Best Lawyers in Hawaii, United States for Commercial Litigation
Published Works · Articles on Litigation (Co-Authored) Representative Cases · IEL Liquidation Proceedings, Wayne C. Metcalf, Insurance v. Gary L. Vose, et al · HIG Rehabilitation, HUI/UNICO Liquidation and Linda v. Hawaiian Electric Co. · State v. Kealakekua Ranch · Maunawili Lessees v. Trustees of Castle Estate · State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Robinol, 699 F.Supp. 819 (D.Hawai'i 1988) · Tilton v. Rivera · Eder v. County of Kauai and ...
Greg Kugle concentrates his practice in the area of litigation. He works in the areas of commercial disputes and business litigation, construction, land use and real estate, antitrust, product liability and personal injury, aviation, bankruptcy, admiralty and insurance coverage. He has litigated cases before the Hawaii District and Circuit Courts, the Hawaii Bankruptcy Court and United States District Court, and has handled appeals before the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, the Hawaii S...
Judith Ann Pavey has over 45 years of experience in litigation and litigation related alternative dispute resolution. She began her litigation career while still in law school where she received a special certification from the Indiana Supreme Court to act as a prosecutor on criminal cases in Marion County juvenile, misdemeanor and felony courts. Upon graduation she was hired by a high-profile litigator in Hawai‘i, where she established her reputation as a skilled and successful lawyer ...
Michelle K. Correia is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Real Estate. Michelle K., 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 Michelle K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Stephanie E. W. Thompson is a Director of the firm. Ms. Thompson concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial, real estate civil litigation and electronic discovery information management law. Ms. Thompson has assisted in the representation of various clients from multi-million-dollar corporations to small businesses and individual interests in legal matters ranging from wrongful termination and unfair competition, to negligence, commercial litigation, general business and trust dispu...
Andrew J. Lautenbach is a Director at Starn O’Toole Marcus and Fisher who has earned a reputation for taking an aggressive yet practical approach when representing clients in complex matters. Mr. Lautenbach has extensive experience in complex litigation matters, including numerous jury trials, bench trials, and high stakes arbitrations. Mr. Lautenbach recently served as a lawyer representative to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of the United States District Court for the Di...
Mark Murakami practices in the firm's Dispute Resolution, Real Estate, Construction, and Business & Commercial Law practice groups. His focus is on complex commercial disputes, land use negotiation and litigation, environmental, and general civil litigation. He has appeared in all federal and states courts in Hawaii, most of the administration boards and commissions, and is licensed in the U.S. Supreme Court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Court of Federal Claims. He is rated by Marti...
Mr. Miyashiro focuses his practice on civil, commercial, and real estate litigation, representing and advising business owners, CEOs, Officers and Directors, and Trustees. He has almost 30 years’ experience and an accumulated wealth of expertise litigating matters involving admiralty/maritime, commercial and business disputes, real property disputes, insurance, trust disputes, products liability, class action defense, and personal injury defense. By appointment of the Hawaii Circuit Cou...
Douglas S. Chin has extensive experience in state and federal courts, from Hawaii to the United States Supreme Court, and experience in managing state and local government agencies at the highest levels. Mr. Chin focuses his practice in commercial litigation, administrative law, and government relations. Mr. Chin is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell® ; the highest rating possible, for his skill and integrity. Mr. Chin has been named to The Best Lawyers in America® list in...
Lex R. Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Lex R., who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lex R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Tom E. Roesser chairs the firm's Bankruptcy & Creditors Rights Practice Group. Mr. Roesser concentrates on advising financial institutions on problem loans, including loan workouts and foreclosures, bankruptcy, and lender liability issues. He served as President of the Bankruptcy Law Section of the Hawai`i State Bar Association in 2005 and is also a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association. He also concentrates in commercial ...
Mr. Engle's practice focuses in the areas of real estate litigation, construction contracts and disputes, and complex business litigation. Examples of Mr. Engle's work include: Constitutional Law. Represented a national REIT in a highly publicized constitutional challenge of legislation affecting the methods for calculating lease rent under long-term industrial ground leases. Successfully obtained ruling declaring statute unconstitutional under the contracts and equal protection clauses of th...
Jesse W. Schiel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Jesse W., who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jesse W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Michael J. Nakano is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Michael J., who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Dean Robb is a partner in the firm's Honolulu office and is a member of the Corporate & Business Practice Group. He concentrates his practice on corporate business, finance, construction, acquisitions, ocean and maritime activities, administrative law, government procurement, and international transactions. Admitted to bars throughout the Pacific, Mr. Robb also has considerable experience in the U.S. Pacific islands, including Guam, Saipan and Micronesia. He continues an active practice i...
Melissa H. Lambert is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Melissa H., 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 Melissa H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.