Overview
Kira J. Goo is an associate in the firm’s litigation and transactional department, where she represents clients in a broad range of corporate, commercial, and civil matters. Her practice spans both transactional work, such as contract drafting and negotiation, business formation, and mergers and acquisitions, and litigation involving business disputes, construction defects, real estate, condominiums, and complex commercial litigation.
A graduate of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, William S. Richardson School of Law, Ms. Goo combines strong legal acumen with practical experience to provide effective advocacy for her clients.
During law school, Ms. Goo served as Executive Editor of the Asian-Pacific Law and Policy Journal and earned a CALI Excellence for the Future Award for her work in The Supreme Court in Flux. She gained valuable research and advocacy skills as a Scholar Advocate for Professor Eric K. Yamamoto and as a research assistant to Professor John L. Barkai.
Her judicial externships with the Honorable Sabrina S. McKenna, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Hawai‘i, and the Honorable Bert I. Ayabe, then-Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit, provided her with unique insights into the judicial process.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Goo represented insurance carriers in workers’ compensation matters at another Honolulu law firm, further enhancing her experience in complex litigation.
Experience
- Orchestrated the strategic consolidation of multiple corporate entities to facilitate and streamline the sale and purchase of high-value commercial assets.
- Advised developers on asset acquisition strategies, including comprehensive due diligence and development status reviews for prospective real estate around the State of Hawai‘i.
- Drafted and advised corporate clients on supply-distribution agreements for island-based commerce, specifically addressing the unique logistics, shipping, and transshipment challenges inherent to the Hawai‘i market.
- Secured a seven-figure summary judgment award against a defaulting commercial entity in a high-stakes commercial transaction.
- Represented financial institutions, corporate clients, and condominium associations in contested foreclosure proceedings and asset recovery actions.
- Advised clients on construction defect disputes, risk management, and related litigation strategies.
- Handled commercial and residential landlord-tenant disputes, including lease enforcement, eviction proceedings, and rent recovery actions.
- Represented lenders in foreclosure proceedings, loan workouts, and related real estate enforcement actions.
- Defended condominium boards in condominium association disputes, developing an understanding of condominium law and litigation strategies.
- Litigated boundary and property line disputes, easement claims, and other real property
- ownership issues.
- Represented insurance carriers in workers’ compensation matters and developed a deep understanding of insurance law and administrative litigation strategies.
- Handled a broad range of real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, and financings for residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties.
- Advised clients on buyouts, mergers, and acquisitions, providing counsel on due diligence, corporate structuring, and regulatory compliance.
- Represented developers, property owners, and investors in land use and entitlement matters, including zoning approvals and permitting processes.
- Negotiated and drafted ground leases, space leases, and other complex commercial lease agreements on behalf of both landlords and tenants.
- Formed and structured various business entities, including corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships, with an emphasis on asset protection and operational efficiency
- Assisted clients with corporate governance and ongoing compliance matters to support long-term business growth.
Honors
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award: The Supreme Court in Flux
Affiliations
- Hawai‘i State Bar Association, Member
- Hawai‘i United Okinawa Association
- Hawaiian Humane Society, Volunteer