NEWTON J. CHU is the resident director in the firm's Hilo office and practices in the areas of labor and  employment, immigration, and general corporate law matters.  Mr. Chu received his B.A. degree from the University of Hawaii, and his J.D. degree from Antioch School of Law.  At the University of Hawaii, Mr. Chu earned the Lee-shao Chang Award for Excellence in Chinese Studies.  Prior to joining the firm in 1995, Mr. Chu was a partner with Eng, Nishimura & Chu in Los Angeles, California.  Mr. Chu advises numerous companies throughout the state of Hawaii, both large and small, several non-profit corporations and scientific institutions, and he is active in the community.  He currently serves on the boards of directors of the Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island, The Hawaii Island United Way, and the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce (Past President 2000-01).  He is also a member of the Kona Kohala Chamber of Commerce, the Society of Human Resource Management, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii,  and the Rotary Club of Hilo (Past President 2002-03).   Mr. Chu is a member of both the California and Hawaii Bar. 

ROGER W. FONSECA is a director of the firm, where he practices in the areas of corporate law, business organization, ERISA and employee benefits.  Mr. Fonseca received his B.A., summa cum laude, in Political Science from Occidental College and his J.D. degree from Yale University and has practiced with the firm since 1974.  He has taught and lectured extensively in the pension field both in Hawaii and on the mainland.

JEFFREY S. HARRIS is a director and current Chair of the Labor and Employment Law Department.  His practice concentrates in the area of wrongful discharge, harassment, retaliation, discrimination, wages and hours, employee benefits, safety and health, union organizing, unfair labor practices, collective bargaining, arbitration and all other areas of labor and employment law.  Mr. Harris has been with the firm since 1980.  He received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley.   Mr. Harris has been selected by Best Lawyers in America.  He has been named as one of Hawaii's "A+ Lawyers" by Honolulu Magazine.  He regularly contributes to the “Law Watch” column published in Hawaii Business Magazine.

SHERI-ANN S.L. LAU CLARK joined the firm as an associate in the Labor and Employment Department in 2001.  She received her B.B.A. in Human Resource Management from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and later received her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from the William S. Richardson School of Law.  During law school, she was the managing editor of the University of Hawaii Law Review and was awarded the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for both Constitutional Law I and Evidence.

ERNEST C. "CARY" MOORE III is a director with the firm, where he has practiced in the area of employment law and labor relations since 1974.  He represents management in all employment and labor law matters, including alternative dispute resolution, discipline and discharge policies, and avoiding discrimination and sexual harassment claims.  Mr. Moore received his A.B. degree in Government from Dartmouth College and his J.D. degree from Southern Methodist University Law School.  He is listed in the current edition of The Best Lawyers in America, and was recently named one of the State's "A+ Lawyers," a list of 70 outstanding attorneys compiled by Honolulu Magazine. Mr. Moore has presented numerous seminars on all aspects of employment and labor law to a wide variety of community groups.  Mr. Moore is a trustee of La Pietra - Hawaiÿi School for Girls and the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Industrial Relations Research Association and the Pacific Club.

HEATHER M. RICKENBRODE joined the firm in 2004 and is an associate practicing in the Labor and Employment, Business Litigation, and Corporate departments.  Ms. Rickenbrode is a 2004 magna cum laude graduate of the Tulane University School of Law, where she was named to the Order of the Coif. She was a member of the Tulane Law Review Editorial Board and Senior Articles Editor, 2003-04. She received her undergraduate degree from New College of Florida, graduating in 1999 with a bachelor of environmental science.  Ms. Rickenbrode is the author of "Expanding the Docket: the Fifth Circuit Disregards Judicial Economy in Grant v. Chevron Phillips Chemical Company," which appeared in the Tulane Law Review, Spring 2003 (77 Tul. L. Rev. 1453).

PAUL M. SAITO is a director and shareholder with the firm, where he practices extensively in the areas of employee relations, union matters, discrimination, wage and hour, workplace violence, wrongful termination and employment-related torts, as well as general labor areas.  He received his Bachelors of Business Administration degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law.  Mr. Saito speaks extensively on employment law issues for the Chamber of Commerce, Lorman Educational Services, the National Business Institute, and the Governor’s Pacific Rim Safety and Health Conference.  Mr. Saito currently represents employers on the States’ Criminal History Record Checks Working Group, serves  as the Chairman of the Human Resources Committee for the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and is a member of the Chamber’s Government Affairs Council.  As Chair, Mr. Saito educates legislators of the potential impact of proposed laws, and monitors and opposes federal and state efforts to enact laws that could have a negative impact on Hawaii’s businesses.  In 2002 and 2003, Paul was honored by the Chamber with its Chairman's Award and President’s Award, respectively, in recognition of the countless hours he has devoted to representing businesses before the Hawaii Legislature.

WAYNE S. YOSHIGAI is a director with the firm, where he practices in the area of and has extensive experience in representing employers in administrative and judicial proceedings, including arbitration, and litigation in state and federal courts.   His practice concentrates in the area of harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, employee privacy, drug and alcohol testing, union organizing, unfair labor practices and all other areas of labor and employment law.   He has practiced with the firm since 1986.  Mr. Yoshigai received his B.A. degree, cum laude, in History and Literature from Claremont McKenna College and his J.D. degree from George Washington University.  He is known for his unique and effective training for management and employees on sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, workplace violence and substance abuse.  Mr. Yoshigai provides pro bono counsel to the Episcopal Church in Hawaii, Ronald McDonald House, the Honolulu Symphony, and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.   He also served on the Hawaii State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management.