Derek R. Kobayashi

Na Lan is a Director at Damon Key and brings to the firm a unique combination of capabilities and experience in the areas of condominium and community association law, immigration, business and real property transactions, and dispute resolution for Mandarin-speaking investors and business owners. Born and raised in China, she is fluent in both Mandarin Chinese and English. Ms. Lan once again was selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for he...

Joseph A. Ernst is a Director of the firm and a member of the employment law department. His practice involves counseling and defending employers in all aspects of employment law, including defense of wrongful discharge, discrimination, harassment, whistleblower, and retaliation claims. He also assists clients with employer compliance with state and federal employment and labor laws. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment, Employment Litigation, Employment Compliance, Labor Relations

Katherine Garson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Katherine, who practices law in Hilo, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katherine is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael C. Carroll is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Real Estate and Real Estate Law. Michael C., who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joseph A. Stewart is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Government Contracts and Land Use and Zoning Law. Joseph A., who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joseph A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Greg Kugle concentrates his practice in the area of litigation. He works in the areas of commercial disputes and business litigation, construction, land use and real estate, antitrust, product liability and personal injury, aviation, bankruptcy, admiralty and insurance coverage. He has litigated cases before the Hawaii District and Circuit Courts, the Hawaii Bankruptcy Court and United States District Court, and has handled appeals before the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, the Hawaii S...

Michelle K. Correia is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Real Estate. Michelle K., 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 Michelle K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ms. Ohira is a Director of the firm and concentrates her practice in the areas of real estate and land use law, hotels and resorts, business structure and operations, and commercial transactions. She brings more than 15 years of experience to her work on a variety of real estate acquisitions and sales, commercial leasing and commercial residential developments, including representing condominium associations and the creation of in condominium and community developments. Ms. Ohira’s comm...

Jon Yamamura is a Partner in the firm's Honolulu office and is the Chair of the Transactional Practice Group. He concentrates his practice on real estate, mergers and acquisitions, buying and selling businesses and business interests, and business planning and reorganization. Mr. Yamamura also works on a wide range of complex corporate and finance projects and cases. In addition, having served over two years as a foreign attorney on staff at the Anderson Mori law firm in Tokyo, Japan, he has ...

Mark Murakami practices in the firm's Dispute Resolution, Real Estate, Construction, and Business & Commercial Law practice groups. His focus is on complex commercial disputes, land use negotiation and litigation, environmental, and general civil litigation. He has appeared in all federal and states courts in Hawaii, most of the administration boards and commissions, and is licensed in the U.S. Supreme Court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Court of Federal Claims. He is rated by Marti...