ESTABLISHED 2011
ESTABLISHED 2011
Showa Law Office is the law office of Andrew Daisuke Stewart, Esq. in Honolulu Hawaii. The word “Showa” In Japanese means “enlightened peace,” which is the state of mind I strive to provide my clients with as they navigate
their particular legal challenge.
I pride myself in having knowledge in a wide array of legal specialties ranging from simple contract issues to complex litigation matters, as well as, business, employment, criminal and even family law. I am a strong believer in analyzing the “big picture “ prior to formulating an effective legal strategy. (That being said, if your legal issue requires a specialist in a particular field of expertise, I will make the necessary referral. I frequently tell prospective clients, “finding the right attorney is half the battle.”)
Most law firms have large overhead expenses for renting expensive office space and hiring staff. All these expenses are paid by clients in the form of inflated hourly fees and/or higher contingency fee rates. Unfortunately, this traditional law firm business model has forced many attorneys to prioritize profits over serving their clients. Being a solo practitioner, I have the opportunity to be selective about my cases and don’t have the pressure to overcharge my clients.
Prior to making a decision to invest significant time and legal fees into a matter, it is crucial to identify the relevant legal issues in your case. For example, does you situation involve a simple contract dispute, or does it potentially involve tort claims,
such as fraud or defamation, or statutory claims like unfair business practices? Other questions to ask include the complexity and scope of your case. Can the issue be resolved by a simple demand letter from an attorney, or will it be necessary to file a lawsuit in court?
What are the possible outcomes that can result from filing a lawsuit?
And last but not least, how much will hiring legal representation cost you in terms of your time and most importantly, legal fees?
Whether it’s a business dispute, an employment case, or an insurance claim, in most situations you have or will have already entered into some type of contract that determines your rights and duties.
Thus, it is imperative to have a competent attorney review the contract and then analyze and explain those rights and duties to you. In some circumstance, certain contractual provisions may not be enforceable and there maybe loopholes or back doors to get around certain contractual provisions. Examples include overly broad non-compete clauses or confidentiality clauses that violate a statute or public policy. Similarly, when drafting a contract, you are entering into, it is crucial to incorporate key provisions and specific language that will anticipate certain situations and protect you in the future.
Because Hawaii is an at-will employment state, unless you have an official employment contract like union workers, employees have very little legal rights in the workplace. That being said, both federal and Hawaii laws protect workers from unlawful workplace discrimination. Unlawful workplace discrimination is generally defined as discrimination based on characteristics like your race, gender, age, sexual orientation or disability. However, unlike other types of claims, employment discrimination claims must typically be filed within 180 days with a government agency rather than directly in court.
Therefore, it is important you consult with an attorney right away before your legal claims expire.
Filing a lawsuit is stressful, time-consuming, and expensive. Therefore, it should always be the option of last resort. But sometimes filing a lawsuit is your only option. Attorney Andrew Stewart has significant experience in filing lawsuits and defending against lawsuits in a wide variety of cases including: business, employment, personal injury, real estate, AOAO issues, landlord-tenant, consumer protection, and collection cases on both Oahu and Maui, as well as in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii.
Mr. Stewart has first chaired several jury trials in state court, as well as second chaired a high profile white collar criminal case in federal court.
Small businesses constantly face various legal needs. These include amending corporate documents, registering trade names, recovering account receivables, dealing with regulatory agencies, drafting an employee handbook or workplace policy, negotiating a lease,
and fending off legal claims from disgruntled customers or employees, to name a few. Owners and managers need a trustworthy lawyer they can consult quickly, who is familiar with their business and knowledgeable about different areas of the law. This long-term relationship at a reasonable cost is key to the success and longevity of a small business whether you run a restaurant, a real estate agency or a contracting business.
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