Nathaniel A. Higa
Partner

nhiga@chunkerr.com

Mr. Higa focuses on commercial litigation, construction disputes, and tax controversies. He has experience handling various types of business, real estate, construction, tort, bankruptcy and tax matters in Hawaii State and Federal Courts, as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Higa’s experience includes favorable settlements and decisions for his clients in mediation and arbitration, on dispositive motions in court, on appeal, and through trial, including a jury verdict in excess of a million dollars for his client in a commercial real estate matter.  In Hawaii State Tax Appeal Court, Mr. Higa has also obtained relief for his clients through judgments against State and local governments for constitutional violations.  Mr. Higa currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii and as the firm’s Managing Partner.

 

Areas of Practice

 

Education
  • Pepperdine University Seaver College (Malibu, CA), B.A. English, minor in Philosophy (2003)
  • Pepperdine University School of Law (Malibu, CA), J.D., cum laude (2008)

 

Professional Affiliations
  • American Bar Association, Member
  • Hawaii State Bar Association, Member

 

Community Involvement
  • Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Board of Directors, Member
  • Hawaii Access to Justice, Volunteer
  • HSBA Mock Trial Coach, Hawaii Baptist Academy

 

Bar Admissions
  • Hawaii
  • U.S. District Court of Hawaii
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit

 

Recognition
  • Best Lawyers in America®:Commercial Litigation (2025)
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Litigation – Real Estate (2025)
  • Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch: Litigation and Controversy – Tax and Commercial Litigation (since 2021)
  • Hawaii Super Lawyers®: Rising Star (2015-2018)

 

Notable Cases
  • Conner v. Macquarie Infrastructure Corp., 2022 U.S. App. LEXIS 23074 (9th Cir. Aug. 18, 2022)
  • Conner v. Macquarie Infrastructure Corp., No. 21-00181 JMS-RT, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 185242 (D. Haw. Sep. 28, 2021)
  • Field v. Henshaw (In re Henshaw), Nos. 11-00853, 12-90070, 101, 2017 Bankr. LEXIS 1703 (U.S. Bankr. D. Haw. June 19, 2017)
  • Henshaw v. Field (In re Henshaw), 670 F. App’x 563 (9th Cir. 2016)
  • In re Bay W. Kailua Bay, Nos. 11-03124, 13-90045, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 5080 (U.S. Bankr. D. Haw. Dec. 18, 2014)
  • Tucker v. Field (In re Tucker), No. 14-00136 SOM/BMK, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 111579 (D. Haw. Aug. 12, 2014)
  • Anderson v. Citimortgage, Inc., No. 11-00583 DAE-RLP, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 145947 (D. Haw. Nov. 25, 2011)
  • Brewer & Co. v. Haw. Ins. Guar. Ass’n, 124 Hawai`i 170, 238P.3d 202 (2010)
  • Jou v. Adalian, No. 09-00226 JMS/KSC, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 112938 (D. Haw. Dec. 3, 2009)
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