HONOLULU (August 21, 2025) – Cades Schutte LLP was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America with 60 attorneys ranked in 52 practices for Hawai‘i, including five newly ranked attorneys. In addition, a record number of Cades Schutte attorneys were named “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu with 10 partners recognized.
Attorneys recognized in their respective categories byBest Lawyers® as the “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu are:
- Trever K. Asam was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2026 Tax Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu.
- Calvert G. Chipchase was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2026 Litigation – Real Estate “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu.
- C. Michael Heihre was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2026 Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu.
- Chris S. Mashiba was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2026 Litigation and Controversy – Tax “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu.
- Craig I. Nakanishi was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2026 Energy Regulatory Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu.
- Trisha L. Nishimoto was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2026 Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu.
- Nathan T. Okubo was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2026 Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu.
- Mauna Kea Trask was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2026 Litigation – Land Use and Zoning “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu.
- Keith Y. Yamada was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2026 Construction Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu.
- Theodore D. C. Young was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2026 Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Honolulu.
The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 Edition for Honolulu, HI:
*Attorney ranked by Best Lawyers® for the first time.
- Trisha H.S.T. Akagi: Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, and Litigation – Real Estate.
- Trever K. Asam: Litigation and Controversy – Tax and Tax Law.
- Lisa D. Ayabe: Banking and Finance Law, Leisure and Hospitality Law, and Real Estate Law.
- David F. E. Banks: Corporate Law, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Securities Regulation.
- Pōhai Nu’uhiwa Campbell*: Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
- Calvert G. Chipchase: Appellate Practice, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Government Contracts, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate, and Real Estate Law.
- Dennis W. Chong Kee: Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Real Estate.
- John P. Duchemin: Litigation – Real Estate
- Roger W. Fonseca: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Vito Galati: Litigation and Controversy – Tax, and Tax Law.
- Christopher T. Goodin: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate and Real Estate Law.
- Rhonda L. Griswold: Litigation – Trusts and Estates, and Trusts and Estates.
- Ryan M. Hamaguchi*: Corporate Law
- Christopher T. Harrison: Banking and Finance Law, Litigation – Real Estate and Real Estate Law.
- C. Michael Heihre: Arbitration, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate, Real Estate Law
- Sachi E. Hiatt: Real Estate Law
- Martin E. Hsia: Advertising Law, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law, Trade Secrets Law, and Trademark Law
- Cheryl L.M.T. Itagaki*: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Amanda M. Jones: Arbitration, Education Law, Employment Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment.
- Rick Kiefer: Banking and Finance Law, Litigation – Real Estate, and Real Estate Law.
- Kelly G. LaPorte: Construction Law, Education Law, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate, and Real Estate Law.
- Philip J. Leas: Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, and Real Estate Law.
- Michele S. Loudermilk: Banking and Finance Law, and Real Estate Law.
- John R. Love: Banking and Finance Law, Leisure and Hospitality Law, and Real Estate Law.
- Chris S. Mashiba: Litigation and Controversy – Tax, and Tax Law.
- Lindsay N. McAneeley: Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Real Estate, and Water Law.
- Patricia J. McHenry: Environmental Law
- Michi Momose: Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, and Litigation – Real Estate
- Geoffrey T. Mukae: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), and Corporate Law.
- Mark K. Murakami: Environmental Law, and Real Estate Law.
- Craig I. Nakanishi: Administrative / Regulatory Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Energy Law, and Energy Regulatory Law.
- Kirk M. Neste: Litigation – Construction
- Trisha L. Nishimoto: Litigation – Health Care, Litigation – Insurance, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Nathan T. Okubo: Banking and Finance Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Real Estate, and Real Estate Law.
- Peter W. Olson: Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance, and Media Law.
- Jeffrey M. Osterkamp: Construction Law
- Jeffrey S. Portnoy: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Management, Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Litigation – First Amendment, Litigation – Insurance, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants.
- Paul M. Saito: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment.
- David Schulmeister: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, and Litigation – Construction.
- Summer G. Shelverton: Litigation – Trusts and Estates, and Trusts and Estates.
- Kristin S. Shigemura: Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment, and Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants.
- W. Keoni Shultz: Litigation – Real Estate, and Real Estate Law.
- Justin M. Sugiyama: Banking and Finance Law, and Real Estate Law.
- Lisa K. Swartzfager*: Litigation – Real Estate
- Mauna Kea Trask: Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate, and Real Estate Law.
- Andrea K. Ushijima: Banking and Finance Law, and Real Estate Law.
- Daniel C. Vermillion: Litigation – Trusts and Estates, and Trusts and Estates.
- Roy A. Vitousek III: Commercial Litigation, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate, and Real Estate Law.
- Lori K. Wilke: Real Estate Law
- Ryan M. Wilson: Tax Law
- Keith Y. Yamada: Arbitration, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction, and Mediation.
- Nathan C. Yang: Real Estate Law
- Theodore D.C. Young: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, and Litigation – Bankruptcy.
The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 Edition for Kahului, HI:
- Keola R. Whittaker: Land Use and Zoning Law.
The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 Edition for Lihue, HI:
- Allison Mizuo Lee: Commercial Litigation, and Litigation – Real Estate.
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2026 Edition for Honolulu, HI:
*Attorney ranked by Best Lawyers® for the first time.
- Darene K. Matsuoka: Land Use and Zoning Law, and Real Estate Law.
- Caitlin M. Moon: Litigation – Trusts and Estates, and Trusts and Estates.
- Bryce M. Nakamura: Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction, and Litigation – Real Estate.
- Reyn S.P. Ono*: Banking and Finance Law, and Real Estate Law.
- Michael R. Soon Fah: Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction, and Litigation – Real Estate.
About Cades Schutte LLP
Cades Schutte is a full-service law firm based in Honolulu, Hawai‘i with approximately 80 attorneys who provide legal services in more than 40 practice and industry areas for local, national, and international clients. The firm regularly handles estate planning, tax, real estate, finance, and civil litigation matters from its main office in Honolulu, and offices in Kahului, Kona, Līhuʻe, and Waimea. Founded in 1922, Cades Schutte attorneys have served as counsel in some of the most notable cases and transactions in Hawaiʻi for more than a century. For more information, visit cades.com.
Contact:
Julia Hudson
Marketing & Business Development Manager
808.521.9353
communications@cades.com
