative/Regulatory Law, Civil Rights Law
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2023 Lawyer of the Year, Civil Rights Law
  • Chambers USA Leading Lawyers For Business, General Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Law
  • Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Star
  • Hawaii Lieutenant Governor
  • Hawaii Attorney General
    National Association of Attorneys General, Exec. Committee
    Conference of Western Attorneys General, Chair
    Democratic Attorneys General, Policy Chair
    "Champion for Social Justice" Award, Hawaii State Bar Association
    "Defender of Liberty", Council on American Islamic Relations
  •  "Top Gun" Award, Honolulu Prosecutor's Office, First Deputy Prosecutor
 

 

 

 

  • Director
  • Licensed Hawaii
  • Practicing 8 Years
  • Hawaii Federal Bar Association, President (2023)
  • Federal Bar Association Foundation, Fellow
  • Lawyer representative to the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch®, Real Estate Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation
  • Hawaii Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star” List,Business Litigation
  • Hawaii State Bar Association
 

 

 

 

  • Director, AV® Rated
  • Licensed Hawaii, California(Inactive)
  • Practicing 15 Years
  • Lawyer Representative, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judicial Conference, 2017-2019
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Real Estate Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation
  • Super Lawyers®, Hawaii Super Lawyers, Business Litigation
  • Chambers USA Leading Lawyers For Business, General Commercial Litigation
  • Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Star
 
  • Director, AV® Rated
  • Licensed Hawaii, Texas (inactive), Colorado (inactive), Florida (inactive), U.S. Court of Appeal for the Eleventh Circuit
  • Lawyer Representative to United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judicial Conference
  • Officer, Federal Bar Association, Hawaii Chapter
  • Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
  • Practicing 30+ Years
  • Benchmark Litigation's Top 250 Women in Litigation in the United States (2012-2014)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2014 & 2022 Lawyer of the Year, Banking & Finance Litigation
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2015, 2019 & 2024 Lawyer of the Year, Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2020 Lawyer of the Year, Appellate Practice
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Appellate Practice, Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, Banking & Finance Litigation, Construction Litigation, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Environmental, Real Estate Litigation, Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law, Qui Tam Law, Land Use & Zoning Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions-Defendants, Legal Malpractice Law-Defendants, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions-Plaintiffs
  • Super Lawyers®, Top 25, Hawaii Super Lawyers, Business Litigation (2023)
  • Chambers USA Leading Lawyers For Business, General Commercial Litigation
  • Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Star • Benchmark Appellate, Appellate Star
 
    • Director, AV®Rated
    • Licensed in Hawaii
    • Practicing 9+ Years
    • Lawyer Representative, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States District Court for the District of Hawaii
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch®, Real Estate Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Environmental Litigation, Land Use & Zoning Law
  • Hawaii Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star” List,  Business Litigation
  • Benchmark Litigation, Future Star
  • National Asian Pacific Bar Association

 

  • Director, AV® Rated
  • Law Clerk to the Honorable Martin Pence, Chief Judge, United States District Court, District of Hawaii 1971-72
  • 25+ Jury Trials
  • Licensed Hawaii, California(Inactive), District of Columbia(Inactive)
  • Practicing 50+ Years
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2012, 2015 & 2024 Lawyer of the Year, Banking & Finance Litigation
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2011, 2019 & 2023 Lawyer of the Year, Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2014, 2018, 2022 & 2024 Lawyer of the Year, Appellate Practice
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Appellate Practice, Banking & Finance Litigation, Bet-The Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation, Eminent Domain & Condemnation Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Litigation, Real Estate Litigation, Arbitration, Mass Torts/Class Action-Plaintiffs, Land Use & Zoning Litigation
  • Super Lawyers®, Top 25 Hawaii Super Lawyers, Business Litigation (2011, 2020)
  • Chambers USA Leading Lawyers For Business, Star, General Commercial Litigation, 12 Consecutive Years Since 2012
  • Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Star • Benchmark Appellate, Appellate Star • Benchmark Plaintiff, Litigation Star
 
  • Of Counsel, AV® Rated
  • 120+ Criminal Trials
    100+ Civil Litigation Jury Trials/Arbitration
  • Licensed
    Hawaii, Indiana(inactive),
    U.S. Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit
  • Practicing 45+Years
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
    American Inns of Court
    American Association of Justice(American Trial Lawyers)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2013, 2018 & 2023 Lawyer of the Year, Banking & Finance Litigation
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2014 & 2019 Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2020 & 2023 Lawyer of the Year, Medical Malpractice Law
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Appellate Practice, Arbitration, Banking & Finance Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation, Product Liability Litigation, Medical Malpractice Law
  • Super Lawyers®, Top 25, Hawaii Super Lawyers, Business Litigation
  • Chambers USA Leading Lawyers For Business, General Commercial Litigation
  • Benchmark Plaintiff, Litigation Star

 

  • Counsel, AV® Rated
  • Licensed Hawaii
  • Practicing 45+ Years
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Law, Real Estate Litigation

 

STEPHANIE E.W. THOMPSON, ESQ.

  • Director, AV® Rated 
  • Hawaii Circuit Court of the First Circuit Law Clerk to the Honorable Victoria S. Marks
  • Licensed Hawaii
  • Practicing 15+ Years
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Litigation
  • Super Lawyers®, Hawaii Super Lawyers, Business Litigation
  • Chambers USA Leading Lawyers For Business, General Commercial Litigation
  • Benchmark Litigation, Future Star
  • Hawaii State Bar Association, Litigation Section Board Member