John S. Nishimoto
Partner
Email: john.nishimoto@hawadvocate.com

Mr. Nishimoto joined the firm in 1981 and has concentrated his practice in the area of personal injury defense. He has been involved in asbestos litigation and served as lead counsel in Hawaii for the members of the Asbestos Claims Facility. More recently, he has been involved in the defense of legal malpractice and medical malpractice claims. He became a partner with Ayabe, Chong, Nishimoto, Sia & Nakamura in January 1986.

Education

Mr. Nishimoto received his undergraduate education at the University of San Francisco, where he majored in political science and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He attended Southwestern University School of Law and obtained a Juris Doctor degree in 1976. He was admitted to the Hawaii Bar in 1976.

Experience

From April 1977 to March 1981, Mr. Nishimoto was a Deputy Corporation Counsel with the Department of Corporation Counsel, City and County of Honolulu. As a Deputy Corporation Counsel, Mr. Nishimoto worked in the Counseling and Drafting Division where he primarily advised various City and County agencies. He subsequently transferred to the Trials Division and became involved in litigation involving the City, its agencies and employees. On March 16, 1981, Mr. Nishimoto left public sector law and became an associate with the firm. Since 1980, he has represented clients in over seventy cases which have been tried to verdict in either the State or Federal courts of Hawaii. In addition, he has handled arbitrations, administrative hearings and appellate matters before the Hawaii Courts and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Affiliations

Mr. Nishimoto is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the International Association of Defense Counsel, an Associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He is also affiliated with the Hawaii Defense Lawyers Association and the Defense Research Institute, Inc.