Trever is a partner at Cades Schutte. He represents taxpayers in tax controversies and disputes with the IRS and the Hawai‘i State Department of Taxation.
Trever handles audits, administrative appeals, and litigation in the federal and state courts, including the courts of appeal. Trever also advises nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations on issues including obtaining tax exemption, addressing unrelated business income, and using joint ventures and subsidiary organizations. He currently serves as the firm’s pro bono coordinator.
He is a regular speaker on Hawai‘i State taxation and the taxation of nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining Cades Schutte, Trever was in private practice at Miller & Chevalier in Washington, D.C. and clerked for Judge Susan Oki Mollway at the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai‘i.
While at Duke University School of Law, Trever was the recipient of the Douglas A. Poe Mordecai Scholarship and an editor for the Journal of Law and Contemporary Problems. Before beginning his legal career, Trever was a teacher in the District of Columbia Public Schools. He currently serves on the boards of directors for Volunteer Legal Services Hawai‘i, Teach For America Hawai‘i, and Hawai‘i Contemporary (formerly known as the Honolulu Biennial).
Contact & Links
- Lawyer Page: https://www.cades.com/attorneys/asam-trever-k/
Location
- Cades Schutte Building, Suite 1200
1000 Bishop Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Education
- Duke University School of Law, J.D., graduated 2004
- Yale University, B.A., graduated 1998
Bar Admissions
- Hawaii, Hawai‘i State Bar
- District of Columbia, District of Columbia Bar
Affiliations
- 2014 HSBA Leadership Institute - Member
- American Bar Association - Member
- District of Columbia Bar Association - Member
- Hawai‘i Contemporary (formerly Hawai‘i Biennial) - Board of Directors
- Hawai‘i State Bar Association - Member
- Teach For America Hawai‘i - Advisory Board
- Volunteer Legal Services Hawai‘i - Board President
Court Admissions
- United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- United States District Court for the District of Hawai‘i
49 The Best Lawyers in America® awards
10 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America awards

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 for work in:
- Tax Law
Awards:
- Listed in Chambers and Partners, USA Guide, since 2021
- Outstanding Professional Advisor in Philanthropy, Hawai‘i Community Foundation, 2020
- Pacific Business News’ Forty Under 40 Class of 2015
- 2014 Hawai‘i State Bar Association Leadership Institute
- 2011 B Corp Champion Award for advocacy on behalf of Sustainable Business Corporation legislation
- 2003 Second Prize in Theodore Tannenwald Jr. Foundation for Excellence in Tax Scholarship Writing Competition
Representative Experience
- Represented Hawai‘i company in Hawai‘i Tax Court in matter regarding inter-state apportionment of income
- Represented Hawai‘i company in Hawai‘i Tax Court in matter involving General Excise Tax exemption
- Represented Hawai‘i construction firm in administrative appeal of disallowance of General Excise Tax “subcontractor deduction
- Represented Hawai‘i company in U.S. district court after IRS disallowance of research and development tax credits
- Represented international manufacturer in Hawai‘i General Excise Tax audit and administrative appeal
- Represented national bank in successful appeal of Hawai‘i General Excise Tax audit
- Represented Hawai‘i corporation before IRS Appeals office resulting in substantial reduction of federal tax liability
- Represented individual taxpayer in U.S. Court of Federal Claims to pursue significant refund claim
- Represented international religious organization in Hawai‘i real estate transactions
- Assisted in the formation of charitable entities
- Represented Hawai‘i nonprofit corporations in mergers
- Represented Hawai‘i nonprofit corporations in dissolutions
- Provided on-going legal advice to Hawai‘i nonprofit corporation in operational matters
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