Ted N. Pettit

Tred once again was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for his work in Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law and Litigation-Insurance. He was also named Best Lawyers® 2022 Litigation Insurance “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu. A designation given to a single attorney in each practice group by metropolitan area. Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among their peers for their ab...

Gregory M. Hansen, Of Counsel, concentrates his practice in the areas of employee benefits; stock option, stock purchase and equity incentive plans; general corporate and business law; and state and federal income tax controversy matters, with an emphasis on employee stock ownership plans (ESOP) and custom designed retirement arrangements. While an attorney with the U.S. Treasury Department, Mr. Hansen tried U.S. civil tax cases and helped prepare criminal fraud tax cases for review by the U....

Christine was born and reared in Japan. She is the President of Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert, and practices in the firm’s Corporate, Commercial, and Real Estate Law practice groups, primarily with Japanese-speaking clients. To address the needs of her Japanese clients, her practice also encompasses Immigration Law, Estate Planning and Employment matters. She is a past Director of Meritas, a worldwide affiliation of commercial law firms, which has members in over 254 global markets. D...

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...

John W. Kelly is a Director of the firm. Mr. Kelly focuses his practice in the area of commercial litigation, with particular concentration in intellectual property rights. Mr. Kelly is admitted to the New York and Hawaii Bar and earned his Juris Doctor from New York Law School. He is also a member of the panel with the First Circuit Court Annexed Arbitration Program. Mr. Kelly has been selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers®, "Rising Star" list in the practice area of IP Litigation (2020-2...

Lawrence Okinaga is a partner in the firm's Honolulu office and a member of its Transactional practice group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate, financial institutions, real estate, and administrative law. Mr. Okinaga has developed this deep experience in representing corporations, partnerships and individuals, for more than 38 years. He regularly advises clients on business matters and supervises the firm's litigators in clients' disputes. He is listed in Chambers USA: A...

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.

Stuart Kodish is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Stuart, who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stuart is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Neal T. Gota is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Neal T., 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 Neal T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Karl Kobayashi concentrates his practice in the area of commercial real estate with an emphasis on sales, acquisitions, leasing, financing and development. He also practices in the area of entitlements (land use and zoning law) and has represented clients in contested case and other regulatory proceedings before agencies such as the State of Hawai`i Land Use Commission, the Hawai`i Community Development Authority (Kaka`ako), the City and County of Honolulu Zoning Board of Appeals, the Maui Pl...