Corporate, Litigation, and Labor & Employment Lawyers

Honolulu and Hilo, HI

Lincoln S.T. Ashida

Director

Business Litigation, Employment Litigation

Born in Hilo, Lincoln S.T. Ashida is the longest serving Corporation Counsel in the history of the County of Hawaii, having served in this position from December 2000 to April 2014. As the County's former top civil attorney, his clients included the Mayor, Hawaii County Council, and various other County of Hawaii departments and boards and commissions. Mr. Ashida is also a former deputy prosecuting attorney for the County of Hawaii, who successfully prosecuted many high-profile cases and jury trials that received national attention. He also headed the sex crimes and homicide units at the Prosecuting Attorney's Office during his tenure there and served as a supervising attorney for the Office. Mr. Ashida is a Director at our law firm.

Recognition/Distinctions

Mr. Ashida was the 2009 statewide recipient of the Hawaii State Bar Association's C. Frederick Schutte award for outstanding contribution to the legal profession in the State of Hawaii. In 2010, he was the statewide recipient of the Hawaii State Bar Association Government Lawyer's Section Pro Bono Service Award for outstanding contribution to the community in providing pro bono service and leadership.

Community Involvement

Mr. Ashida is active in our community, involved with the Initiatives Committee of the statewide Access to Justice Commission, the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii, the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce, the East Hawaii Hiroshima Kenjinkai, the Japanese Community Association, the University of Hawaii at Hilo Boosters, the Hawaii State Judiciary's CAAP arbitration program, the Hilo High School Foundation, and the Boy Scouts of America. He is the past president of Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, the Kamehameha Schools Parent-Teacher `Ohana, the Hawaii County Bar Association, and a founding member of the Kalanianaole School Foundation.

He also contributes his time to the community as an instructor in Political Science and Administration of Justice at the University of Hawaii Hilo and judging high school mock trial and other competitions, and speaking at various community forums.

Education

  • J.D., 1987, Creighton University School of Law
  • B.S., 1984, Economics, University of Michigan

Admitted to Practice

  • Hawaii State Bar, 1987
  • United States Federal Court for the District of Hawaii, 1987
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2004
  • United States Supreme Court, 2004

Areas of Practice