Kenneth B. Marcus

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2003

Awarded Practice Areas

Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) Commercial Finance Law Land Use and Zoning Law Leisure and Hospitality Law Mergers and Acquisitions Law Real Estate Law

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Works at

Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher, A Law Corporation

18 Best Lawyers awards

Biography

Kenneth B. Marcus is a founding partner and Director Emeritus of Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher. Before his retirement from the practice of law, Mr. Marcus practiced for more than 45 years in the areas of commercial real estate, development, finance, leasing, acquisitions and sales.

Mr. Marcus also had extensive experience in Hawaii business law, including the formation of partnerships and limited liability companies and corporate finance. His real estate work included the development, acquisition, sale, financing and restructuring of hotels, office buildings and shopping centers, with particular expertise in the hotel industry. He also participated in the reorganization of, and recovery of assets for, insolvent insurance companies.

Mr. Marcus received numerous professional recognitions during his career, including Martindale-Hubbell’s® AV® rating, recognition by Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America®, and Hawaii Super Lawyers®. He was named Honolulu “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers for Business Organizations in 2016 and Mergers and Acquisitions Law in 2017 and 2025.

Locations

Honolulu, Hawaii

808-537-6100

733 Bishop Street, Suite 1900
Honolulu, HI 96813

Education

New York University, JD, graduated 1975
New York University, graduated 1975
University of Pennsylvania, BS Economics, graduated 1972

Bar Admissions

Hawaii, Hawaii State Bar Association
New York, New York State Bar Association

Affiliations

Friends of Hawaii Robotics - Vice President, Secretary, Director
Hawaii State Bar Association - Past Chair, RPFSS Section
International Society of Hospitality Consultants - Member
Temple Emanu-el - Past President, Board Member
The Actors Group - Director, Secretary

Client Testimonials

Ken Marcus is a true professional and represents his clients with a caring attitude. He doesn't gloss over the facts, and while difficult to hear sometimes, he tells it like it is. He is incredibly responsive and delivers on promised timetables. Ken works well with others in and outside his firm, but is no pushover when advocating for his client. He immerses himself into the background of the case to ensure no one can pull the wool over his eyes. He is efficient and effective and I would recommend him to my friends and business associates.

Awards & Focus

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers^® for:

Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Honolulu (2025)
Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Honolulu (2017)
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Honolulu (2016)

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^® 2026 for work in:

Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Commercial Finance Law
Land Use and Zoning Law
Leisure and Hospitality Law
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law

Additional Areas of Practice:

Project Finance Law

Special Focus:

Commercial
Finance
Hospitality
Joint Ventures
Real Property Law
Resorts
Shopping Center Transactions
Tax Certiorari
Transactions

Awards:

Chambers and Partners USA Directory, Real Estate Law
Hawaii Super Lawyers, Top 25, Real Estate Law

News & Media

Case History

Cases

Renegotiation of Ground Leases underlying Large Resort Hotels

Renegotiation, including modernization, of ground leases underlying large resort hotels

Transactions

Acquisition of Package of 28 Full Service Hotels

Acquired 28 full service hotels, various brands, negotiated purchase & sale, purchase money financing, bridge financing, permanent financing, hotel management agreement, title and survey issues and ground lease amendments

Resort (hotel and golf) acquisition, planning and sales

Represented developers acquiring multi-parcel resorts, development of same and disposition of various improved and unimproved portions of such resorts

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