Mark M. Murakami, Director
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Phone: (808) 531-8031
Fax: (808) 533-2242
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Education

  • University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law (J.D. 1999)
  • U.S. Coast Guard Academy (B.S. 1992)

Mark M. Murakami, Director

Mark Murakami practices in the firm’s Dispute Resolution and Real Estate and Construction practice groups.  Mark was the Valedictorian of the Class of 1999 from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii where he served as Articles Editor of the University of Hawaii Law Review.  He has received numerous academic awards, including: Dean’s Scholar, Porter Scholastic Award (2 times); Awards for highest grade in Property I, Torts I, Contracts I, Corporations, and Professional Responsibility; Kono Award for Academic Achievement; Phi Delta Phi Professional Responsibility Award; HSBA Real Property and Financial Services Section Award.

Mark is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.  He served for 13 years on active duty before joining the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve in 2005.  During his time on active duty, he served on three different Coast Guard cutters, including command of a patrol boat in California.  Twice nominated for the American Bar Association’s Military Lawyer of the Year Award, he spent four years assigned to the Fourteenth Coast Guard District Legal Office prosecuting courts-martial, litigating cases in federal court as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and advising Coast Guard officials on maritime, criminal, environmental and international law issues.  He has been awarded two Coast Guard Commendation Medals and four Coast Guard Achievement Medals.

Mark was born on Maui and raised in Kailua, Oahu.  He is a graduate of Kailua High School and was active in the Castle Performing Arts Center.  He is married to Kimberly A. Murakami, has one son, Tyler, and one daughter, Kyra.

At Damon Key, Mark focuses on complex commercial disputes, land use negotiation and litigation, environmental and general civil litigation.  He has appeared in all state and federal courts in Hawaii, most of the administrative boards and commissions, and is licensed in the U.S. Supreme Court and Court of Claims. 

Mark authors a blog focused on maritime law, in and around Hawaii and Oceania, http://www.hawaiioceanlaw.com.  He was recently promoted to the rank of Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.

Highlights of his experience:

Land Use Litigation:

  • Represent property owners, citizens and businesses in suits against governmental entities in land use and environmental area. 
  • Represent property owners in condemnation, exactions and entitlement disputes.
  • Represent transient vacation rental operators resolve disputes with governments and neighbors.

Commercial Litigation:

  • Represents businesses and landowners in complex commercial litigation, insurance coverage suits, land use and environmental lawsuits, and admiralty cargo damage actions.

General Litigation:

  • Defend business and individuals being sued in Hawaii courts for various breaches of contract and torts.
  • Represents persons injured in maritime or boating accidents.

Business Advice:

  • Assist businesses by providing legal advice on various corporate matters, including contract and lease issues, governmental affairs, insurance, litigation, land use and environmental issues.
  • Advise clients about federal and state regulation of ocean waters, Coast Guard documentation laws, vessel ownership and operations.

U.S. Coast Guard Experience:

  • Six (6) years as a line officer on Coast Guard Cutters involved with law enforcement, immigration, search and rescue and aides to navigation.
  • As Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, led investigation and preliminary prosecution of Chinese cook suspected of murdering Captain and First Mate on Taiwanese fishing vessel.
  • Directed investigation into several felony cases, including Clean Water Act, assault and narcotics.
  • Attorney-advisor on several post 9/11 security issues, including Trading with the Enemy Act, Magnuson Act and Patriot Act.

Representative Cases:

  • U.S. v. Lei Shi, 525 F. 3d 709 (9th Cir. 2007) (Cert Denied) (Agency Counsel)
  • Winter v. NRDC, ____ U.S. _____, 129 S. Ct. 365 (2008) (Amicus Brief)
  • County of Hawaii v. C&J Couple Family Limited Partnership, ____ Haw. ____ (2008) (Trial Counsel & on Briefs)
  • UFO Chuting v. Thielen, Petition for Writ of Certiorari (2008) (Amicus Brief)
  • MVRA v. County of Maui, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (Unpublished Decision) (2008)

Professional and Community Affiliations

  • American Inn of Court – Aloha Chapter (1997-2003)
  • American Bar Association
  • The Army Navy Club
  • Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline Board (2000-2003)
  • Hawaii State Bar Association – Admiralty Section (Co-Chair)
  • Hawaii State Bar Association – Professionals for Drug-Free Kids Instructor (2005)
  • Habitat for Humanity (2005)
  • Maritime Law Association of the United States
  • Legal Aid Society of Hawaii – Capital Campaign Committee
  • United States Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association
  • United States Naval Institute

Publications

  • Co-author, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Gender Discrimination, 20 Hawaii Law Rev. 699 (1998)
  • Co-author, Op-Ed, Ruling Preserves Navy Strength in Defense, Honolulu Advertiser, December 4, 2008.
  • Author, From Details to Concepts: The New Development Plans, published in the HSBA Real Estate Section Newsletter (1998)
  • Blog: http://www.hawaiioceanlaw.com

Presentations

  • Guest Lecturer, Domestic Ocean Law, U.H. Law School, March 19, 2009
  • Panelist, Professional Responsibility, U.H. Law School, March 16, 2009
  • Rotary Club, Windward Oahu Chapter, Winter and Sonar, March 12, 2009
  • Lorman Seminar, Advanced Land Use, February 29, 2009
  • Lorman Seminar, Costal Equity and Land Use, August 19, 2008
  • Lorman Seminar, Advanced Zoning and Land Use, February 20, 2008