Thomas Starks
Thomas Starks
  • Associate

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Biography

Thomas Starks is a litigator whose practice focuses on ERISA, insurance bad faith defense, commercial litigation, and a broad range of complex business disputes. He represents businesses, insurers, plan fiduciaries, and individuals in state and federal courts, as well as in mediation and arbitration.

Thomas has experience handling ERISA litigation, including fiduciary breach claims, excessive fee and 401(k) class actions, executive compensation disputes, and plan administration matters. His practice also includes insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, employment counseling and defense, construction disputes, negligence claims, and commercial matters involving contracts, trade secrets, consumer protection, and business torts.

Before entering the legal profession, Thomas was an entrepreneur in several industries, including payroll software, educational media production, and nationwide restaurant supply distribution. He brings that firsthand business perspective to his legal practice, helping clients navigate complex legal challenges with practical, business-focused solutions. During law school, he served as a judicial intern for Judge Julie R. Rubin of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland before beginning his legal career with a mainland insurance defense firm. He later joined Goodsill, where he continues to represent clients across a wide range of litigation matters.

He received her Juris Doctor from Penn State Dickinson Law. He was admitted to the bar in Hawai’i and Pennsylvania.

Education

  • Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
    • J.D. - 2024
    • Major: Taxation Certificate
  • University of Arizona
    • B.A. - 2021

Bar Admissions

  • Hawaii, 2026
  • Pennsylvania, 2024

Practice Areas:

  • ERISA
  • Insurance bad faith defense
  • Commercial litigation
  • Complex business disputes