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Lawyer Profile

Image of Robert H. Thomas

Robert H. Thomas

Pacific Legal Foundation
  • Recognized Since:
    2007
  • Recognized in:
    Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
    Land Use and Zoning Law...
  • Lawyer Page:
    https://pacificlegal.org/staff...
  • Website:
    https://www.pacificlegal.org
  • Firm's Phone Number:
    808-531-8031
  • Phone Number:
    808-531-8031
  • E-mail:
    rthomas@pacificlegal.org
  • Location:
    555 Capitol Mall, Suite 1290
    Sacramento, CA 95814
  • Facebook
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  • Twitter

Robert H. Thomas is a land use and appellate lawyer, and focuses on regulatory takings, eminent domain, water rights, and voting rights cases.  He has tried cases and appeals in Hawaii, California, and the federal courts. For a list of reported cases in which he’s been involved, go here.

Robert received his LLM, with honors, from Columbia Law School where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and his JD from the University of Hawaii School of Law where he served as editor of the Law Review. Robert taught law at the University of Santa Clara School of Law, and was an exam grader and screener for the California Committee of Bar Examiners.

Robert is the inaugural Joseph T. Waldo Visiting Chair in Property Rights Law at the William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia. He teaches upper-division courses in eminent domain and property rights. He also recently completed a year as the Chair of the American Bar Association's Section on State & Local Government Law, and was the long-time Chair of the Section's Eminent Domain Law Committee. 

He is the Hawaii member of Owners’ Counsel of America, a national network of the most experienced eminent domain and property rights lawyers. Membership in OCA is by invitation only, and is limited to a single attorney from each state. He also was the Co-Planning Chair of the American Law Institute-CLE's annual three-day conference on condemnation law, Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation. Robert is the Managing Attorney for the Pacific Legal Foundation Hawaii Center, a non-profit legal foundation dedicated to protecting property rights and individual liberties. He is listed in Best Lawyers in Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, and Land Use & Zoning Law, and in Super Lawyers in Appellate Law, Land Use/Zoning, and Government/Cities/Municipalities.

He is also a frequent speaker on land use and eminent domain issues in Hawaii and nationwide. Robert regularly publishes scholarly and practical articles in his area of practice. For a partial list go to: https://www.inversecondemnation.com/inversecondemnation/publications.html  

His blog on land use, property, and takings law, inversecondemnation.com, is one of the most widely-read blogs on those subjects.

Professional and Community Affiliations

• American Bar Association 

   Past Chair, Section of State and Local Government Law (2017-2018)

   Past Chair, Eminent Domain Law Committee (Section of State & Local Government Law) (2009-2016)

   Council of Appellate Lawyers

   Litigation Section, Committee on Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use (Hawaii editor, Case Notes)

• State Bar of California

• Hawaii State Bar Association

 

Bar Admissions

• California

• Hawaii

• U.S. Supreme Court

• U.S. Court of Appeals (Ninth and Federal Circuits)

• U.S. District Court (Hawaii and Northern District of California)

• U.S. Court of Federal Claims, U.S. Tax Court

Continue Reading
  • Lawyer Bio
  • Client Comments
  • Lawyer Practice Areas
  • Firm Details
  • News & Media

Lawyer Bio

Robert H. Thomas is a land use and appellate lawyer, and focuses on regulatory takings, eminent domain, water rights, and voting rights cases.  He has tried cases and appeals in Hawaii, California, and the federal courts. For a list of reported cases in which he’s been involved, go here.

Robert received his LLM, with honors, from Columbia Law School where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and his JD from the University of Hawaii School of Law where he served as editor of the Law Review. Robert taught law at the University of Santa Clara School of Law, and was an exam grader and screener for the California Committee of Bar Examiners.

Robert is the inaugural Joseph T. Waldo Visiting Chair in Property Rights Law at the William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia. He teaches upper-division courses in eminent domain and property rights. He also recently completed a year as the Chair of the American Bar Association's Section on State & Local Government Law, and was the long-time Chair of the Section's Eminent Domain Law Committee. 

He is the Hawaii member of Owners’ Counsel of America, a national network of the most experienced eminent domain and property rights lawyers. Membership in OCA is by invitation only, and is limited to a single attorney from each state. He also was the Co-Planning Chair of the American Law Institute-CLE's annual three-day conference on condemnation law, Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation. Robert is the Managing Attorney for the Pacific Legal Foundation Hawaii Center, a non-profit legal foundation dedicated to protecting property rights and individual liberties. He is listed in Best Lawyers in Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, and Land Use & Zoning Law, and in Super Lawyers in Appellate Law, Land Use/Zoning, and Government/Cities/Municipalities.

He is also a frequent speaker on land use and eminent domain issues in Hawaii and nationwide. Robert regularly publishes scholarly and practical articles in his area of practice. For a partial list go to: https://www.inversecondemnation.com/inversecondemnation/publications.html  

His blog on land use, property, and takings law, inversecondemnation.com, is one of the most widely-read blogs on those subjects.

Professional and Community Affiliations

• American Bar Association 

   Past Chair, Section of State and Local Government Law (2017-2018)

   Past Chair, Eminent Domain Law Committee (Section of State & Local Government Law) (2009-2016)

   Council of Appellate Lawyers

   Litigation Section, Committee on Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use (Hawaii editor, Case Notes)

• State Bar of California

• Hawaii State Bar Association

 

Bar Admissions

• California

• Hawaii

• U.S. Supreme Court

• U.S. Court of Appeals (Ninth and Federal Circuits)

• U.S. District Court (Hawaii and Northern District of California)

• U.S. Court of Federal Claims, U.S. Tax Court

Read more on firm website
  • Bar & Court Admissions
  • Affiliations
  • Award List
  • Additional Information
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Land Use and Zoning Law
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law

Bar Admissions:

 

Court Admissions:

Affiliations:

  • -

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

  • Litigation - Land Use and Zoning, Honolulu (2019)
  • Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Honolulu (2018)
  • Land Use and Zoning Law, Honolulu (2017)
  • Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Honolulu (2014)
 

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
  • Land Use and Zoning Law
  • Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
  • Litigation - Municipal
  • Real Estate Law

Special Focus:

  • Appellate
  • Litigation
 

Lawyer Client Comments

-

Lawyer Practice Areas

Key: Awarded in Best Lawyers Not Currently Awarded for this Area in Best Lawyers

Firm Details

Pacific Legal Foundation
https://www.pacificlegal.org
 
555 Capitol Mall, Suite 1290
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-419-7111
3 Office Locations
in 1 Country

United States

United States

Florida

Florida

Palm Beach Gardens, FL

8645 North Military Trail, Suite 511

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

United States

561-691-5000

Get Directions

Washington

Washington

Bellevue, WA

10940 Northeast 33rd Plae, Suite 210

Bellevue, WA 98004

United States

425-576-0484

Get Directions

News & Media

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