Stephanie E.W. Thompson

Stephanie E. W. Thompson is a Director of the firm. Ms. Thompson concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial and real estate civil litigation. 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 disputes. Ms. Thompson has also participated in other legal matters involving construction and environmental issues, trust and estates, fraudulent transfers of land, and wrongful death claims.

Ms. Thompson was named to the Best Lawyers in America® list in the practice areas of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Electronic Discovery and Information Management and Real Estate Litigation. She holds an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell® for both her skill and integrity. Ms. Thompson has been recognized by Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business in the practice area of Litigation; General Commercial. Ms. Thompson has been selected for inclusion to the Hawaii Super Lawyers® list since 2021, in the practice area of business litigation. She was the 2015 Litigation Section Chair for the Hawaii State Bar Association, and a member of the board from 2011 through 2016. Since 2014, she has co-chaired the Hawaii State Bar’s Litigation Academy, a two-day intensive course regarding litigation practice.

In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Thompson has developed and presents workshops relating to eDiscovery for small businesses as well as ethical considerations relating to eDiscovery practice for attorneys. She has been a guest speaker at various civic organizations and has presented on the topic for bar organizations not only across the State of Hawaii, but also the nation. She has been a guest speaker on various radio programs including Hawaii Public Radio's The Conversation and Think Tank Hawaii’s Life in Law series. For the last 3 years she has taught the course on eDiscovery at the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii.

Some examples of her work include:

Commercial Litigation. Successfully represented a large financial institution involving employment contract related claims. Successfully resolved partnership claims involving a multi-million dollar real estate development company. Represented both individual land companies in arbitration resolving leasehold interests, ejectment and foreclosure claims.

Land use/Real Estate Litigation. Ongoing representation of homeowners against their association for violations of the association’s governing documents and City/County ordinances. Successfully resolved association’s claims against individual homeowners for violations related to the association’s design/architectural standards.

Construction Transactions and Litigation. Ongoing revision and formation of construction contracts for construction corporations. Successfully represented private parties in a construction defects suit involving their multi-million dollar residence. Successfully resolved claims relating to allegations of failures to disclose defects in the purchase of real estate.

Labor/Employment Disputes. Successfully represented an employer in federal court involving claims of fraud and wrongful termination. Resolved claims relating to covenants not to compete on behalf of a private corporation through arbitration.

Trust & Estate Litigation. Favorably resolved claims against a major land-owning trust. Successfully represented an estate in the prosecution of claims relating to fraud and wrongful death.

Landlord/Tenant. Obtained a six-figure judgment against a tenant in a commercial landlord/tenant summary possession dispute. Successfully tried numerous cases relating to landlord/tenant disputes.

Pro Bono. Representation of a Hawaii non-profit in the analysis and revision of its Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws. Representation of several low-income families in matters related to adoption, child custody, and divorce issues.