James A. "Jim" Kawachika

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...

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.

Steven Ho is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Corporate Law. Steven, 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 Steven is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bruce D. Voss is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Individuals. Bruce D., who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bruce D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Colombe has practiced exclusively in the area of commercial and real estate litigation, representing both plaintiffs and defendants since 1984 and practices in both state and federal courts.

Mr. Schmitt served as a surface line officer after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in Ocean Engineering. After five years of service as a gunnery/missile officer, ASW officer and Admiral's Aide, he went to law school. Following graduation in 1984, Mr. Schmitt has practiced law with a base in Honolulu concentrating on commercial and construction litigation, admiralty and marine matters. In addition, he simultaneous served over 20 years as a Naval Reseve JAG officer retirin...

A. Bernard “Bernie” Bays is a Director of the firm. Mr. Bays has over 50 years of experience successfully representing clients in over 150 landmark Hawaii litigation cases. Mr. Bays focuses his practice in the areas of complex commercial litigation, business litigation, real estate litigation, trusts and estates litigation, legal malpractice law-defendant litigation, real estate law and land use and zoning law. Mr. Bays is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the National Board o...

Ken is a Fellow in the American College of Construction Lawyers, and has served on the Governing Committee of the American Bar Association’s Forum on the Construction Industry. He has degrees in chemistry from Cornell and meteorology from Penn State. In 1996, Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences named him a Centennial Fellow. He was a meteorologist for 4 years, serving as General Staff Weather Briefing Officer in Saigon, Vietnam (7th Air Force), and Chief Forecaster ...

Charles E. Pear, Jr. is of counsel in the real estate practice group and represents numerous clients on dozens of condominium, timesharing and fractional projects, including some of the earliest and some of the largest plans in the nation. He represents developers and lenders, real estate brokerage firms, property managers, homeowners associations, exchange companies, and others. He has also served as a consultant to the State of Hawaii. Mr. Pear is listed in Best Lawyers in America and in Ch...

Gerald A. Sumida is a partner in Carlsmith Ball LLP's Honolulu office and Chair of the firm's Corporate & Business Practice Group. He concentrates on business structuring and operations, including corporate, limited liability company, joint venture and partnership matters; business acquisitions; sales and mergers; securities law; start-up company and venture capital financing; administrative and public utilities law; energy law, including energy project development and project finance; an...