MEMBERS OF THE FIRM
Peter Starn (Chairman) born Fulton, Missouri, January 28, 1944; admitted to bar, 1972, Hawaii; 1985, California. Education: DePauw University (B.A., 1965); Stanford University (J.D., 1972). Phi Beta Kappa. Note Editor, Stanford Law Review, 1971-1972. Adjunct Professor in Real Estate Law, University of Hawaii Law School, 1982. Appointed by Governor of Hawaii as Director, Hawaii State Board of Planning and Economic Development, 1980-1982. Appointed by Chief Justice of Hawaii as Trustee of Client Security Trust Fund. Member: State Bar of California; Hawaii State Bar Association. [Capt., U.S.M.C., Naval Aviator, 1965-1972]. Practice Areas: Mergers and Acquisitions(40%); Real Estate Transactions(30%); Trusts and Estates(30%).Email: Peter Starn
Terence J. O'Toole (Litigation Director) born Brockton, Massachusetts, January 6, 1946; admitted to bar, 1971, California; 1972, Hawaii; 1989, District of Columbia. Education: University of Santa Clara (B.A., 1967); Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California (J.D., 1971). Associate Editor, Ecology Law Quarterly, 1970-1971. Law Clerk to the Honorable Martin Pence, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii, 1971-1972. Best Lawyers in America. Lawyer Representative to Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, 2005-2007. Member: Federal Bar Association (President, Hawaii Chapter, 2005-2006). Practice Areas: Complex Commercial Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Construction Claims and Disputes; Lender Liability; International Litigation; Personal Injury; Wrongful Death Litigation.Email: Terence J. O'Toole
Kenneth B. Marcus (Director) born Brooklyn, New York, June 17, 1952; admitted to bar, 1976, New York and U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; 1990, Hawaii. Education: Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (B.S., 1972); New York University School of Law (J.D., 1975). He has achieved the highest rating for legal ability in Martindale-Hubbell. Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate. Chambers Tier 1, Real Estate. Member: Hawaii State (Member, Section on Real Property and Financial Services) and American (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Real Property, Probate and Trust Law) Bar Associations; Hawaii Hotel Association; International Society of Hospitality Consultants. Transactions: Leasing and Financing of Charlottesville Fashion Square, Charlottesville, VA and Galleria Shopping Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Acquisition, financing and management contracts relating to Sheraton Seventh Avenue Hotel (New York City); Boca Raton Hotel & Club (Boca Raton, FL); Hyatt Regency Hotels, Kaanapali and Waikiki Beaches (Hawaii); Acquisition of 24 hotel packages in 18 states; Acquisition and leasing of Two Wall Street (New York City). Practice Areas: Real Estate; Hotels and Resorts Development; Real Estate Joint Ventures; Shopping Center Acquisition; Shopping Center Development; Commercial Leasing; Finance; Insurance Insolvency; Corporate; Partnership Formation.Email: Kenneth B. Marcus
Duane R. Fisher (Director) born Santa Barbara, California, October 7, 1962; admitted to bar, 1991, California; 1992, Hawaii. Education: University of Colorado (B.S., 1984); University of California, Hastings College of Law (J.D., 1991). Two-term Member, Hastings Moot Court Board. Member: State Bar of California; Hawaii State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Corporate and Business Law(30%); Real Estate Transactions(30%); Telecommunications Development(20%); Hotels(10%); Mergers and Acquisitions(10%).Email: Duane R. Fisher
Sharon Valentine Lovejoy (Director) born Honolulu, Hawaii, June 19, 1962; admitted to bar, 1987, Texas; 1989, Hawaii; 1991, Colorado; 1994, Florida; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: Texas Wesleyan College (B.S., magna cum laude, 1984); Baylor University School of Law (J.D., 1987). Alpha Chi; Delta Theta Phi (Dean, 1986-1987). Member: Harvey M. Richey Moot Court Society; National Trial Advocacy Team, 1989. Recipient: Keeton Scholarship; Trial Advocacy Award. Member: State Bar of Texas; The Florida Bar; Hawaii State, Federal and American (Member, Litigation Section) Bar Associations. Fellow: Litigation Counsel of America. Reported Cases: Unite Here! Local 5 v. City and County of Honolulu, P.3d, 2009 WL 1426752 (Hawaii App. May 22, 2009); U.S. ex rel. Lockyer v. Hawaii Pacific Health, 490 F. Supp. 2d 1062 (D. Haw. 2007). Practice Areas: Complex Commercial Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Corporate and Business Litigation; Trust Litigation; ADR; Federal and State Court Practice.Email: Sharon Valentine Lovejoy
Trevor A. Brown (Director) born Santa Monica, California, August 4, 1966; admitted to bar, 1992, Arizona; 1993, District of Columbia; 1995, Hawaii; 1999, California. Education: Christian Heritage College (B.S., summa cum laude, 1987); Yale University (J.D., 1990). Senior Editor, Yale Law Journal, 1989-1990. Law Clerk to Judge Herbert Y. C. Choy, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1990-1991. Author, "Religious Nonprofits and the Commercial Manner Text," 99 Yale L.J. 1631, 1990, also printed in The Monthly Digest of Tax Articles, Sept. 1991. Co-Reporter, "Hawaii 2000 Report on Lawyer's Opinion Letters in Mortgage Loan Transactions," 22 University of Hawaii Law Review 347, 2000. Director of Real Property and Financial Services Section, Hawaii State Bar Association. Member: State Bar of Hawaii; American Bar Association; Christian Legal Society. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Business Litigation; Real Property Litigation; Real Estate; Secured Transactions.Email: Trevor A. Brown
Lane Hornfeck (Director) born McKeesport, Pennsylvania; admitted to bar, 1998, Hawaii; 2002, District of Columbia. Education: University of Pittsburgh (B.A., 1994); University of Hawaii (J.D., 1998). Lane Hornfeck concentrates her practice in the areas of complex commercial litigation and real estate-related litigation. Having practiced for more than 10 years, Ms. Hornfeck has represented a variety of clients, ranging from individuals and small business owners to multi-million dollar business entities in a variety of legal matters, including business disputes, real estate litigation, trust litigation, mold litigation, construction and design defects, antitrust and consumer trade practice claims, class action litigation, collections, foreclosures, and professional malpractice defense, among others. She has experience in state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as alternative dispute resolution forums. Throughout undergraduate and law school, Ms. Hornfeck received numerous merit-based scholarships and awards, including: (i) Phi Beta Kappa; (ii) Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society; (iii) Golden Key National Honor Society (President, 1993-1994); (iv) Dean's List, 1990-1994; (v) Graduation Ceremony Student Speaker; (vi) Carl K. Mirikitani Jr. Scholarship Recipient, 1996-1997; (vii) Bernard Levinson Best Constitutional Law Paper Award, 1997; (viii) Best Student Essay Award, American Planning Association, Hawaii Chapter, 1997; (ix) Baxter Awards for First Place, Best Overall Memorials In The World, 1998; and (x) Best Oralist, Third Place Award, Pacific Region, 1997, Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition. During law school, Ms. Hornfeck served as a research assistant to Real Property Professor David L. Callies and served on the Law Review as an Executive Editor of Research from 1996 to 1998. After graduation, Ms. Hornfeck served as a Law Clerk to Associate Justice Mario R. Ramil of the Supreme Court of Hawaii from 1998 to 1999 and as an adjunct professor teaching first-year legal writing (Legal Methods Seminar and Appellate Advocacy) at the William S. Richardson School of Law from 2002 to 2004. She has also served as an Editorial Board Member of the Hawaii Bar Journal from 2000 to 2007 and was selected as a Pacific Century Fellow in 2003. Ms. Hornfeck has also published the following articles: (i) The Pitfalls of Mediating and Arbitrating on the Mainland: Are You Inadvertently Committing the Unauthorized Practice of Law?, Hawaii Bar Journal, Vol. 11, No. 6, June 2007; (ii) Expert Witnesses in Trial: Views from the Bench and Beyond, Hawaii Bar Journal, Vol. 6, No. 2, Feb. 2002, co-authored with Terence J. O'Toole, Esq. republished in "Giants" of the Trial Bar V: Cross Examination of Expert Witness, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, March 26, 2003; (iii) Suitum v. Tahoe Planning Agency: An Opportunity for the U.S. Supreme Court to Clarify the Williamson County Ripeness Standard, Hawai`i Planning, American Planning Association, Vol. XVIII, No. 8, August 1997; (iv) The Best Place, Inc. v. Penn America Insurance Co.: Hawaii Bad Faith Cause of Action for Insurer Misconduct, 19 U. Haw. L. Rev. 845 (1997); and (v) Commercial and Residential Lease Enforcement and Evictions, August 29, 2002, co-authored with Michael Lam, Esq. and Donald Spafford, Esq. Member: Hawaii State and American Bar Associations; District of Columbia Bar; Hawaii Women Lawyers (President, 2004-2005); Hawaii Women's Legal Foundation (Board Member and Co-Chair, Grant Committee); American Judicature Society (Member, Awards Committee). Reported Cases: Coon v. City and County of Honolulu, et al., 98 Hawai`i 233, 47 P.3d 348, (2002); Hilton Hotels Corp. v. Parnar, 117 Hawai`i 52, 175 P.3d 162, (2008) (Unpublished); Bento v. Valley Isle Motors, 114 Hawai`i 183, 158 P.3d 929, (2007) (Unpublished); Unite HERE Local 5 et al v. City and County of Honolulu et al, 2009 WL 1426752, Hawai'i App., May 22, 2009 (NO. 28602). Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Class Action Litigation; Construction Litigation; Real Estate Related Litigation; Mold Litigation; Trade Names; Trademark Litigation; Corporate and Business Law; Real Estate; Trust Litigation; Consumer Class Actions; Consumer Collections; Consumer Fraud; Civil Litigation; Complex Litigation; Defense Litigation; Federal Civil Litigation; Trial Practice.Email: Lane Hornfeck
ASSOCIATES
Norman H.Y. Cheng (Associate) born Honolulu, Hawaii, December 13, 1976; admitted to bar, 2002, Hawaii. Education: Georgetown University (B.A., 1999); University of Hawaii (J.D., 2002). Member: Student Bar Association; Client Counseling Moot Court Team (two terms). Author: "Is Agricultural Land in Hawaii 'Ripe' for the Takings," Analysis, 240 U.Haw.L.Rev. 121 (2001); "If a Policeman Must Know the Constitution, Then Why Not a Planner: A Constitutional Challenge of the Hawaii Public Access Statute," 23 U.Haw.L.Rev. 409 (2000). Member, William S. Richardson School of Law Alumni Association. Member: Hawaii State (Member, Real Property and Financial Services Sections) and American Bar Associations. Languages: Cantonese. Practice Areas: Real Estate Transfers; Business Transactions.Email: Norman H.Y. Cheng
Richard J. Wallsgrove (Associate) born Leamington Spa, United Kingdom, 1975; admitted to bar, 2008, Hawaii. Education: University of California, College of Chemistry (B.S., 1997); University of Hawaii at Manoa, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (M.S., 2008); University of Hawaii, Manoa, William S. Richardson School of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 2008). Richard Wallsgrove represents businesses and individuals in complex civil litigation matters and commercial transactions. Since joining the firm, Mr. Wallsgrove has assisted in the representation of various clients in multi-million dollar lawsuits involving complicated contract, partnership, construction defect, and corporate shareholder disputes. He has also helped clients find innovative solutions to their legal questions on a wide range of other matters, including trademarks, property liability, loan agreements, and structuring transactions to comply with local, state, and federal regulations. During law school, Mr. Wallsgrove received numerous awards and accolades. He served as Editor-in-Chief for the University of Hawai'i Law Review, and helped to bring together nationally-recognized legal minds, including United States Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, to participate in a symposium on the 2006 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Doe v. Kamehameha Schools. Mr. Wallsgrove and Simeon Vance, another Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher associate attorney, also co-authored an article that analyzed the effect of the 2006 Hawai'i Supreme Court case, Diamond v. State of Hawai'i, in the context of Hawai'i's intricate history of shoreline issues. Member: Hawaii State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Business Law; Litigation; Commercial Law; Technology and Science; Complex Commercial Litigation; Energy; Natural Resources.Email: Richard J. Wallsgrove
Anthony A. Perrault (Associate) born Provo, Utah, 1975; admitted to bar, 2008, Hawaii. Education: Harvard University (A.B., cum laude, 1997); University of California (J.D., 2008). Anthony A. Perrault represents business and individuals in commercial and complex civil litigation matters. He has represented plaintiffs and defendants in a range of commercial disputes, including contract, real estate and land use, business organization, and construction defect cases. His clients range from Fortune 500 corporations to small businesses and private individuals. During law school, Mr. Perrault received recognition for his legal writing and oral advocacy. He was awarded "Distinguished Advocate" for his performance in UCLA Law moot court competitions. He was chosen to participate in the Moot Court Honors Program and went on to represent UCLA Law at national competitions. Mr. Parrault also externed in the chambers of the Honorable Margaret M. Morrow, Federal District Court Judge for the Central District of California, where he drafted numerous bench memoranda and orders. Mr. Perrault also played an active role in the UCLA Mock Trial Association, the Journal of Environmental Law & Policy and the Asian Pacific Islander Law Students Association (APILSA). Member: American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Complex Commercial Civil Litigation.Email: Anthony A. Perrault
Shyla P.Y. Cockett (Associate) born May 8, 1980; admitted to bar, 2007, Hawaii. Education: University of Puget Sound (B.A., 2002); William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii (J.D. 2004). Member: Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association; Hawaii Women Lawyers. Reported Cases: Keep the North Shore Country and Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter v. City and County of Honolulu; Henry Eng; and Kuilima Resort Company, 2009 WL 1426752 (Haw. App. 2009). Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Environmental Litigation; Corporate Litigation.Email: Shyla P.Y. Cockett
Zachary N. Gershuni (Litigation Associate) born Santa Monica, California, 1979; admitted to bar, 2006, California; 2007, Hawaii. Education: University of California, Berkeley (B.A., with departmental honors and distinction in general scholarship, 2001); University of California, Hastings College of the Law (J.D., 2006). Dean's Honor List, 2001. Extern to the Honorable Elizabeth D. Laporte, Magistrate Judge U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 2004. Member: Hawaii State Bar Association (Member, Business Law Section). Practice Areas: Litigation; Corporate; Business Law.Email: Zachary N. Gershuni
Albert N. Guarino (Civil Litigation Attorney) born Los Angeles, California, January 11, 1960; admitted to bar, 1991, Oregon; 2008, Hawaii. Education: University of California at Berkeley (B.A., 1982); Willamette University (J.D., magna cum laude, 1991). Mr. Guarino served as an Air Force JAG Officer since earning his law degree in 1991. He has extensive experience in negotiating and settling claims involving contracts and environmental disputes. Top secret security clearance, government contracts attorney course. Member: Oregon State Bar; Hawaii State Bar Association. [J.A.G., U.S. Air Force]. Practice Areas: Business Litigation; State and Federal Contract Law.Email: Albert N. Guarino
Andrew J. Lautenbach (Associate) born 1977; admitted to bar, 2005, California; 2007, Hawaii. Education: University of Colorado at Denver (B.S., summa cum laude, 2002); University of San Francisco School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2005). Member: Hawaii State and American Bar Associations; State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Trademark and Tradename Litigation; Real Estate Related Litigation.Email: Andrew J. Lautenbach
Stephanie Thompson (Associate) born Hawthorne, California; admitted to bar, 2005, Hawaii. Education: University of Hawaii, West Oahu (B.A., with Humanities Award in Writing, 2002); University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law (J.D., 2005). Contributing Editor, Asian-Pacific Law and Policy Journal. Officer, Advocates for Public Interest Law. Member: Client Counseling Moot Curt Team; Labor/Employment Law Moot Court Team. Law Clerk to the Honorable Victoria S. Marks, First Circuit, Circuit Court for the State of Hawaii. Member: Hawaii State and American Bar Associations; American Inns of Court. Languages: French. Practice Areas: Litigation; Commercial; Business Law.Email: Stephanie Thompson
Christina N. Wakayama (Associate) born April 10, 1982; admitted to bar, 2007, Hawaii. Education: University of Southern California (B.A., 2004); William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii (J.D., 2007). Editorial Board, University of Hawaii Law Review, 2005-2006. Casenote Editor and Resource Manager, 2006-2007. Member: Hawaii State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Real Estate Transactions and Litigation..Email: Christina N. Wakayama
Wil K. Yamamoto (Associate) born Honolulu, Hawaii; admitted to bar, 2002, Hawaii; 2005, Guam. Education: University of California, San Diego (B.A., 1996); University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law (J.D., 2002). Member, American Inns of Court. University of Hawaii Law Review. Speaker, "Beyond the Basics In the New Economy," Landlord-Tenant Law in Hawaii, April 2009. Member: Hawaii State, Guam, Federal and American Bar Associations; American Trial Lawyers Association. Reported Cases: Keep the North Shore Country and Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter v. City and County of Honolulu; Henry Eng; and Kuilima Resort Company, 2009 WL 1426752 (Haw. App. 2009). Languages: Japanese. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Mold Litigation; Construction Litigation; Medical Malpractice; Class Actions; Business Law; Real Estate and Land Use Litigation.Email: Wil K. Yamamoto
Hoi Shan Wirt (Associate) born Hong Kong; admitted to bar, 2006, Hawaii. Education: University of Hawaii (B.A., 1999 with distinction; J.D., 2006). Historian and Member, Phi Delta Phi; Member, American Inns of Court; Editor-in-Chief, Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal, 2005-2006; Two-term ABA Client Counseling Competition Team Member, 2005-2006. Recipient: Lawrence C. Foster Endowment Fund Scholarship; Gregory Conlan Memorial Prize; CALI Excellence for the Future Award for Debtor and Creditors Rights. Member: Hawaii Women Lawyers, Hawaii State Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Business Law and Collection); American Bar Association. Languages: Cantonese. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation(50%); Corporate Litigation(50%).Email: Hoi Shan Wirt
ASSOCIATE COUNSEL
Ivan M. Lui-Kwan (Associate Counsel) born Hilo, Hawaii, March 25, 1945; admitted to bar, 1971, Hawaii. Education: St. Martin's University (B.A., 1967); Rutgers University (M.A., 1968; J.D., 1971). Law Clerk to Chief Justice William S. Richardson, Hawaii Supreme Court, 1971-1972. Director, Budget and Fiscal Services of City and County of Honolulu. President and CEO, Kona Bay Marine Resources. Chairman of Board, March of Dimes, Chapter of Pacific. President of Board, Historic Hawaii Foundation. Chairman, Board of Trustees, St. Andrews Priory. Director, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. Member, Hainan Hawaii Cooperation Committee. Vice-Chairman, The Queen Emma Foundation. Vice-Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, The Queen's Health Systems. Trustee, The Queen's Medical Center. Former Member: Disciplinary Board, Hawaii Supreme Court; Hawaii Community Development Authority. Member, Board of Directors and Treasurer, Judiciary History Center of Hawaii. Vice-Chair, American Judicature Society. Director: St. Francis Residential Care Community; St. Francis Development Corporation; Hawaii Council on Economic Education. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Land Use; Administrative Law.Email: Ivan M. Lui-Kwan
Judith Ann Pavey (Director, Of Counsel) born Indianapolis, Indiana, August 4, 1951; admitted to bar, 1977, Indiana; 1978, Hawaii. Education: Purdue University (B.A., 1973); Indiana University (J.D., cum laude, 1977). Member: Hawaii State Bar Association; American Board of Trial Advocates; American Inns of Court (Barrister); Hawaii Association Justice (President); The Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Practice Areas: Professional Negligence; Litigation; Substantial Economic Loss/Product Defects; Corporate and Commercial; Shareholder Derivative and Direct Claims in Closely Held Corporations; Personal Injury; Criminal Defense.Email: Judith Ann Pavey
Julie Marie Mandanas (Of Counsel) born February 4, 1969; admitted to bar, 1997, Illinois; 2007, Hawaii. Education: Northwestern University (B.A., 1991); University of Illinois College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1997). Dean's List, 1995-1997. Judicial Extern to the Honorable Paul E. Plunkett, Judge U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1995. LEED Accredited Professional. Member: Hawaii State Bar Association (Member, Section on: Real Property; Financial Services; Business Law); American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Real Estate Transactions; Finance; Commercial Leasing; Real Estate Joint Ventures; Corporate Law.
John A. Sopuch, III (Associate Counsel) born St. Louis, Missouri, March 21, 1965; admitted to bar, 1991, Illinois; 1993, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois including Trial Bar; 1994, Virgin Islands and U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 1998, Appointed Special Assistant Attorney General for the United States Virgin Islands; 1999, Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit; 2000, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas; 2005, Hawaii. Education: University of Texas (B.A., 1987); Pepperdine University (J.D., 1990). Recipient, The Dean's Merit Scholarship 1987-1988, 1988-1989. Member: Pepperdine Law Review, 1988-1990; Accepted to write for the California Supreme Court Survey of Pepperdine Law Review, 1988-1989. Judicial Extern for the Honorable J. P. Vukasin, Jr., U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, San Francisco. Author: Analysis, "Crouchman v. Superior Court," 16 Pepperdine L. Rev. 434, 1988; Analysis, "Fontana Unified School Dist. v Burman," 16 Pepperdine L. Rev. 485, 1988. (Also Member, Moore & Sopuch, P.C., Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands; Also Associate, The Collins Law Firm, P.C., Naperville, Illinois). Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Civil Litigation.Email: John A. Sopuch, III