“We’re so pleased to recognize Jay and Bill as new partners,” said Karl Kobayashi, chairman of Carlsmith Ball. “They are excellent lawyers who bring their skills and talents to bear for the firm and our clients, further enhancing the firm’s reputation as a leader in the Pacific.”
Handlin’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and appeals with disputes involving real property, toxic torts, class actions, insurance, licensing, employment and other contract issues, as well as cases involving entertainment and intell ectual property.
Handlin began practicing law with New York-based Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. He then served as in-house litigation counsel for The Walt Disney Company in California before returning to private practice.
He is admitted to practice in Hawaii, California and New York, and is a member of the bars of numerous federal trial and appellate courts across the country.
Handlin received his J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review, and clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
He has been with the firm since 2007, and divides his time between the Honolulu and Los Angeles offices.
Harstad’s practice focuses on commercial litigation and dispute resolution, with particular expertise in contract disputes, insurance and reinsurance, and bankruptcy matters.
He has been an advocate in numerous state and federal litigations, and arbitrations under the American Arbitration Association; JAMS, formerly Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Services; and ARIAS, or AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society guidelines.
Harstad has also represented both secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy proceedings on the East Coast and in Hawaii.
Prior to returning to Hawaii, Harstad was an associate in the litigation department at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP in New York.
He is admitted to practice in Hawaii, New York and New Jersey, and is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
He received his J.D. from Washington University School of Law, where he was the managing editor of the Washington University Law Quarterly.
Harstad joined the firm in 2007 and is based in the Honolulu office.
Carlsmith Ball LLP is a leading law firm in the Pacific region with close to 100 lawyers in seven offices in Saipan, Guam, Honolulu, Maui, Kona, Hilo and Los Angeles.
For more information about the firm, visit www.Carlsmith.com.
