Chase Tajima files and defends lawsuits, handling all aspects of civil litigation — from demand letters and cease-and-desist letters through discovery, motions, and trial — in state and federal courts and in arbitration. He has secured numerous favorable resolutions for businesses, business owners, and organizations — as well as individuals and trusts — across California, Hawaii, and internationally, including multi-million dollar arbitration awards, injunctive relief in contested corporate disputes, and significant tax controversy settlements.
Chase Tajima is the Founder and Managing Partner of Tajima LLP. He handles all aspects of civil litigation including demand letters, cease-and-desist letters, initial pleadings, discovery, depositions, dispositive motions, negotiations, settlements, and trials in both state and federal courts as well as arbitration proceedings. Mr. Tajima has achieved outstanding success in the courtroom through numerous resolutions in favor of his clients in California, Hawaii, and beyond.
Mr. Tajima represents businesses, corporations, business owners, CEOs, executives, general counsel, and trustees in complex, significant disputes, as well as individuals, non-profits, religious organizations, and affiliated institutions. His practice spans complex business and commercial litigation, real estate and construction disputes, corporate control and partnership matters, subsea cable and data center disputes, tax controversy, and eminent domain. He has particular experience in cross-border disputes with Asia-Pacific connections, including matters involving Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and Pacific Rim operators, and has litigated and arbitrated matters in California, Hawaii, Guam, and before international arbitration panels.
Prior to founding Tajima LLP, Mr. Tajima was an associate attorney at Crockett & Associates practicing complex civil litigation in Los Angeles. Prior to that, he was an associate at Chun Kerr LLP in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he practiced in real estate transactions, commercial leasing, mortgage finance, tax controversy, tax planning, real property tax, and business organizations. He co-authored the 2011 edition of the Limited Liability Company Manual for the Hawaii State Bar Association and was formerly the vice chair of the Hawaii State Bar Association's tax section.
While in law school, Mr. Tajima assisted the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office with a successful prosecution of a serial rapist and murderer. He also served as an intern for Judge David Laro of the United States Tax Court and for the IRS. At Loyola Law School, Mr. Tajima achieved First Honors in income taxation and ethical lawyering and qualified for the Dean's Honor List. At Georgetown University Law Center, he graduated with distinction near the top of his class. Prior to law school, Mr. Tajima worked at an international business consulting firm and, in college, served as a Capitol Hill intern for an esteemed Hawaii Congressman.
- Obtained rare and substantial countersuit victory settlement for business defendant clients in unfair competition, false advertising, trade secret, and defamation action involving small business against large private equity backed national conglomerate.
- Anti-SLAPP motion granted against commercial restaurant landlord's lawsuit alleging misrepresentation and unfair competition. The Court dismissed four of five causes of action in Venice Ventures, LLC v. Baumann (Los Angeles County Superior Court, No. 24STCV16150) (Nov. 2024).
- Dismissal of corporate control lawsuit against CEO/Director and minority shareholder for lack of diversity subject matter jurisdiction where plaintiffs were found to have engaged in jurisdictional manipulation, in Gateway Network Connections, LLC v. Matulich, No. 1:22-cv-00024 (D. Guam Sep. 29, 2023).
- Temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against corporation to halt dilution of minority shareholder out of the management structure, through local Guam counsel in Matulich v. Asia Connectivity Elements, Inc. (Guam Superior Court No. SP0154-22).
- Arbitration award from the American Arbitration Association granting executive a $2.1 million advancement of legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with a corporate control dispute.
- Arbitration award ordering Guam data center to refund $1.7 million in co-location rent to submarine cable operator, as confirmed by the United States District Court in RTI Connectivity Pte., Ltd. v. Gateway Network Connections, LLC, No. 23-00165 LEK-WRP (D. Haw. Sep. 27, 2023).
- Arbitration award reinstating telecommunications executive as CEO and director of data center, as confirmed by the United States District Court in RTI Connectivity Pte., Ltd. v. Gateway Network Connections, LLC, No. 23-00165 LEK-WRP (D. Haw. Sep. 27, 2023).
- Interim arbitration and federal court injunction ordering customary access and power to subsea cable equipment located in a Guam data center, as confirmed by the United States District Court in RTI Connectivity Pte. Ltd. v. Gateway Network Connections, LLC, No. 22-00302 LEK-RT, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134563 (D. Haw. July 28, 2022).
- $1.4 million settlement from Caltrans to Real Estate Investment Trust RV Park for eminent domain taking for a highway expansion, vehicular access impairment, repair costs, and property damage. People of the State of California (Caltrans) v. MHC Ponderosa Limited Partnership (El Dorado County Superior Court No. PC20180539, 2020).
- $8 million construction defect arbitration award for Beverly Hills luxury home developer.
- Multi-million dollar eminent domain judgment for the Japanese Village shopping center in Japanese Vill. LLC v. L.A. Cty. Metropolitan Transp. Auth. (Los Angeles County Superior Court No. BS137343).
- Mid-trial defense near total victory settlement in capital raise finder fee dispute. Wiesen v. RAM Telecom International, Inc. (S.F. Superior Court 2017).
- U.S. Tax Court bench trial victory: Defeated IRS assessment of cancellation of indebtedness income in Johnston v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2015-91.
- Resolved and settled $70 million Hawaii general excise tax assessments against hotel REIT.
- Advised on $30 million 1031 exchange of condominium leased-fee interests.
2011 Edition of the Limited Liability Company Manual for the Hawaii State Bar Association.