Tokioka Smith, A Limited Liability Law Company
Your Local Hawaii Counsel
At Tokioka Smith, we represent individuals and businesses involved in civil disputes throughout the Hawaiian Islands. With more than a decade of experience litigating cases in Hawaii state and federal courts, our attorneys are committed to removing as much of your legal burden as possible by leveraging technology to more efficiently and cost-effectively assist our clients with achieving their goals. We also employ creative and nontraditional billing strategies for select cases, such as contingency fee, flat fee, and other hybrid arrangements.
Legal Disputes, Honolulu, Hawaii
Practice Areas
At Tokioka Smith, A Limited Liability Law Company, we provide the following legal services.
Business / Real Estate / Insurance Disputes
Whether you are a business owner, buyer/seller of real property, or an injured party, we understand that being involved in a lawsuit can be one of the most stressful times in a person’s life. Our attorneys have experience handling a myriad of complex business, real estate, and insurance disputes. Some examples include: prosecuting federal court action for breach of purchase and sale agreement for luxury beachfront property; settling business insurance claims arising out of condo fire; successfully representing Japanese corporate clients embroiled in ownership dispute over Waikiki hotel.
Local Counsel Arrangements
We provide local counsel services to national/international law firms whose clients have disputes that wind-up in federal or state court in Hawaii. Whether it’s compliance with local pro hac vice rules, preparing and filing pleadings/motions, or making court appearances, our attorneys work closely with their pro hac vice counterparts to navigate Hawaii’s unique legal system in service to our mutual clients. Examples of our attorneys’ experience include: serving as local counsel to global telecom company involved in separate lawsuits filed in state and federal court; providing local counsel services to international law firm defending chip manufacturer in federal class action; working with national IP counsel in copyright suit brought by local photographer.
Medical Malpractice / Wrongful Death / Catastrophic Injury
We represent local residents and visitors that are the victims of medical malpractice, wrongful death, or other catastrophic injury. We only take cases that we believe in and must be selective in accepting new matters. If we agree to represent you, we will do whatever we can to assist with all aspects of your case to relieve as much of the burden as possible from you and your loved ones. For these types of matters only, we offer our services on a purely contingent basis, meaning we only get paid if you receive compensation. Examples of our attorneys’ experience include: representing victims of medical malpractice before state administrative agencies and courts; serving as lead trial counsel to grieving mother and her son's estate; negotiating substantial settlements on behalf of injured clients.
Legal Disputes Lawyer
About Tokioka Smith, A Limited Liability Law Company
Motivated by technological advances in the legal industry coupled with soaring costs, Tokioka Smith, a boutique civil litigation law firm, was formed to provide high quality legal services with flexible pricing options suitable for a diverse clientele. Whether you are a local business or individual involved in a commercial, real estate, or insurance dispute, a national/international law firm looking for experienced local counsel to represent a mutual client in federal or state court, or a resident/visitor who suffered a catastrophic event, we will bring our passion and experience in helping guide your matter toward a successful resolution. Best Lawyers® selected Tokioka Smith for inclusion in Best Law Firms®, United States (2024).
Legal Disputes Legal Team
Meet the team
Small firm passion/ Big firm experience
Jaime Tokioka
Member
Born and raised in Honolulu, Ms. Tokioka is an alumna of Punahou School, Pitzer College, and William S. Richardson School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude and received academic awards for achieving the highest grades in Advanced Torts & Insurance Law, Constitutional Law II, Advanced Civil Procedure, and her second-year legal writing seminar. After her clerkship with the Honorable Lawrence M. Reifurth (ret.), State of Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, Ms. Tokioka spent 4 years in private practice working for two of the top private law firms in commercial litigation and energy law. An award-winning legal researcher and published writer, Ms. Tokioka has been recognized on the Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch list in Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Environmental, and Litigation - Real Estate, and on the Super Lawyers® Rising Stars list since 2023.
Jesse Smith
Managing Member
With over a decade of experience in private practice litigating high-profile cases at two of Hawaii’s top law firms, Mr. Smith is a civil trial attorney whose practice focuses on a diverse client group involved in local, national, and cross-border disputes. Originally hailing from the snowy Northeast where he graduated from Hamilton College, Mr. Smith moved to Honolulu to attend William S. Richardson School of Law after spending four years working and studying abroad in Japan. Prior to forming Tokioka Smith, Mr. Smith was formerly a partner at one of Hawaii’s largest litigation law firms and the head of litigation at another premier energy law firm. In 2023, the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii appointed Mr. Smith to serve a three-year term as one of its lawyer delegates. Recognized by Best Lawyers® since 2021 and Super Lawyers® since 2014, Mr. Smith is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association, Federal Bar Association (Hawaii Chapter), Litigation Counsel of America (Proven Trial Lawyers), and SAG/AFTRA.
Get in touch with
Tokioka Smith, A Limited Liability Law Company
Call us
(808) 983-1685
Location
500 Ala Moana Blvd, Suite 7-409
Honolulu, HI 96813
General Inquiry
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