At Coates Frey & Hackett, AAL LLLC, Tom focuses on family law litigation, including divorce, child custody and support, post-decree enforcement, adoptions, guardianships, and paternity matters.
After becoming eligible to practice law in all Hawaii State Courts, Tom served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Colleen K. Hirai where he assisted the court by reviewing cases regarding trusts, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships.
Following his clerkship, Tom worked as an associate with Bronster Crabtree Hoshibata concentrating on estate and trust litigation and civil litigation, after which he had a solo practice for several years.
In his free time, he has frequently appeared on Olelo Community Television.
Tom attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the University of Hawaii and St. Thomas University School of Law where he obtained his J.D. He is a proud graduate of Iolani School.
In 2018, he was a Fellow for the HSBA Leadership Institute as well as Family Law Section Chair.
He is currently a member of the Hawaii Board of Bar Examiners and serves as a Volunteer Settlement Master for family court. Tom was a speaker at several family law seminars for the National Business Institute ("NBI") and most recently made a presentation regarding case law at the September 2020 Family Law Forum and at the Family Law Section's Update at the October 2021 Hawaii Bar Convention.
Articles
Hawaii Bar Journal, September 2021, Custody Considerations in a COVID-19 Era and Thoughts for the Future