Our Attorneys

Vladimir P. Devens

(808) 253-8108 (direct)
devens@pacificlaw.com

Vladimir_P_Devens

Mr. Devens has successfully litigated a variety of cases at all levels in our Hawaii State courts, including the Hawaii Supreme Court, Intermediate Court of Appeals, Circuit Court, District Court, Family Court, the federal courts (District of Hawaii, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals), and before various administrative agencies, including the Disability Compensation Division, Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board and Hawaii Labor Relations Board.

In what is considered one of the highest settlements in the country, Mr. Devens was the lead trial attorney in a class action that settled for over $30 million dollars and consisted of over 2,000 police officers and firefighters based on a violation of the Fair Labor and Standards Act (“FLSA”), which was filed against the City and County of Honolulu, County of Kauai, County of Maui and County of Hawaii.

In a landmark and groundbreaking decision issued by the Hawaii Supreme Court in 2008, Mr. Devens successfully litigated and obtained a verdict in excess of $1 million dollars against the State’s Child Protective Services for failing to protect an abused child on Maui.

Mr. Devens has successfully litigated a variety of cases, including wrongful death cases, car, pedestrian, moped and bicycle accidents, bus accidents, slip and falls, work/construction accidents, medical malpractice and many complex injury cases that have resulted in substantial settlements and/or verdicts. He has also represented the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers in many high profile labor matters, including major contract arbitrations and grievances.

RECOGNITION

The Best Lawyers in America: Personal Injury, Litigation
National Trial Lawyers Association: Top 100 Trial Lawyer
Super Lawyers by Key Professional Media, Inc.

EDUCATION

1987: University of California at Berkeley (Boalt Hall School of Law) (JD)
1984: University of California at Berkeley (BA, economics, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa)
1980: Kalani High School

LICENSES

Supreme Court of the United States
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
United States District Court (District of Hawaii)
Hawaii State Courts

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Meheula & Devens: Partner
Winer, Meheula & Devens: Partner
Ikazaki, Devens, Lo Youth and Nakano: Associate

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Hawaii State Bar Association
American Bar Association
American Association for Justice
American Judicature Society
Hawaii Association for Justice
Court Annexed Arbitration Program (court certified arbitrator)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Hawaii State Bar Association: Board of Directors
Crimestoppers of Honolulu: Board of Directors
ASA Softball
AYSO/HYSA Soccer

SPEAKING/WRITING ENGAGEMENTS

Speaker for SHOPO Business Agents Training Workshop (12/13/12)
Harvard Law School: Lecturer at the Labor and Worklife Program, 13th Annual Police Union Leadership Seminar (4/27/12)
William Richardson School of Law, Susan B. McKay Intramural Oral Advocacy Competition-Judge (September 10, 2011)
Hawaii Bar Journal (publication), “Joint and Several Liability,” Co-Author (May, 2011)
William Richardson School of Law, Susan B. McKay Intramural Oral Advocacy Competition-Judge (September 11, 2010)
Speaker before Hawaii Hotel Engineers Association (November 18, 2009)
William Richardson School of Law, Susan B. McKay Intramural Oral Advocacy Competition-Judge (September 12, 2009)
William Richardson School of Law, Susan B. McKay Intramural Oral Advocacy Competition-Judge (September 13, 2008)
Speaker before Hawaii Hotel Association of Security Directors (October 3, 2008)
Speaker for SHOPO Union Officials Training Workshop (June 16, 2008)
Speaker before Hawaii Hotel Engineers Association (February 14, 2008)
Speaker before Hawaii Hotel Association of Security Directors (October 18, 2007)
William Richardson School of Law, Susan McKay Intramural Oral Advocacy Competition-Judge (2007)
Contributing author to the Hawaii State Bar Association’s annual seminar litigation manual (2006)
Speaker before SHOPO regarding the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act and its impact on collective bargaining agreements (February 6, 2004)
Speaker at Lorman’s Seminar on Automobile Accident Law (May 21, 2003)
Speaker before SHOPO regarding the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act and its impact on collective bargaining agreements (January 16, 2003)
Speaker before SHOPO regarding the Fair Labor and Standards Act and collective bargaining (April 12, 2002)
Speaker at Kapiolani Community College, paralegal class (1998)

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Keani Alapa

(808) 253-8122 (direct)
kalapa@pacificlaw.com

Keani_Alapa

Mr. Alapa is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law where he received various accolades, including being named National Champion of the 2011 Native American Moot Court Competition held at Columbia School of Law, and co-champion of the 2010 Susan B. McKay Oral Advocacy Competition. In his moot court experience, Mr. Alapa argued before United States Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and various federal and state judges who sit on the bench in Hawaiʻi and around the country.

Mr. Alapa received his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. He was also a member of the University of Hawai‘i football team as an outside linebacker and received numerous awards both on and off the field.

Before attending law school, Mr. Alapa served as a Police Officer with the Honolulu Police Department. As a part of the Honolulu Police Department’s 150th recruit class, he was awarded the “Most Outstanding Recruit” and “Top Academic” awards.

Mr. Alapa is a member of the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association and is admitted to practice before all the Hawaiʻi courts and the United States District Court for the District of Hawaiʻi.

EDUCATION

2009: William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii
2003: University of Hawaii at Manoa
1999: Kamehameha Schools

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2013-Present: Law Offices of Vladimir P. Devens (Associate)
2011-2013: Meheula & Devens, LLP (Associate)
2010-2011: Law Offices of Michael J. Green (Law Clerk)
2009: Winer, Meheula & Devens, LLP (Summer Clerk)
2005-2009: Honolulu Police Department – Police Officer (Outstanding Recruit, Academic Award)

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Kurt Kagawa

Kagawa

Mr. Kagawa primarily practices in the area of personal injury and has successfully represented clients in contested personal injury cases in Hawaii’s circuit courts, arbitrations and mediations.

Mr. Kagawa is a graduate of the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra Universitywhere he received various accolades, including being awarded the Bertram D. Brettschneider Scholarship and appointed to the university’s judicial affairs committee.

Mr. Kagawa received his B.A. in Political Science with honors from Whitworth University.  He was also a 4-year member of the nationally ranked men’s soccer team as a midfielder and received numerous awards both on and off the field, including two-time Verizon Academic All-District 8 Men’s Soccer College Division team, NSCAA/Adidas College Men’s Scholar All-West Region team, and Northwest All-Conference team.

Mr. Kagawa is a member of the Hawai’i State Bar Association and is admitted to practice before all the Hawai’i courts and the United Stated District Court for the District of Hawai’i.

EDUCATION

2008:  Hofstra University (Maurice A. Deane School of Law) (J.D.)
2004:  Whitworth University (BA, political science, magna cum laude, Laureate Society)
2000:  Mililani High School

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2014-Present:  Law Offices of Vladimir P. Devens (Associate)
2009-2013:  Meheula& Devens LLP (Associate)
2007:  Winer, Meheula& Devens, LLP (Law Clerk)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Hawaii State Bar Association- Access to Justice Room volunteer
Hawaii State Bar Association- Junior Judges program
Hawaii State Bar Association- Young Lawyers Division
Mililani High School Boys Varsity Soccer- Coach
HYSA/MISO Soccer
Grace Bible ChurchPearlside

SPEAKING/WRITING ENGAGEMENTS

National Business Institute:  Lecturer for “No-Fault Claims and Litigation:  From Start to Finish” (June 28, 2013)

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The Law Offices of Vladimir P. Devens

A Limited Liability Law Company

707 Richards St.
Suite PH-1
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

(808) 528-5003 phone
(808) 254-6872 fax