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Paul W. Soenksen

Paul W. Soenksen

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Practice Areas

  • Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Complex Asset Division
  • Custody
  • Premarital Agreements
  • Post-Decree Enforcement
  • Paternity

Biography

Paul W. Soenksen is Senior Counsel of Coates Frey & Hackett. Paul came to the firm in 1997 and was a practicing attorney focused on civil litigation and family law cases until 2012 when he assumed his new role as Senior Counsel. Macheras v. Center Art Galleries, et al., and Mariner v. Hilton, et al. are two of his most renowned victories in his career.

Paul has done significant work for mental health legislation in Hawaii during his career. He was president of the Hawaii State Alliance for the Mentally Ill for two years. During his presidency, he successfully lobbied the Hawaii Legislature to amend the State's civil commitment laws. In addition, Paul was a seminar speaker on Mechanics' Lien and Miller Act claims, Drug Testing, and on Mental Health Law for Social Workers, Counselors, and other Helping Professionals in Hawaii.

Education

  • University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), San Francisco, California
    • Juris Doctorate - 1987
    • Honors: Hastings Moot Court Oral Award
    • Honors: Recipient of American Jurisprudence Award, Torts
  • University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii
    • B.A., Bachelor of Arts - 1983
    • Honors: Dean's List
    • Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
    • Honors: With Distinction
    • Major: Liberal Studies Pre-Law
  • Kaiser High School
    • Graduate - 1976

Bar Admissions

  • Hawaii, 1987
  • U.S. Federal Courts, 1987
  • U.S. District Court District of Hawaii

Representative Cases

  • Macheras v. Center Art Galleries, et. al., and Mariner v. Hilton, et. al.

Classes & Seminars

  • Seminar Speaker on Mechanics' Lien and Miller Act claims, Drug Testing, and on Mental Health Law for Social Workers, Counselors, and other Helping Professionals in Hawaii

Pro-Bono Activities

  • Assistant Scoutmaster, Boy Scout Troop 42, Aloha Council

Past Positions

  • Kessner Duca Umebayashi Bain & Matsunaga, Associate Attorney, Shareholder, Director

Fraternities or Sororities

  • Phi Delta Phi

Professional Associations

  • Family Law Section, Hawaii State Bar Association, Member
  • President of the Hawaii State Alliance for the Mentally Ill between 1992 and 1994

Current Employment Positions

  • Senior Counsel