MEMBERS OF FIRM
Edward R. Brooks (Partner) born Honolulu, Hawaii, December 25, 1951; admitted to bar, 1979, Hawaii. Education: Clark University (B.A., cum laude, 1973); University of Hawaii (J.D., 1979). Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Delta Phi. Comments Editor, University of Hawaii Law Review, 1978-1979. Listed in, The Best Lawyers in America. Member: Hawaii State (Chairman, Condominium Property Regime Section, 1987-1990; Board Member, 1993-1999 and Chairman, 1999, Real Property Section) and American (Member, Sections on: Corporation, Banking and Business Law; Real Property, Probate and Trust Law) Bar Associations; Community Associations Institute. Languages: French. Practice Areas: Real Estate Law; Real Estate Development; Condominium Law; Cooperative Association Law; Commercial Leasing; Leasing; Community Association Law.Email: Edward R. Brooks
Carl Tom (Partner) born New York, N.Y., February 11, 1950; admitted to bar, 1975, Hawaii. Education: University of Pennsylvania (B.A., 1970); George Washington University (J.D., with honors, 1975). Listed, Chambers USA, Real Estate, 2006. Arbitrator, Court Annexed Arbitration Program, 1991. Member, Hearing Committee, Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Supreme Court of Hawaii, 1985. Member: Hawaii State (Member, Real Property Section) and American (Member, Sections on: Real Property, Probate and Trust Law; Business Law) Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Real Estate Law; Business Law.Email: Carl Tom
Christian P. Porter (Partner) born Brioux, France, February 27, 1959; admitted to bar, 1984, Hawaii and U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii; 1987, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; 2002, U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Education: Chaminade University (B.S., magna cum laude, 1981); Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii (J.D., 1984); Hastings Institute of Trial Advocacy (1986). Co Author: "How to Get Results in Collection of Delinquent Debts in Hawaii," (NBI 1993). Member: Hawaii State (Member: Real Estate and Financial Services; Bankruptcy and Collection Section) and American (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Litigation; Committees on: Construction; Bankruptcy) Bar Associations; Community Associations Institute. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Construction Litigation and Arbitration; Condominium and Community Associations; Bankruptcy Law and Litigation; Foreclosures Law.Email: Christian P. Porter
David W.H. Chee (Partner) born Honolulu, Hawaii, October 28, 1965; admitted to bar, 1992, Hawaii. Education: University of Washington (B.S. in Civil Eng., 1988); William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii (J.D., 1992). Member, Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii, 1988-1989. Practice Areas: Landlord-Tenant Law; Construction Litigation; Litigation; Collections; Business Law; Business Arbitration; Business Litigation; Construction Law; Construction Arbitration; Construction Claims; Construction Defects; Commercial Collections; Garnishments; Post Judgment Collections; Civil Litigation; Defense Litigation; Trial Practice.Email: David W.H. Chee
Jeffrey D. Watts (Partner) born Santa Cruz, California, October 13, 1948; admitted to bar, 1988, Hawaii and U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii. Education: University of California at Santa Cruz (B.A., with honors, 1970); University of California at Santa Barbara (M.A., 1975); University of Hawaii (Ph.D., 1981); William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii (J.D., 1988). Member and Editor-in-Chief, University of Hawaii Law Review, 1987-1988. Author: Note, "Kaeo v. Davis: Informing Juries of the Effects of Their Special Verdicts Under the Law of Joint and Several Liability," 9 U. Hawaii L. Rev. 1, 1987. Member: American Philosophical Association, 1980-1988; American Association of University Professors, 1981-1985. Member: Hawaii (Member, Real Property and Financial Services Section; Co-Chair, Condominium and Cooperative Committee, 1995-1996) and American (Member, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Sections) Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Condominium Law; Real Estate and Finance Law.Email: Jeffrey D. Watts
R. Laree McGuire (Partner) born Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; admitted to bar, 1992, Hawaii and U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii; 1994, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: University of Hawaii (B.B.A., 1986; M.B.A., 1993); William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii (J.D., 1990). Law Clerk: Associate Justice Frank D. Padgett, Hawaii Supreme Court, 1991-1992; Associate Judge Corinne K. A. Watanabe, Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, 1992-1993. Member, Hastings Institute of Trial Advocacy, 1995. Member: Hawaii State (Member, Real Property and Financial Services Sections) and American (Member, Litigation Section) Bar Associations; Hawaii Women Lawyers; Barrister, American Inns of Court, Aloha Chapter. Reported Cases: Joy A. McElroy, M.D., Inc. v. Maryl Group, Inc., 107 Hawai'i 423, 114 P.3d 929 (Hawai'i App. 2005); Kaopuiki v. Kealoha, 104 Hawai'i 241, 87 P.3d 910 (Hawai'i App. 2003); Fong v. Hashimoto, 92 Hawai'i 568, 994 P.2d 500 (Hawai'i 2000); Hiner v. Hoffman, 90 Hawai'i 188, 977 P.2d 878 (Hawai'i 1999). Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Construction Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Community Association Law; Condominium Association Law; Civil Appeals.Email: R. Laree McGuire
Donna H. Yamamoto (Partner) born Honolulu, Hawaii, February 22, 1946; admitted to bar, 1992, Hawaii and U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii; U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: University of Hawaii (B.A., with honors, 1989); William S. Richardson, University of Hawaii (J.D., 1992). Phi Beta Kappa. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award in Family Law. Casenote Editor, University of Hawaii Law Review, 1991-1992. Author: University of Hawaii Law Review Volume 13, Number 2, Fall 1991. Member: Hawaii State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Condominium Association Law; Community Association Law; Commercial Litigation.Email: Donna H. Yamamoto
COUNSEL
Arlene S. Kishi (Counsel) born Honolulu, Hawaii, January 11, 1959; admitted to bar, 1983, California, U.S. District Court, Central District of California and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; 1986, Hawaii and U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii. Education: Stanford University (B.A., 1980); University of Southern California (J.D., 1983). Phi Alpha Delta. Member: Hawaii State and American Bar Associations; State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Real Estate Law; Real Estate Development; Subdivisions; Condominium Law; Cooperative Association Law; Community Association Law.Email: Arlene S. Kishi