Biography

Mike helps clients in their initial organization, structuring and business dealings. He also represents clients in mergers and acquisitions, capital and other financings, and regulatory compliance.

Mike regularly counsels clients on tax planning matters and in proceedings before tax authorities. He also works with clients on corporate governance and fiduciary duties.

Mike served as editor-in-chief of the Harvard Journal on Legislation and was a teaching assistant at Harvard Law School.

Following graduation, he practiced with a Wall Street firm in New York City for four years, then returned home to Hawai‘i and joined Goodsill, where he became a partner in the firm’s corporate and tax groups. He rejoined the firm in 2008, following a 15-year hiatus during which he was a partner at another law firm and then worked for nine years as a director with PricewaterhouseCoopers and its successor in Hawai‘i.

OUTSIDE THE OFFICE

For over 20 years, Mike has been a volunteer director and chair with Hawai‘i Pacific Health affiliates, including Kapi’olani Health Foundation and Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women and Children.

Education

Harvard University Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- J.D. - 1981
- Honors: Teaching Assistant
Claremont-McKenna College, Claremont, California
- B.A. - 1977
- Honors: summa cum laude

Published Works

Hawaii Sales (General Excise) & Use Taxes, American Bar Association Handbook on Sales and Use Taxes, 1987 - Present
Co-author, Hawaii Chapter, ABA Real Property Tax Deskbook

Bar Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1981
Hawaii, 1981
U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1984
U.S. District Court District of Hawaii, 1982
New York, 1983
U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 1983
U.S. Tax Court, 1984

Professional Associations

American Bar Association, Tax, Business and Health Law Section, Member
American Health Lawyers Association
Friends of Family Specialty Courts, President and Director
Hawaii State Bar Association
Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children, Director
Oahu Economic Development Board, Director
American Bar Association, Health Law Forum, Member
Hawaii State Bar, Corporations and Securities and Taxation Sections, Member
National Health Lawyers Association, Member
Hawaii State Bar, Real Estate and Partnerships Committee, Chairman, 1995 to 1995
Hawaii State Bar, Nonprofit Organizations Committee, Tax Section, Chair, 1994
Hawaii State Bar, Tax Section, Chairman, 1993 to 1993
Social Sciences Association

Practice Areas:

Organization and Governance
Mergers, Acquisitions and Business Transactions
Tax
Commercial Contracts
Hawaii Business Organizations, Contracts, and Transactions

Honors

Martindale-Hubbell 2022 AV Preeminent Attorney Award – Judicial Edition
The Best Lawyers in America, 2020
The Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year in Honolulu, 2012, 2015-2017, 2019-2020
Chambers USA, 2020-2021
Super Lawyers, 2020-2021
Volunteer of the Year, Association of Hawaiian Civil Clubs
Hawaii Chapter Co-author, ABA Sales and Use Tax Deskbook

Classes & Seminars

Tax, Corporate Securities, Hawaii Society of Certified Public Accountants Corporate Seminars, 1986-Present
Speaker, Hawaii Tax Institute

Pro-Bono Activities

Jas. W. Glover Holding Co., Ltd., Board of Directors
Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Committee on Tax, Member
Kapiolani Health Care Foundation, Trustee
Rotary Club of Honolulu, Member
Kapiolani Health Foundation, Director, Chair
Historic Hawaii Foundation, President
Hawaii Dental Service, Director, Chair
HiBEAM, Executive Committee, Director, Chair

Past Positions

McCorriston Miho Miller Mukai, Honolulu, Hawaii, Partner, 1994 to 1999
Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel, Honolulu, Hawaii, Partner, 1987 to 1994, 2008-present
Dewey Ballantine, Associate, 1982 to 1985
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Director, 2000 to 2008

Representative Clients

Classic Resorts, Inc.
Hawaii Association of Realtors
Kamakura Corporation
St. Francis Healthcare Systems
Aloha Care

References

Hawaii Association of Realtors, Nancy Donahue-Jones