Emerging Legal Stars 2024

Pōhai Nu’uhiwa Campbell

Pōhai is a trust/ estates attorney at Cades Schutte LLP, focusing on estate planning, probate and trust administration, and estate disputes. Pōhai is a leader in the Hawaii State Bar Association, where she completed the Leadership Institute, and serves on boards for the Probate and Estate Planning and Elder Law sections. Pōhai prioritizes her community by volunteering with the Hawaii Estate Planning Council, Hawaii Women Lawyers and Hawaii Nature Center, as well as providing pro bono work for Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae. Pōhai has been recognized by the Empowering Oiwi Leadership Award, Best Lawyers Ones to Watch and PBN’s 40 Under 40.

Jarrett A. Dempsey

Jarrett is a litigator focusing on healthcare law at Cades Schutte LLP. His recent representations include winning $2.3 million in forgery/employee dishonesty coverage for a non-profit servicing the adult disability community. Jarrett is currently O‘ahu Director of the Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA) Young Lawyer’s Division. In this role, Jarrett led the expansion of the HSBA’s Legal Lines as volunteer legal hotlines for victims of the August 2023 Maui wildfires a week after they occurred, addressing document replacement, insurance, and landlord-tenant issues. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America®’s Ones to Watch list and was a Fellow in the HSBA 2022 Leadership Institute.

Nathan C. Yang

One of Cades Schutte LLP’s youngest partners, Nate has advised on over $1 billion worth of commercial finance transactions, including Hawaii’s largest Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) projects. Nate has provided pro bono assistance to the Business Law Corps, Legal Lines, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, and Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae. He speaks at events and mentors for the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders and Honolulu Police Community Foundation. Nate participates in industry groups Urban Land Institute and NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Organization and Iolani School and Duke University alumni initiatives. Nate is recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® and Super Lawyers® Rising Stars.

Jai Keep-Barnes

Jai Keep-Barnes is an accomplished litigator at LRVW, excelling in complex construction, real estate, and land use cases. His versatility spans jury and bench trials, class actions, personal injury suits, contract drafting and negotiation, and even appearing before the Hawaii Supreme Court. Keep-Barnes has successfully navigated multi-million-dollar litigation for his clients.

He nurtures legal talent through LRVW’s hiring committee and jointly heads the summer associate program, in collaboration with Richardson School of Law, where he is an alumnus. Community is also important to Keep-Barnes, where he volunteers with the American Heart Association and Read to Me International alongside his wife.

David Imanka

David Imanaka is an associate at LRVW, where he has proven to be a tremendous asset, representing clients in large, multi-million-dollar real estate and construction cases. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation involving sophisticated parties, including landowners, developers, and general contractors, among others. He has successfully navigated several large-scale construction cases to resolution, and is a proactive mentor of the firm’s younger associates.

A proud alumnus of Iolani, USC, and Richardson School of Law, David actively gives back through Hawaii Youth Symphony board leadership, volunteer efforts with Ho’oulu Aina and FORxCHANGE, and contributions to ‘Io Society, BIA, and ULI.

Caitlin M. Moon

Originally from West Maui, Caitlin is a Trusts & Estates attorney at Cades Schutte’s Honolulu offi ce. She is a leader in the legal community, having served as Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA) and participating in the HSBA Leadership Institute in 2023. Caitlin is dedicated to community service, serving on the boards of Aloha Tree Alliance and Hawaii Nature Center. She assists with pro bono estate plans and guardianships for Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii (VLSH), earning VLSH’s 2022 Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney award and will be honored at its 2024 Taste of Justice.

Kari K. Noborikawa

Ms. Noborikawa focuses her practice in commercial litigation. She currently serves as a delegate for the Young Lawyers Division of the Federal Bar Association. Ms. Noborikawa has been selected to the Hawaii Super Lawyers® “Rising Star” list in 2024, in the practice area of business litigation.

Ms. Noborikawa instills confidence in clients, judges, jurors and colleagues. She is fiercely intelligent, yet humble, her analysis is focused, and her presentation of complicated issues simple and clear. Ms. Noborikawa already performs at a level beyond her years, and she will be one of Hawaii’s leading practitioners.

Lisa M. Yang

Lisa Yang is truly a rising star handling several civil trials as lead attorney. She has taken on a number of leadership roles in the legal community and was the 2023 President of the Young Lawyers Division of the HSBA. Lisa is generous with her time as a mentor as well as helping non-profit organizations. Lisa has a diverse educational background graduating in the first class of Kamehameha Schools Hawaii in Keaau before going to Stanford University. She is also proud alum of the William S. Richardson School of Law and the Shidler College of Business.

Sara S.T. Strona

Ms. Strona focuses her practice on commercial real estate transactions, leasing, business sales and acquisitions, and corporate law. “She is truly an expert in business and real estate law and demonstrates high integrity, collaborative skill, conscientiousness and dedication.” (Best Law Firms Client Comment).

Ms. Strona previously served as President of the ‘Iolani Alumni Association’s Board of Directors and currently serves on the ‘Io Society Leadership Committee.  She is a Founding Director of Commercial Real Estate Women of Hawaii (CREW Hawaii) and volunteers with Business Law Corps to provide pro bono legal advice to individuals and small businesses in the community.