Trevor A. Brown
Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher, A Law Corporation
Years In Practice
27
Trevor A. Brown represents clients in both litigation and transactions. His real estate experience ranges from resort acquisition and development to acting as trial counsel to establish beach access rights based on Kingdom of Hawaii land use. Mr. Brown’s corporate experience ranges from negotiating corporate restructurings to acting as trial counsel to force the break-up of related land development corporations.
He holds Martindale-Hubbell’s highest possible professional rating (AV) for both his skill and integrity. Mr. Brown is recognized in Best Lawyers in America in ten categories: Business Organization (including LLC’s and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Commercial Transactions/UCC Law, Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, Commercial Litigation, Trusts & Estates Litigation, Securities Litigation, Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law and Real Estate Litigation. Mr. Brown has been named 2017 "Lawyer of the Year" in Honolulu, in the practice area of Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law, and 2019 "Lawyer of the Year" in Honolulu, in the practice area of Closely Held Companies & Family Businesses Law. Mr. Brown has been selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers list since 2013, and named to the 2015 Top 25 list, Business Litigation.
Mr. Brown is recognized by Chambers and Partners USA Leading Lawyers for Business in the practice area of litigation. Chambers and Partners USA High Net Worth Guide also recognizes Mr. Brown in the practice area of Private Wealth Law each year since 2017. Mr. Brown was among the first Hawaii lawyers to be reviewed by the guide, and the firm is one of 4 firms recognized in the State of Hawaii. Mr. Brown is also recognized by Benchmark Litigation (Litigation Star) for his litigation expertise.
Mr. Brown is the former Chair of the Litigation Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association.
Mr. Brown has acted as special counsel to provide legal opinions in complex financing transactions. He served as a Co-Reporter for the Opinion Committee of the Real Property and Financial Services Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association. The Committee’s Hawaii 2000 Report on Lawyer’s Opinion Letters in Mortgage Loan Transactions, 22 U. Haw. L. Rev. 347 (2000), is regarded as establishing the standard of practice in Hawaii.Mr. Brown lives in Kaimuki with his wife and three children.
Some examples of Mr. Brown’s work include:
Real Estate Litigation. Acting as trial counsel to establish easement rights for beach access, including presenting testimony and arguments related to use of property dating back to the Kingdom of Hawaii. Canceling a fraudulent deed arising out of an international murder and theft scheme that was the subject of national press coverage.
Complex Contract/Corporate Litigation. Acting as trial counsel to enforce contracts, obtain control, and ultimately force the break-up of a group of related corporations in the land subdivision business.
Fraudulent Transfer Litigation. In separate cases, both prosecuting and defending fraudulent transfer claims involving multi-million dollar international transactions.
Entitlement Litigation. Defending development rights against constitutional and statutory challenges to allow the construction of a large Waikiki Hotel. Presenting lay and expert testimony in a contested proceeding before a neighbor island Planning Commission to restrict shopping center development with adverse affects on client’s existing center.
Trust Litigation. Defending a trustee of a large land-holding trust from claims of alleged self-dealing and misconduct. Serving as lead litigation counsel in probate and circuit court to take control of a trust and related corporate entities.
Debt/Property Acquisitions: Acquiring notes and mortgages as a means of obtaining control of real property assets (golf courses, undeveloped land, and residential properties) and then obtaining control of the assets through enforcement of the debt instruments.
Secured Transactions: Acting as lead local counsel in a variety of complex secured transactions including the assignment of a billion dollar attorney fee award and a $100 million asset management fee income stream. Acting as lead litigation counsel to establish the priority of a judgment creditor’s claim over a secured creditor based on financing statement defects.
Communication Facilities: Serving as lead local counsel for a national company which acquires, constructs, and maintains towers for mobile phone antennas, addressing land use, zoning, leasing, and regulatory issues.
Real Estate Development/Transactions: Representing landowners developing resorts and mixed use commercial developments, including negotiating development agreements, construction contracts and leases. Representing clients in a variety of real property acquisitions, including developed properties, raw land and leased fees.
Corporate Transactions. Restructuring the relationship between majority and minority shareholders in a closely held corporation, negotiating the sale of a closely held corporation, and structuring the buy-out of a minority shareholder.
Securities Litigation. Representing a national brokerage house and obtaining summary judgment disposing of claims of alleged securities law violations.
Mediation. Mediating disputes related to the dissolution of a law partnership including the division of large contingent fees. Environmental Litigation. Litigating cost recovery claims related to environmental contamination.
What One of Mr. Brown's Clients says:"My experience with Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher has been very satisfying for several reasons: 1) they have high ethical standards; 2) they network with a wide range of highly regarded attorneys and other professionals; 3) they are responsive and communicate well; 4) they manage legal fees well."Calvin Takara, Associate Pastor, Kaimuki Christian Church
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
