Lai, Jonathan W. Y.

Current Employment Position(s)

Partner, since 2003

Year Joined Organization: 1995

Lawyer Overview

Jonathan W.Y. Lai joined Watanabe Ing LLP in 1995 and became a partner in 2003.  Mr. Lai primarily represents creditors in bankruptcy, foreclosure, litigation and loan workouts.  He also represents clients in general corporate matters, banking and real estate. 

While attending law school at USC, Mr. Lai was a teaching assistant for the undergraduate Business Law and "Law & Society" courses and was a research assistant in the areas of securities and commodities regulation.  He has most recently taught “Law & Modern Society” at Punahou School.

Mr. Lai is  a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA), the American Bar Association and the American Bankruptcy Institute.  Mr. Lai has served as a director for the Collection Law Section of the HSBA.  He has also served as the chair/president, treasurer, and a director of the Bankruptcy Law Section of the HSBA.

By gubernatorial appointment in 2004, Mr. Lai became a member of the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA).  He currently chairs the Board and previously served as secretary.  The HCDA is a state agency established to supplement traditional community renewal methods by promoting and coordinating public and private sector community development.  The state legislature has designated the Kakaako and Kalaeloa areas as community development districts under HCDA control.

Areas of Practice

• Creditors Rights and Business Law Group
• Non-Profits Group

Representative Clients

• First Hawaiian Bank
• American Savings Bank

West Practice Categories

Creditors' Rights, Business & Commercial Law, Non-profit & Tax-exempt Organizations

Bar Admissions

• Hawaii, 1995
• U.S. District Court District of Hawaii, 1995

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Hawaii State Bar (Member)
• American Bar Association (Member)

Honors and Awards

• American Jurisprudence Award, Gifts, Wills and Trusts, 1993
• American Jurisprudence Award, Criminal Procedure, 1994

Classes and Seminars

• Lecturer, Business Law, University of Southern California, 1992 - 1995
• Teaching Assistant, Law and Society, University of Southern California, 1994 - 1995

Past Employment Positions

• United States District Court, Hon. Alan C. Kay, Chief Judge, Judicial Extern, 1992

Education

• University of Southern California Law Center, Los Angeles, California, 1995
  J.D.
  Honors: American Jurisprudence Awards, Criminal Procedure and Gifts, Wills & Trusts
• University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 1995
  M.B.A.
  Honors: Dean's List, 1992-1995
• Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, California, 1991
  B.A.
  Honors: cum laude
  Honors: Departmental Honors
  Major: Economics
  Major: Government

Address

First Hawaiian Center
999 Bishop Street
23rd Floor
Honolulu, HI 96813

Phones

(808) 544-8300

Faxes

(808) 544-8399

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.wik.com