William N. Ota, Esq. ◦ Leighton M. Hara, Esq.
Pacific Guardian Center, Mauka Tower
737 Bishop Street, Suite 2860 ◦ Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 532-1728 ◦ Fax: (808) 532-1729 ◦ www.ota-hara.com
Leighton M. Hara
Pacific Guardian Center
737 Bishop Street, Suite 2860
Honolulu, HI 96813-3290
(808) 532-1728
Recognition
Leighton holds Martindale-Hubbell's highest possible rating (AV Preeminent) in both legal ability and professional ethics, based on ratings submitted by peers with personal knowledge of Leighton’s work, reputation, and integrity. Leighton has also been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© based on an exhaustive peer-review survey of over 50,000 leading attorneys, and in Super Lawyers®, a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.
Licensure
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Admitted to practice in all Hawaii state and federal courts
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Admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
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Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States
Education
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University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law (J.D.)
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University of Hawaii (B.B.A. in Marketing with Distinction)
Memberships
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American Bar Association
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Hawaii State Bar Association
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Federal Bar Association
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Board of Directors, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii
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Board of Bar Examiners, Hawaii Supreme Court
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Member, Japanese Sword Society of Hawaii
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Arbitrator, Court Annexed Arbitration Program
Professional Experience
Leighton M. Hara represents clients in a wide range of high-stakes litigation, including disputes related to employment matters, contracts, personal injury, and commercial transactions. Leighton’s clients have included numerous high-profile corporations, executives, agencies, and organizations, including major airlines, hospitals, and hotels. Leighton has significant litigation experience, having participated in jury and non-jury trials in both state and federal courts.
Prior to joining the firm, Leighton was a partner at Marr Jones & Wang LLLP, where he handled numerous employment litigation matters, conducted in-house trainings on best employment practices, and participated in corporate investigations. Leighton also practiced commercial litigation at Watanabe Ing, LLLP where he defended numerous corporations, governmental entities, and individuals in civil actions. Leighton served as a law clerk at the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit, State of Hawaii, to the Honorable Riki May Amano and the Honorable Terence T. Yoshioka.
In addition to his litigation practice, Leighton devotes a considerable amount of time to pro bono matters and serving the community as a member of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii and the Board of Bar Examiners of the Hawaii Supreme Court.