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Lawyer Profile

Image of Robert H. Thomas

Robert H. Thomas

Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert ALC
  • Recognized Since:
    2007
  • Recognized in:
    Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
    Land Use and Zoning Law...
  • Lawyer Page:
    http://hawaiilawyer.com/attorn...
  • Website:
    http://www.hawaiilawyer.com
  • Firm's Phone Number:
    (808) 531.8031
  • E-mail:
    rht@hawaiilawyer.com
  • Location:
    Pauahi Tower, Suite 1600
    1003 Bishop Street
    Honolulu, HI 96813
  • 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

  • Lawyer Bio
  • Client Comments
  • Firm Details

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
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge

Bar Admissions:

  • United States, California
  • United States, Hawaii
 

Court Admissions:

  • U.S. Court of Appeals (Ninth and Federal Circuits)
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims, U.S. Tax Court
  • U.S. District Court (Hawaii and Northern District of California)
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Affiliations:

  • American Bar Association, Council of Appellate Lawyers - Member
  • American Bar Association, Eminent Domain Law Committee (Section of State & Local Government Law) (2009-2016) - Past Chair
  • American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Committee on Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use (Hawaii editor, Case Notes) - Member
  • American Bar Association, Section of State and Local Government Law (2017-2018) - Past Chair
  • Hawaii State Bar Association - Member
  • State Bar of California - Member

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
  • Real Estate Law

Areas of Expertise:

  • Appellate
  • Litigation
 

Lawyer Client Comments

Firm Details

Image for Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert ALC View Firm Profile
Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert ALC
http://www.hawaiilawyer.com
 
Headquarters
Pauahi Tower, Suite 1600
1003 Bishop Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 531.8031
 
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