Business & Commercial Law

At Chee Markham & Feldman, our legal expertise extends to many facets of Hawaii business and commercial law. Our attorneys have decades of litigation experience and familiarity with Hawaii business practices, providing invaluable advice and representation for mainland companies conducting business on the Hawaiian Islands.

Business Formation and Transactions

For clients looking to start a new business, choosing the appropriate type of business entity can be one of their most important decisions. The type of entity selected will have an impact on the tax treatment and potential exposure to legal liability for both the entity itself and the principals of the business. Our attorneys advise clients on the best choice of entity for their specific needs and assist in the formation of the new entity, including filing any necessary documents with the necessary federal and state authorities.

Some of the types of entities we assist clients in forming include partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations. Partnerships are typically either general or limited, and corporations commonly begin as closely held, private entities. Each business model has unique considerations to address, and our attorneys have the depth of experience necessary to recognize all factors involved and provide knowledgeable advice that will maximize a client's profit potential.

We assist clients with preparing accompanying documents such as articles of incorporation, stock certificates, bylaws, and operating agreements. Our attorneys also have expertise in structuring multi-tiered corporate entities to help businesses protect their assets while limiting operational risks. Perhaps most important is our attorneys' collective ability to protect our clients' interests in every transaction. This protection includes drafting contracts that ensure the business is protected if any disputes arise, and ensuring every transaction makes financial sense for a company by applying our tax knowledge and negotiation expertise.

Commercial Litigation

Chee Markham & Feldman has a wealth of experience assisting individuals, businesses, and large developers with a variety of commercial litigation disputes. Whether an organization is facing a breach of contract, real estate, or shareholder dispute, our attorneys have the expertise and trial experience to ensure business interests are protected. Our attorneys advise and represent clients in connection with commercial collections, insurance coverage disputes, buy/sell agreements, partnership and shareholder disputes, breach of contract claims, and real estate and construction disputes.

When disputes are unavoidable, we approach each client's dispute with the goal of attaining a cost-effective solution. Our experience with alternative dispute resolution methods, including mediation and arbitration, can help parties resolve their differences efficiently and avoid the high costs of trial. At times, however, such resolution cannot be reached without trial. Our trial attorneys all have decades of experience aggressively and effectively presenting clients' cases in the courtroom and achieving favorable results. Commercial disputes can affect the profitability of a business in its daily operations as well as its long-term performance. Our experienced commercial litigation attorneys strive to resolve even the most complex disputes smoothly and efficiently so that normal business operations can resume as soon as possible.