Bert S. Sakuda

John Khil is the Chair of the firm's Tax practice group, and concentrates in tax law with an emphasis on pensions, profit sharing and employee benefits. He is a former attorney-advisor in the Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations Division, Office of Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for providing legal opinions, drafting Treasury regulations, and assisting in the formulation of tax legislation relating to pension and welfare plans. Mr. Khi...

Trevor A. Brown represents clients in both litigation and transactions. His real estate experience ranges from resort acquisition and development to acting as trial counsel to establish beach access rights based on Kingdom of Hawaii land use. Mr. Brown's corporate experience ranges from negotiating corporate restructurings to acting as trial counsel to force the break-up of related land development corporations. Mr. Brown counsels trustees and beneficiaries in trust matters and also represent...

Jeffrey S. Harris represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. He has over 36 years of experience. Mr. Harris has successfully resolved many cases involving each above area, by discussion, settlement, administrative decision, motion practice, jury verdict or opinion on appeal. He has helped effectively negotiate several collective bargaining agreements, serving as spokesperson, member or advisor to the team. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment, Employment Litigation, Empl...

William Harstad is a Partner in the firm's Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution practice group. He has experience in numerous arbitrations and litigations, with amounts in dispute ranging from the tens of thousands of dollars to hundreds of millions of dollars. Mr. Harstad has also represented both secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy proceedings on both the East Coast and in Hawai`i, including in various adversary proceedings.Mr. Harstad's litigation experience is broad and...

Michael J. Nakano is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Michael J., who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Following graduation from law school, Michael served as a law clerk to the Honorable Jon J. Chinen, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Hawaii. Since joining the firm in 1980, he has continued to use his expertise in bankruptcy law, the main emphasis of his practice. Michael also practices in the areas of bankruptcy & creditor’s rights, business & commercial, dispute resolution, and real estate & land use. In 1992, he and DKLKH colleague, Kenneth Kupchak, co-a...

Jade Lynne Ching is an attorney with Nakashima Ching LLC in Honolulu, Hawaii, focusing her practice on Litigation – Real Estate. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers for her work in this practice area. Practicing law in Honolulu, Jade Lynne Ching has received Best Lawyers recognition since 2016. This acknowledgment is based on a peer-review process that reflects feedback from other attorneys within the same geographic region and practice area. Her work involves representing clients i...

Jan Sam is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law. Jan, who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephanie E. W. Thompson is a Director of the firm. Ms. Thompson concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial, real estate civil litigation and electronic discovery information management law. Ms. Thompson has assisted in the representation of various clients from multi-million-dollar corporations to small businesses and individual interests in legal matters ranging from wrongful termination and unfair competition, to negligence, commercial litigation, general business and trust dispu...

John L. Knorek, a Director at the firm, provides counsel and representation to large and small employers in all aspects of employment and wrongful discharge law. His practice also includes collective bargaining negotiations, affirmative action compliance, mediation and arbitration. He provides training to businesses on employment discrimination and preventative personnel practices, including family leave, disability law and sexual harassment. Mr. Knorek is a founding co-editor of the Hawaii C...