Litigation

Best Lawyers in America®,"Best Law Firms", Tier 1 Litigators

Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher has been recognized each year by Best Lawyers in America© “Best Law Firms,” since the award’s inception in 2010. The respected national publication ranks the firm’s litigation attorneys among the best in Hawaii in numerous practice areas.

Benchmark Litigation has recognized the firm as the Hawaii Litigation Law Firm of the Year ( 2020 - 2022, 2024-2025), and a "Highly Recommended" law firm. Additionally, our litigation attorneys are recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers® list, Benchmark Litigation, Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, The Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers™, and Martindale-Hubbell®.

Areas of Expertise

Appellate Practice
Arbitration and Mediation
Banking and Finance Litigation
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Business and Partnership Disputes
Complex Commercial Litigation
Construction Litigation
Consumer Class Actions
Eminent Domain
Environmental Litigation
Foreclosure

Intellectual Property
Landlord-Tenant Disputes
Lender Liability Disputes
Medical Malpractice Law
Mold Litigation
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Personal Injury Litigation
Product Liability Litigation
Real Estate Litigation
Trust and Estates Litigation

OUR PRACTICE STYLE

Our Honolulu litigation law firm possesses some of the most experienced and recognized trial attorneys and real estate attorneys in Hawaii.

Our litigation lawyers have a simple practice style: Work hard and fight hard for our clients—with passion, skill, and diligence.

Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher Litigation Attorneys

DIRECTORS

A. Bernard Bays has been named a “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu by The Best Lawyers in America® and selected to the “Top 25," Hawaii Super Lawyers® list. Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) and the Supreme Court of Hawaii. Mr. Bays is one of only a handful of Hawaii lawyers who are certified by the NBTA.

Trevor A. Brown has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® in fifteen litigation and transactional categories, named “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu multiple times, selected to the “Top 25” Hawaii Super Lawyers® list, in Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, in Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide and named a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation. Mr. Brown is often called upon to work on client matters that require business and litigation strategy.

Douglas S. Chin has been named to The Best Lawyers in America® list, named “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu, selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers® list, is in Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, named a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation, and is rated AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell’s® highest rating possible, for his skill and integrity. Mr. Chin focuses his practice on commercial litigation, administrative law and government relations. Mr. Chin served as Hawaii Attorney General, appointed by Governor David Ige.

Kukui Claydon has been selected to The Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch® list, and selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers®, "Rising Star" list each year since 2018. Ms. Claydon focuses her practice in the area of commercial litigation. Ms. Claydon is admitted to the Hawaii Bar, and earned her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, graduating with honors.

Andrew J. Lautenbach has been named to The Best Lawyers in America® list, selected to the “Top 25” Hawaii Super Lawyers® list, is in Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business and named a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation. Mr. Lautenbach is rated AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell's® highest rating possible for his skill and integrity, and serves as a Director on the Board of the Hawaii Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Sharon V. Lovejoy has been selected for inclusion by Benchmark Litigation’s “Top 250 Women in Litigation in the United States”(2011 – 2014) and Pacific Business News’ 2018 “Women Who Mean Business”. Ms. Lovejoy has been named “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu by The Best Lawyers in America® list, multiple times, selected to the “Top 25” Hawaii Super Lawyers® list, in Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, named a "Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation, is a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and is a Fellow of the Federal Bar Foundation.

Maile S. Miller Since 2018, Ms. Miller has been selected to The Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch® list, and the Hawaii Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star” list each year. She has also been named a “Future Star” by Benchmark Litigation and is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell®. Ms. Miller represents a variety of clients in litigation and pre-litigation matters. Ms. Miller is admitted to the Hawaii Bar, and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law.

Terence J. O’Toole has been named “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu by The Best Lawyers in America® list multiple times, selected to the “Top 25,” Hawaii Super Lawyers® list, and named a “Star” by Chambers and Partners USA Directory of Leading Lawyers for Business and "Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation.

Judith Ann Pavey has been named “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu by The Best Lawyers in America® list multiple times, selected to the “Top 25” Hawaii Super Lawyers® list, in Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, and a "Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation. Ms. Pavey is a member of the American Board of Trial Lawyers, American Association of Justice and the American Inns of Court. Ms. Pavey practices and is recognized for her work in both commercial and personal injury litigation matters.

Paul H. Sato has been named to The Best Lawyers in America® list. Mr. Sato is rated AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell’s® highest rating possible, for his skill and integrity. He is a seasoned litigation attorney who has over 45 years of experience and focuses on commercial litigation, real estate law, corporate law and administrative law.

Stephanie E.W. Thompson has been named to The Best Lawyers in America® list, selected to Hawaii Super Lawyers® list, in Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, and named a “Future Star” by Benchmark Litigation. Ms. Thompson is rated AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell's® highest rating possible for skill and integrity, and served as the 2015 Chairperson of the Litigation Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association.

SENIOR LITIGATION COUNSEL

John W. Kelly has been named to The Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch® list and selected to Hawaii Super Lawyers®, "Rising Star" list. Mr. Kelly is admitted to the New York and Hawaii Bar and earned his Juris Doctor from New York Law School.

ASSOCIATES

Jordan E. Marzan focuses her practice in the area of commercial and construction litigation. She is admitted to the Hawaii Bar and earned her Juris Doctor from University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law graduating cum laude.

Kari K. Noborikawa has been selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers®, "Rising Star" list. Ms. Noborikawa earned her Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School graduating with honors. Ms. Norborikawa focuses her practice in the area of commercial litigation and is admitted to the D.C. and Hawaii Bar.

Darwin Peng focuses his practice in the area of commercial litigation. He is admitted to the Hawaii Bar and the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. Mr. Peng earned his Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School, where he was a Notes Editor for the Stanford Law & Policy Review.

Eric S. Robinson has been named to the Hawaii Super Lawyers®, "Rising Star" list. Mr. Robinson earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law graduating summa cum laude. Mr. Robinson focuses his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, administrative law, government relations, and land use, with a particular concentration on Special Management Area (SMA), shoreline, and sea level rise (SLR) issues.

Cori J. Terayama has been selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers® “Rising Star” list and concentrates her practice in the areas of real estate law, commercial transactions and corporate law. Ms. Terayama is admitted to practice in Hawaii and the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. Ms. Terayama earned her Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School where she was a member of the Federal Circuit Bar Journal.

What People Say:

"We get the best service from Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher."
-Best Law Firms Client Comment

"I was once told by a lawyer who is also a friend to hire the best lawyer I could find if I ever was in a position to suffer serious consequences resulting from litigation. Terry O'Toole of Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher represented me in litigation that could have destroyed my business in the middle of the pandemic, and he successfully won on all of the significant claims."
-Best Law Firms Client Comment

"Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher is a great firm, professional and knowledge, client interest focused, and would recommend to anyone having a complicated case in Hawaii."
-Best Law Firms Client Comment

"Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher is an outstanding firm, devoted to their clients interests even above their own interests. The level of analysis and expertise is impressive. They are always looking to find a way to move the clients interest forward."
-Best Law Firms Client Comment

"Over the last ten plus years, I have worked with numerous partners and lawyers at Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher in multiple legal situations, across both personnel and company related commercial litigation. While some of the cases took years, we successfully prevailed in all of them because of the depth of expertise and dedicated professionalism of the Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher team. I have worked with other firms in Hawaii, and there is no one better than Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher."
-Best Law Firms Client Comment

"Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher are smart, experienced and professional lawyers. Couldn't ask for better representation."
-Best Law Firms Client Comment

"I have worked with this firm on a number of occasions over the past Six years. They are top notch! "
-Best Law Firms Client Comment

"We worked with the team at Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher in a complex litigation and found them to be thorough and creative, driving towards the goal with focus. There was little or no wasted effort on side issues, and there were many, many side issues which could have derailed the efforts and wasted time and energy. The team was thoroughly professional, always well-prepared, civil and able to maintain cordial relations with a determined adversary. The conclusion of the litigation was entirely satisfactory to us."
-Best Law Firms Client Comment

Practice Areas

Related Attorneys

Distinctions

What People Say About Us

"As general counsel to a company with operations in multiple locations across the Hawai'ian Islands and throughout North America, having the support and sophisticated commercial litigation experience of Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher is an invaluable asset to me and my organization. More specifically, Doug Chin is highly attentive to my commercial litigation needs; has provided me with detailed insight into the state and federal courts of Hawai'i and has the knack for balancing legal strategy with business realities. Furthermore, his significant municipal law experience is a vital resource when seeking to resolve a dispute with a local, state or federal agency or other governmental body. If and when I need help in Hawai'i, I do not hesitate in contacting Doug Chin and Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher for the legal assistance that I need."
Best Law Firms, Client Comment

"Doug and Tina at Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher have been such a huge help for us navigating the market and real estate challenges in Hawaii. We look forward to continuing to work with them both in the future!"
Best Law Firms, Client Comment

"The people at Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher are experts in commercial litigation."
Best Law Firms, Client Comment

"Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher is exceptional. In my opinion, the firm is comprised of the best legal minds in the State of Hawaii. They are masters of research, writing, and oral advocacy. The attorneys approach every aspect of their representation with tenacity and integrity. They cannot be recommended more highly, especially in area of commercial litigation. Furthermore, and beyond their abilities in courtroom, the Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher team is approachable and responsive. They provide a personal touch absent from other firms of their size and talent."
Best Law Firms, Client Comment

"Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher has done a great job by using their property and litigation expertise as well as their extensive knowledge in eminent domain to work on extremely complex condemnation matters. They have an impressive team of attorneys and I couldn't be more pleased with their work product, client responsiveness and professionalism."
Best Law Firms, Client Comment

"Stephanie E.W. Thompson of Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher is an outstanding lawyer and an overall amazing human. We met Stephanie when my husband and I were blindsided by a time-consuming and extremely costly legal nightmare. Stephanie was there for us every step of the way, making sure we understood the processes, helping us make strategic financial decisions, and being empathetic and strong when we felt we couldn't be. Her intelligence and understanding of the law put us in a position of power in a seemingly impossible situation. Trust me when I say, you want Stephanie Thompson in your corner."
Best Law Firms, Client Comment

"Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher are outstanding at what they do. Honest and straight shooting. Lawyers' lawyers."
Best Law Firms, Peer Comment

"Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher has a very deep team of highly competent commercial litigators who work well together. No other firm in Hawaii has this level of depth in experience at the top level.'
Best Law Firms, Peer Comment

“A top-notch law firm — highly impressive. Strategic thinkers with an uncommon ability to sift through complex issues to get to common-sense solutions.”
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

“The individuals we work with come with high recommendations and take an assertive stance.”
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

“Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher is simply the best law firm that I have worked with.”
The Best Lawyers in America©, Client Comment

“I have worked with many attorneys and many legal firms and this is one of the best. They were not my regular attorneys but referred to me due to a conflict of interest. Absolutely impressed and satisfied with the firm, the employees, the attorneys and the quality of services and knowledge.”
The Best Lawyers in America©, Client Comment

"Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher has built an impressive reputation as a go-to litigation firm for regional and global corporations with diverse interests within the state, the mainland and abroad. ‘They are super talented, super smart and have a team approach that complements each others’ skills. They give very sound advice."
Benchmark Litigation, Comment

"We selected the firm based on their excellent reputation as a boutique litigation firm. I would stack this firm up against any of the other firms we use for litigation and it would be right up there."
Benchmark Appellate, Comment

“I went to a trusted advisor and asked who I should hire to represent us in a very important litigation. This gentleman recommended Starn O’Toole. We have hired them to represent us in two subsequent litigations. The partners at this firm are extremely smart, talented, aggressive, and hard working. This firm is far superior and more capable than other similar firms."
Benchmark Appellate, Comment

"Outstanding work. They are well prepared, flexible and client-centric."
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

"They're thorough and detailed, and have a very quick response time."
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

“They're excellent, the best I have ever worked with on litigation. They are attorneys but have a business-minded, common-sense approach."
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

“This firm interacted with our team really well and gained our trust. Their writing and legal analysis was of very high quality," says one source.
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

Interviewees note: "They don't wait around, and they go into excellent detail. In addition to their great work, the personality of the people there is great and they're easy to work with."
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

“The ‘brilliant, strategic and analytical’ Terence O'Toole is consistently singled out as a top practitioner in the field of commercial litigation, with one source noting: ‘When I watched him in court I was extremely impressed. His organization and ability are both really good."
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

“They have been an excellent representative for us. They are thoughtful in their analysis of the situation, have explored a variety of available options, offered sound advice and followed through with persistence."
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

Sharon Lovejoy’s “name is met with praise from clients, peers, and competitors alike as an excellent litigator. She ‘is thorough, extremely smart, tactical, and strategic’ and is described as the obvious choice for her “very sound litigation advice."
Benchmark Litigation Comment

Trevor Brown is characterized by peers as having 'an analytical mind that is on a different level.’ Clients echo this praise, calling Brown ‘meticulous’ and ‘extremely quick with his response time."
Benchmark Litigation Comment

Judy Pavey is singled out for her depth of experience litigating plaintiff’s personal injury cases in addition to medical and professional malpractice. She is called ‘extremely personable’ and effective in communicating to both juries and judges.”
Benchmark Litigation Comment

“Peers widely recognize Andrew Lautenbach's versatility and strength, for which they identify him as ‘a definite rising star."
Benchmark Litigation Comment

“Terence O'Toole is a standout practitioner in the litigation field who is regularly retained by significant clients in high-stakes and highly sensitive matters."
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

Terence O'Toole “a very worthy advocate" and "a fighter who will defend and promote the interests of his client."
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

Sharon Lovejoy “Sources consider her "a multifaceted talent," remarking on her strong track record in complex litigation."
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

Trevor Brown "Market sources praise him as "very knowledgeable," noting that "he does excellent work. He's talented, smart and hard-working."
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

"The "very talented" Judy Pavey has over 40 years' experience, with notable expertise in white-collar criminal matters, in addition to legal and medical malpractice, personal injury, construction and contract litigation."
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

Andrew Lautenbach "is a rising star within the firm. He has extensive trial experience, and has handled a wide variety of contractual disputes, lender liability claims, antitrust cases and real estate litigation."
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

Andrew Lautenbach "A market source says: "He has certainly proved himself time and time again as someone who is very strategic in his thinking and very well prepared."
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

“I have had the pleasure of working with and against them in the past, and they are a first-rate group of lawyers.”
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

“The team's strengths were its willingness to do whatever it took to get the work done on a timely basis, and an exceptional ability to work with co-counsel.”
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment

Interviewees commend the firm for being "very responsive," noting: "It's hard to see how they could do a better job." "The team is excellent," confirms a source.
Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business, Comment