Mark M. Murakami

Mark Murakami is a Director at Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert in Honolulu Hawaii.  He practices in the firm’s Dispute Resolution, Real Estate and Construction, and Business and Commercial Law practice groups. His focus is on eminent domain, complex commercial disputes, land use negotiation and litigation, probate and trust disputes, and general civil litigation. He has appeared in all federal and states courts in Hawaii, most of the administrative boards and commissions, and is licensed in the U.S. Supreme Court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Court of Federal Claims.

He has appeared on The Best Lawyers in America® lists for his work in Commercial Litigation, Eminent Domain & Condemnation Law, Land Use & Zoning Law, Real Estate Law, Trusts & Estates, Litigation-Real Estate, and Litigation-Trusts & Estates. He was named the Best Lawyers® Eminent Domain & Condemnation Lawyer of the Year in 2013. He has also been selected by Super Lawyers for 10 years.

He 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.

He is also 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. 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 the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals and four Coast Guard Achievement Medals. He recently retired as a Captain in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.

He 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.