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Ashford & Wriston in the News

Ashford & Wriston Ranked as One of Hawaii's Leading Firms
6/29/2010

In the 2010 edtion of Chambers and Partners' rankings of the top law firms in Hawaii, Ashford & Wriston is described as being "[e]xtremely well known and well regarded" and lauded for excelling in traditional real estate work. Partner Bruce Graham was recognized for his expertise in complex transactional work, commerical leasing, land title work and trust administration. Chambers also recognized partner Rosemary Fazio as "a great choice for ground lease negotiations." The firm's bankrupcty and restructuring practice was similarly praised by Chambers and managing partner Cuyler Shaw was singled out for being "very prominent" and "representing an array of clients."

A&W Wins Award at 72nd Annual Hawaii Credit Union League Convention
6/7/2010

Ashford & Wriston was honored to receive the "Best Booth" award at the 72nd Annual Hawaii Credit Union League Convention which was held at the Grand Wailea Resort & Spa from May 14 - May 15, 2010.

Ashford & Wriston's dedicated Credit Union Practice Group represents the Hawaii Credit Union League and individual credit unions throughout Hawaii. As part of its committment to the credit union movement, A&W is a regular participant in credit union conventions and a contributor to the Hawaii Credit Union League newsletter.

Bankruptcy in Paradise
4/12/2010

A&W attorney Miranda Tsai is on the Advisory Board for the American Bankruptcy Institute's Third Hawaii Bankruptcy Workshop at The Fairmont Orchid in Kona. The workshop is slated for August 11-14, 2010. For more information, click here.

LEED-ing the Way
4/12/2010

A&W attorney and LEED AP Michael Vieira was recently a guest on Hawaii Public Radio's "Energy Futures" program. Mr. Vieira discussed the potential legal issues associated with the evolving field of sustainable building development. To listen to the program, click here.

Lockwood Reaches a Milestone
2/28/2010

Congratulations to A&W's Jack Lockwood on his 25th Anniversary of receiving the highest possible professional rating from the most knowledgeable critics: his peers. The American Registry AV rating is the pinnacle of excellence earned through a strenuous Peer Review Rating process that is managed and monitored by the world's most trusted legal resource - LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell.

A&W Begins the New Year with a Heavy Heart
1/4/2010

Galen Leong, a partner at A&W and a respected patron and connoisseur of the arts, died in his Makiki home on Dec. 26 of pancreatic cancer. He was 69. Leong was born March 22, 1940, in Honolulu and graduated from Punahou School. He received his undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Princeton University and his law degree from Harvard University.

"People had total confidence in his integrity and in his skills," said Cuyler Shaw, managing partner for Ashford & Wriston. "They naturally felt they could entrust Galen with responsibilities for their affairs." Read more here.

A&W Represents Buyers' in $15 Million Purchase
10/26/2009

Ashford & Wriston attorneys James Mee, Bruce Graham and Aaron Shumway represented the buyers in a recently closed transaction to purchase 4,000 acres between Nanakuli and Makakilo for $15 million.

Should you be suspicious?
9/15/2009

A&W attorney Mary Wong provides a brief primer on when financial institutions should file suspicious activity reports. Click here to read more.

Commercial tenant in Hilo fails to pay rent; ends up in hot wok.
9/3/2009

Read more here.

H1N1 Flu Pandemic Preparation Guidance for Businesses and Employers
7/15/2009

This article talks about the newly issued guidance to businesses on pandemic preparedness from Federal agencies. Although the guidelines might be addressed to specific industries, they have general applicability for many businesses.

Regulation Z Compliance
6/29/2009

This article highlights some of the Truth In Lending Regulation Z amendments that are effective July 30, 2009 regarding closed-end mortgages and advertising (open-end and closed-end).

Ashford & Wriston Ranked as One of Hawaii�s Best
6/29/2009

Chambers USA has again recognized A&W and several of its exemplary attorneys as among the best in Hawaii. Chambers described managing partner Cuyler Shaw as �strong and experienced� and the bankruptcy and restructuring department he leads as �solid.� Chambers commented that A&W �excels in all manner of real estate work� with a reputation for �always being responsive and proactive.� Partner Bruce Graham garnered a top ranking as �an excellent attorney at the top of his profession� for his work on real estate transactions, commercial leasing, land title matters and the administration of trusts. Partner Rosemary Fazio was also honored by Chambers for being �one of the firm�s standout litigators� who is �particularly adept in real estate and complex commercial litigation.�

Fazio Tapped For New Judicial Selection Commission
6/1/2009

A&W partner Rosemary Fazio has been selected to serve on the newly formed Hawaii Federal Judicial Selection Commission. The Commission will serve in an advisory capacity regarding the selection of judges and magistrates to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. Rosemary is a past chairperson of the Hawaii Judicial Selection Commission, which plays a similar role regarding the selection of judges to serve in Hawaii's state court system. More

Hasegawa Part of PBN's "40 Under 40" for 2009
6/1/2009

A&W litigator Jill Hasegawa has been honored by Pacific Business News as one of Hawaii's "40 Under 40" business and community leaders for 2009. Jill is the former president of the Hawaii Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division.

Caldwell Sworn in as Honolulu's Managing Director
6/1/2009

On May 28, 2009, former A&W partner Kirk Caldwell was sworn in as the Managing Director for the CIty and County of Honolulu. Kirk previously represented Manoa in Hawaii's House of Representatives.

�Homestead Exemptions� and �Homestead Declarations� are Not Applicable to Mortgages
5/12/2009

In a recent article, A&W partners Mary Wong and Frank Hogan dispel the myth that so-called "homestead declarations" prevent lenders from enforcing mortgages under Hawaii Revised Statutes � 651-92. Read More

Recognition for Mee
5/11/2009

A&W partner James K. Mee has been recognized as NAIOP Hawaii's Member of the Year for 2009. The National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) is the nation's leading trade association for developers, owners and other professionals in industrial, office and mixed-use commercial real estate.

New Military Family Leave Entitlements Under the Family Medical Leave Act
2/20/2009

Recent changes to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) create new categories of leave entitlements for employees whose family members are called to, or injured in the line of, active federal military duty. Read More

Lockwood Elected Secretary of the Board of HPU
11/24/2008

On October 10, 2008, at the Fall meeting of the Board of Trustees of Hawai`i Pacific University, John A. ("Jack") Lockwood, an HPU Trustee since 1992, was elected as the Secretary of the Board, thus succeeding Martin Anderson who had held the position for many years.

Credit 101
10/6/2008

A&W attorney Miranda Tsai goes back to the classroom to teach high school students about the pitfalls of credit card abuse. Read more.

Kailuan Inc. Appeals Decision Interpreting "Right of First Refusal" Decision
5/5/2008

The Kailuan Inc. has filed an appeal seeking to overturn a recent decision of Circuit Court Judge Glenn Kim, which held that that no statutory right of first refusal was triggered prior to the expiration of the ground lease for the Kailuan apartments.

Rosemary Fazio of Ashford & Wriston, which represents the landowner, points out that because "[t]he lease expired ... the Kailuan Inc. has no further rights to the property." Read more

Trust the Best
11/4/2007

Ashford & Wriston is proud to announce that Jack Lockwood and Ronda Kent have been selected for inclusion in the 2008 edition of The Best Lawyers in America� in the area of trusts and estates.

Jack and Ronda join seven other A&W attorneys, A. James Wriston, Jr., Bruce Graham, Michael Gibson, Rosemary Fazio, Wayne Nasser, Jim Mee, Cuyler Shaw and Galen Leong, who previously have been recognized by Best Lawyers.

Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review survey, including 1.8 million confidential evaluations by the top attorneys in the country as well as thousands of telephone interviews with leading attorneys. Best Lawyers is widely regarded �by both the profession and the public� as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the United States.

ADR is Spelled A-O-K-I
7/21/2007

A&W partner Paul S. Aoki has been added to Dispute Prevention & Resolution, Inc.'s panel of neutrals for arbitrations and mediations.

Mr. Aoki began practicing law in 1973 and joined Ashford & Wriston in 1980. Since 1997, Mr. Aoki has been appointed as an arbitrator in over 100 disputes between unions and employers. Representative unions include the United Public Workers, the Hawaii Government Employees Association, the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, the Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union and the Hawaii State Teacher�s Association. Representative employers include the State of Hawaii Department of Education, the Hawaii State Judiciary, Hawaii Health System Corporation, the City and County of Honolulu and the County of Maui.

One of the Leaders
7/21/2007

A&W partner Bruce Graham has once again been recognized as one of the top real estate attorneys in Hawaii by Chambers USA. According to Chambers, Mr. Graham "is acknowledged as one of the leaders for title analysis and his drafting skills are particularly well thought of." Chambers also reports that the firm "has a particularly strong reputation for representing fee holders[.]"

Chambers Awards

Optimism is in Order
7/5/2007

In her latest article for the Hawaii Women Lawyers organization, A&W partner Lynne Jenkins McGivern notes that women make "up more than half of current law school classes nationwide." Although "optimism for women seems in order," the sheer number of women entering the profession does not guarantee "equal power, influence, and respect." As a result, it is still necessary for female attorneys to actively support each other and show "confidence in the sisterhood." Ms. McGivern suggests that the goal should be to make the Hawaii Women Lawyers organization obsolete; "a footnote in Hawaii's past" that would sound as odd or as unnecessary as "Hawaii Men Lawyers" would seem today. She notes that "[w]e want the young attorneys following in our footsteps, men or women, to assume that maximum success follows hard work, dedication, and competence, no matter one's gender."

Ms. McGivern is the outgoing President of Hawaii Women Lawyers and will succeed to the office of Immediate Past President for 2007-2008. Her practice focuses on divorces, paternity actions, custody cases, and restraining order matters. She is particularly well-respected for her ability to handle cases involving domestic violence dynamics. Ms. McGivern can be reached at 808-539-0438.

Historical Recognition
6/20/2007

A&W partner James K. Mee was recently elected as a Trustee of the Hawaiian Historical Society. Founded in 1892, the Society is dedicated to preserving historical materials relating to Hawai�i and the Pacific region and to publishing scholarly research on Hawaiian and Pacific history. In addition, the Society presents lectures and other programs, free to the public, on various aspects of Hawaiian history. You can read more about the Hawaiian Historical Society here.

Land titles, Local Style
6/14/2007

Up until now, Jim Mee has been one of Ashford & Wriston's best kept secrets. A veritable walking encyclopedia of knowledge about native Hawaiian rights and land title issues, he recently shared some of his knowledge in a workshop sponsored by Island Title. As Mr. Mee explained, for many years, conventional legal wisdom held that the only vestiges of traditional and customary native rights were those contained in Hawaii Revised Statutes � 7-1. Between 1982 and 2004 the Hawaii Supreme Court issued a number of decisions which altered that conventional wisdom and substantially expanded these rights. One of the key decisions during this time period was Public Access Shoreline Hawaii v. Hawaii County Planning Comm�n, 79 Hawai�i 425, 903 P.2d 1246 (1995). The acronym of the plaintiff in that case -- PASH -- is today synonymous with the spectrum of native rights which may affect real property in Hawaii. Continuing efforts by the courts and government agencies to define the scope of the so-called PASH rights will have significant, long-range consequences for individuals, businesses and developers throughout the State. Click here to read more or here for the online slideshow.

Rosemary Fazio Elected as Chairperson of the Judicial Selection Commision
5/4/2007

A&W partner Rosemary Fazio has been elected to serve as the chairperson of the State's influential Judicial Selection Commission. She will serve a 2 year term.

The Judicial Selection Commission reviews and evaluates applications for all judicial vacancies, and vote, by secret ballot, to select qualified nominees. Established by a 1978 state constitutional amendment, the Commission is governed by the Judicial Selection Commission Rules.

The names of the nominees are then forwarded to the appropriate appointing authority. The governor is the appointing authority to nominate judges of the Supreme Court, Intermediate Court of Appeals, and Circuit Court for an initial ten-year term. The governor selects appointees from a list of not less than four and not more than six names submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission. The commission submits a list of at least six names to the chief justice who nominates judges for district and district family court to six-year terms. All nominations are subject to confirmation by the state senate.

The Commission also determines whether a justice or judge shall be retained in office. The Commission publicizes the fact that a justice or judge is seeking retention so that all persons who might have an interest in the matter be informed of the opportunity to comment.

Rosemary Fazio Represents Judicial Selection Commision at Swearing In Ceremony
5/4/2007

On March 9, 2007, Chief Judge Ronald Moon swore in Keith Tanaka as judge of the District Court, Second Circuit, with the Maui bench and bar and many friends of Judge Tanaka in attendance. Jeffrey Sia, HSBA President-Elect, represented the HSBA and Rosemary Fazio represented the Judicial Selection Commission in the ceremony.

While on Maui, President-Elect Sia and HSBA Executive Director Lyn Flanigan met with the Maui County Bar Association (MCBA) Board of Directors to discuss mutual plans and activities.

Honoring the Spirit of Excellence
2/23/2007

A&W attorney Jill M. Hasegawa (top right) was among a contingent of Hawaii attorneys that attended the American Bar Association's midyear meeting and helped to honor former Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice William S. Richardson (center). The ABA recognized Chief Justice Richardson with the "Spirit of Excellence" Award.

Jack of All Trades
2/22/2007

The recently published Journal of the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai`i chronicles the following action with regard to John "Jack" Lockwood, an attorney with Ashford & Wriston who recently celebrated the 33rd anniversary of his joining the firm:

RESOLVED, that this 38th Annual Meeting of the Convention of the Episcopal Church in Hawai`i express its profound gratitude, deep appreciation and warm aloha to our long-time Chancellor, John Lockwood, for his intelligence, knowledge, wisdom, gentle manner and occasional humor which have been ministered in a grace-full manner, to the benefit of the Church, and to the furtherance of our mission of presenting the Gospel of Christ.

Motion was seconded and carried by standing ovation.

Over the past thirty years, Jack has three periods of service as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Hawai`i totaling almost a quarter of a century and currently serves in that capacity.

Robert F. Lange Foundation Presidental Election
2/19/2007

At the recent annual meeting of the Robert F. Lange Foundation, the Directors re-elected John "Jack" Lockwood, an attorney with the law firm of Ashford & Wriston, as the Foundation's President.

The Lange Foundation, with assets in excess of $10,000,000.00, supports the arts and social welfare efforts in Hawaii principally through grants to the Honolulu Academy of Arts and Child and Family Service.

Giving Back
1/5/2007

"Michael Gibson, a partner at Ashford and Wriston and former Hawaii State Bar Association president, has chaired the Association's Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services to the Public for three years, serving under bar presidents Richard Turbin, Wayne Parsons, and Jeffrey Portnoy. Gibson has a long history of commitment to pro bono service. In the early 1980s, he was a moving force in creating Hawaii Lawyers Care, the former name of Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii (VLSH). Fortunately, Gibson is not alone in his commitment to pro bono work. ..." Jo Kim, Recognizing the Right Thing, Hawaii Bar Journal, Dec. 2006, at 9.

The Foreclosure Commissioner
12/5/2006

As A&W attorney Russell Ando explains in a recent article, the foreclosure commissioner functions as an arm of the court. Accordingly, he or she must be completely impartial. To find out more about the unique role of the foreclosure commissioner, click here.

A&W Partner Kirk W. Caldwell Re-elected
11/20/2006

A&W Partner Kirk W. Caldwell has been re-elected to the State of Hawaii House of Representatives. Rep. Caldwell is an integral part of the Democratic leadership in the House and will be serving as the Majority Leader for the next legislative session. Read more

No Ambiguity
9/22/2006

An A&W team consisting of Rosemary Fazio, Kevin Herring and Michael Vieira has obtained summary judgment and an award of attorneys' fees and costs for a venerable Waikiki landowner in a lawsuit initiated by one of the most prestigious clubs in Hawaii. Read more here

Two More A&W Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in Best Lawyers in America®
9/13/2006

Wayne Nasser and Jim Mee have been selected for inclusion in the 2007 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, in the areas of Eminent Domain and Condemnation. This is the first year that Best Lawyers® has established a separate category for these areas of practice, and Ashford & Wriston is proud that two of its lawyers are part of the inaugural list of the best eminent domain and condemnation attorneys in the country.

Wayne and Jim have been involved in several recent high-profile eminent domain cases, including City and County of Honolulu v. Hsiung, 109 Hawai'i 159, 124 P.3d 434 (2005), Hsiung v. City and County of Honolulu, 378 F.Supp.2d 1258 (D. Haw. 2005), and City and County of Honolulu v. Sherman, 110 Hawai'i 39, 129 P.3d 542 (2006).

Wayne and Jim join five other A&W attorneys, A. James Wriston, Jr., Bruce Graham, Michael Gibson, Rosemary Fazio and Cuyler Shaw, who previously have been recognized by Best Lawyers.

Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review survey, including 1.8 million confidential evaluations by the top attorneys in the country as well as thousands of telephone interviews with leading attorneys. Best Lawyers is widely regarded�by both the profession and the public�as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the United States.

Best of Class
7/31/2006

A&W partner Rosemary Fazio has been selected as one of the best real estate lawyers in the United States by The Best of the U. S. LLC. Ms. Fazio is one of 14,268 lawyers chosen from the 760,369 actively practicing lawyers in the United States to be listed on www.bestofus.com.

The Best of the U. S. LLC is an independent firm that reviews the credentials of practitioners in fourteen professions to determine the "Best of Class" in each. Their selection process is based on identifying those professionals who have continued their education, provide leadership in their industry, and have been recognized by their peers, their industry and their community as the best. Over 68,000 doctors, lawyers, financial advisors, dentists, physical therapists, chiropractors, real estate agents and tax professionals are currently listed on www.bestofus.com.

7/31/2006

A&W's managing partner, Cuyler Shaw, recently obtained an important decision on behalf of a local credit union confirming that a "dragnet clause" in a security agreement is effective under Hawaii law. Read the decision here.

7/31/2006

A&W partner Bruce Graham was recently recognized by his alma mater, Damien Memorial School, with an award named in honor of Father Damien de Veuster.

The award is given periodically to individuals that have provided exceptional service to the general community. Click here to learn more about Damien Memorial School.

7/26/2006

A&W Partner Rosemary Fazio has been elected to another three year term on the Board of Hawaii Public Radio. Click here for more information about Hawaii Public Radio.

Estate tax bad for for Hawaii?
7/6/2006

In a commentary published in the Honolulu Star Bulletin, A&W partner James K. Mee argues that the estate tax is fundamentally unfair and damaging to Hawaii's businesses and its economy. One solution may be a compromise bill before Congress that would raise the amount of exemptions and lower the rate of taxation. To read the full commentary click here.

Promoting Independence to Ensure Justice
6/22/2006

The Hawaii Chapter of the American Judicature Society ("AJS") has appointed A&W partner Rosemary Fazio to sit on its Special Committee on Judicial Independence. Judicial independence is one of the key pillars of democracy and a primary area of focus for AJS. Find out more information about the American Judicature Society.

Ms. President
5/22/2006

A&W partner Lynne Jenkins McGivern is the 2006-2007 president of Hawaii Women Lawyers. Ms. McGivern practices Family Law and handles matters such as divorces, paternity actions, custody cases, and restraining orders. She is particularly respected for her work in cases involving domestic violence dynamics. Prior to joining A&W in 2001, Ms. McGivern was a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu for ten years. From 1997 - 2000 she was the Branch Chief of the Felony Domestic Violence Unit. Currently, Ms. McGivern is the board president of the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline and is also on the board of Hawaii Women's Legal Foundation.

Mr. President
5/22/2006

A&W litigator Russell H. Ando is the current president of the University of Hawaii's Colleges of Arts and Sciences Alumni Association (CASAA). CASAA was established in 1993 and is a recognized chapter of the University of Hawai�i Alumni Association. Its mission is �to serve as a valuable link between the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and the community in promoting awareness and appreciation of, and pride in, the lifetime value of a liberal arts education obtained at UH.� Mr. Ando earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Hawai`i at Manoa in 1977. He went on to law school at the University of Oregon, where he served as an Associate Editor for the Oregon Law Review. After law school, he clerked for the Honorable Edward H. Nakamura, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Hawaii. Today, Mr. Ando focuses his practice on commercial litigation, foreclosures, landlord-tenant law, contractual disputes, and collections.

One of the Best
5/1/2006

Bruce Graham, the head of A&W's real property section, is listed as one of the top real estate attorneys in Hawaii in the 2006 Chambers USA rankings.

Judge Tosses Union Suit Over Sale of Hilo Hotel
3/11/2006

A&W litigator Kevin Herring prevailed on a motion to dismiss a labor union's lawsuit against the new owner of the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort. Read More

A&W Appellate Victory Protects Kamehameha Schools' Land From Wrongful Condemnation
12/8/2005

Read the Opinion

James K. Mee's October article for the Hawaii Credit Union League
10/25/2005

Read the article 'The Shoreline Boundary'

Five A&W Attorneys Among the "Best Lawyers in America"�
6/1/2005

A. James Wriston, Jr., Bruce Graham, Michael Gibson, Rosemary Fazio and Cuyler Shaw continue to be selected by their peers to be included among the "Best Lawyers in America"� as well as being ranked among Hawaii�s Best Lawyers in Honolulu� Magazine. Mr. Wriston, Mr. Graham, Mr. Gibson and Ms. Fazio were recognized for their vast experience in real estate law. Mr. Shaw continues to be recognized for his expertise in health care law.

Ashford & Wriston Giving Back to the Community
by Stefanie Loo Jefts, The Nature Conservancy Outreach Coordinator
3/12/2005

Ashford & Wriston employees, their families and friends came out to Honouliuli Preserve on March 12 to assist TNC staff with weed removal around rare, endangered, and common native plants. They also helped to clear new areas for next year's planting season. The outing was almost cancelled due to weather but the group's enthusiasm, dedication, and sunny disposition prevailed. Everyone had a wonderful time and a lot was accomplished! A Big MAHALO for all your help to protect Hawai`i's precious resources. Ashford & Wriston has provided legal expertise in Hawai`i for 50 years. They have a diverse civil practice with emphasis in all aspects of real property law and civil litigation. Specific areas of practice include real estate, corporate and partnership matters, commercial litigation, bankruptcy, taxation, trusts and estate planning, environmental, land use, condemnation, health care, employment, family, commercial, technology, banking and finance law.

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