James C. McWhinnie, Director
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Phone: (808) 531-8031
Fax: (808) 533-2242
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Education

  • DePaul University College of Law (J.D. Cum Laude January 1983)
  • University of Hawaii at Manoa (M.B.A. Program 1977-79)
  • St. Mary’s University, Winona, Minnesota (B.A. Cum Laude, Psychology and Political Science 1975)

James C. McWhinnie, Director

Once again, Jim has been selected by his peers to be included in The Best Lawyers in America and in Hawaii’s Super Lawyers in the area of Commercial Litigation.  He has also been rated “AV” (the highest available rating) by Martindale Hubbell for many years, is a member of The Million Dollar Advocates Forum (attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar cases).  His legal practice emphasizes civil litigation.  As a director of the firm, he is responsible for substantial commercial, product liability, construction, environmental, and personal injury cases.  He also has extensive experience in all aspects of alternative dispute resolution, having acted as an advocate, arbitrator and mediator.  Jim chairs the firm’s practice management committee and serves on its executive, marketing, and other committees.

Jim was Secretary of the Hawaii State Bar Association (“HSBA”) in 2004.  He has also been a member of the HSBA’s Judicial Administration Committee, having been its co-chair for four years (1997-98, 2001 and 2002).  In addition, Jim has served on the HSBA’s Fee Dispute Committee, been a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, and co-founded the HSBA’s Lawyer Kokua Program, which was developed to assist new members of the Hawaii Bar.  In July 2000, Jim was appointed by Chief Judge David A. Ezra to the Merit Selection Panel for United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii.

Since being first appointed in 1998 by Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon, Jim has served on the Hawaii Supreme Court’s Special Committee on Judicial Performance, which was created pursuant to Hawaii Supreme Court Rule 19. The “Rule 19 Committee’s” purposes include improving individual judges’ performance, providing a source of information for application and retention decisions by the Judicial Selection Commission, facilitating the Chief Justice’s assignment and use of judges, improving the design and content of judicial education programs, and assisting the Chief Justice in administering the judiciary. From 1989 to 1992, Jim served as a delegate to the Hawaii State Judicial Conference.

Prior to attending law school, Jim managed several restaurants in Waikiki while attending graduate school in the University of Hawaii’s Masters in Business Administration program. Before joining Damon Key as a director in 1989, he was a litigation partner in the Honolulu law firm of Rother, Bybee, Chang and Rulon.

 

Professional and Community Affiliations

  • Best Lawyers in America – Commercial Litigation
  • Hawaii’s Super Lawyers – Commercial Litigation
  • The Million Dollar Advocates Forum (trial attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar cases)
  • Hawaii Supreme Court – Special Committee on Judicial Performance (1998-2013)
  • Hawaii State Bar Association, Secretary and Director (2004)
  • Hawaii State Bar Association, Co-Chairman, Judicial Administration Committee (1997-98, 2001, and 2002), Fee Dispute Committee, Lawyer Kokua Program (Co-Founder), Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
  • Hawaii State Judicial Conference (Delegate – 1989-92)
  • American Arbitration Association (Commercial Arbitration Panel)
  • American Bar Association
  • Hawaii Defense Lawyers Association
  • Honolulu Jaycees (1977-79)
  • Meritas, Vice Chair (2007 – 2010); Director (2005 – 2008); Chairman – Finance Committee (2007 – 2010)
  • Oahu Country Club - President (2006-07); 1st Vice President (2005-06); 2nd Vice President (2004-05); Director (2004-07); Grounds Committee (2003-2005); Vice-Chair (2003-04); Chair (2004-05)
  • St. Anthony’s School, Kailua, HI - School Board (1996-2005); Vice-Chair (1997-99); Chair (2000-2005)
  • State of Hawaii, Court Annexed Arbitration Program (Arbitrator)

Publications

  • Insurance Law: Third Party Coverage in Hawaii, (NBI February 2000), Co-author
  • 10 Commandments for a Good Witness
  • The Internet and the Law
  • Year 2000 Litigation & Insurance Issues