• Obtained a significant jury award in a class action lawsuit to reopen the historic Haleakala Trail on Maui; consulted on numerous other access-related issues;
• Negotiated and drafted conservation easements and conservation-related property conveyances on most of Hawaii’s islands, including drafting the first several easements in Hawai`i under the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program, also involving funding under the Hawaii Legacy Lands Conservation Program;
• Assisted new organizations achieve tax exempt status, as well as consulted with public charities and private foundations on IRS compliance, organizational issues, and grantee due diligence;
• Successfully represented various environmental groups in a number of major environmental and land use–related cases.
• Taught conservation property law as an adjunct professor at the University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law; also been invited to speak at and participate in information meetings regarding the land trust model, as well as at strategic planning sessions for land trusts;
• Presented on conservation issues at Land Trust Alliance national conferences.
• Collaborated with Portland, Oregon-based Solid Ground Consulting on conservation issues of national importance.

• Founding president of the Maui Coastal Land Trust, which became Hawaiian Islands Land Trust — a state-wide land trust.
• Sponsored and facilitated the initial meetings on Maui, which led to the founding of Na Hale O Maui Comunity Land Trust.
• Continues to assist environmental and farm nonprofits with legal issues.

Maui Land Law has been operating since 2005. Prior positions include the following:

• Attorney with the Maui office of Paul, Johnson, Park & Niles; practiced in the areas of litigation and administrative advocacy with an emphasis on land use and environmental law;
• Deputy Corporation Counsel, Department of the Corporation Counsel for the County of Maui; represented the County in environmental, land use, personal injury, and civil rights litigation in both the state and federal courts; also defended and counseled the County in employment and labor matters;
• Prior to attending law school, worked in various financial positions for close to a decade; employers included Merrill Lynch, E.F. Hutton, and Shearson Lehman Hutton.

• J.D. from the University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law; received a Certificate in Environmental Law; member of the University of Hawai`i Law Review; director of the Hawai`i Environmental Law Society; received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Second Year Seminar: Environmental Law;
• B.A. from St. John’s College (Great Books program);
• Graduated from Washington D.C. Capitol Page School while serving as a U.S. Congressional Page, and later as a Courtroom Attendant at the U.S. Supreme Court.

• Co-author of Easement Revitalization: A Problem-Solving Guidebook for Land Trusts (funded and published by Open Space Institute) (2013)
• Author of A Constitutionally Valid Justification for the Enactment of No-Growth Ordinances: Integrating Concepts of Population Stabilization and Sustainability 19 U. Haw. L. Rev. 93 (1997)

Since his childhood, Tom has loved the outdoors. This was a major catalyst for his decision to go to law school to study environmental law. Tom has been sailing since the age of 16, has completed both Atlantic and Pacific ocean crossings, and holds an RYA Yachtmaster (Offshore) certificate. When on land, Tom loves biking and hiking. If he’s inside, he’s never far from a guitar.