Practice areas: Family Law
Licensed in Hawaii since: 1970
Education: Duke University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2025 Hamilton and Chan LLC
1003 Bishop StSuite 1188
Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: 808-377-4030 Email: Geoffrey Hamilton Visit website
Geoffrey Hamilton is the director and co-founder of the law firm of Char Hamilton Yoshida & Shimomoto in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he focuses his practice on family law, particularly divorce. He represents a wide variety of clients throughout the Honolulu area.
Mr. Hamilton graduated from the College of Wooster with a degree in history and earned his law degree from Duke University School of Law. Admitted to practice in Hawaii state courts, Mr. Hamilton is also certified as an arbitrator by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. In 1988, he was appointed special master by the family court of the Hawaii State Judiciary's first circuit court.
Throughout his career, Mr. Hamilton has participated in a range of professional organizations. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Hawaii State Bar Association, where he served as chairperson of the family law section for two terms. Mr. Hamilton has also served on the board of directors of the association's family law section since 1990.
Mr. Hamilton has also been active in the American Cancer Society's Honolulu chapter, the Hawaii Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Duke Alumni Association Hawaii chapter, among other professional and community groups. He is an officer and board member of Hawaii International Child Placement and Family Services, Inc., the state's largest private adoption association.
His accomplished legal career has earned Mr. Hamilton many honors. He was named one of Hawaii's top attorneys several years in a row by Honolulu Magazine and has been featured in the publication "Best Lawyers in America"* every year since 1983.
Always willing to share his legal knowledge with others, Mr. Hamilton has authored articles for numerous publications. He has also served as a speaker at a variety of conferences and seminars.
*The Best Lawyers in America® 2013. Copyright 2013 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC.
First Admitted: 1970, Hawaii
Professional Webpage: https://www.hamiltonandchan.com/About/Geoffrey-Hamilton.shtm...
Bar / Professional Activity
- Board Member, Honolulu Chapter American Cancer Society, 1985-1987
- Former Vice President, Duke Alumni Association Hawaii Chapter
- Past Chairperson, Family Law Section, Hawaii State Bar Association, two terms; elected in 1990-1992 (two year term); re-elected (one year term) 1996
- Member of Board of Directors of Hawaii State Bar Association, Family Law Section 1990-Present
- Member, Hawaii Supreme Court Committee on Divorce Proceedings (2000-2001)
- Board Member and Officer, Hawaii International Child Placement and Family Services, Inc. (the largest private non-sectarian adoption agency in Hawaii), 1978-1990
- Former President, Village Maluhia Condominium Association, 1981-1982
- Editor, Child Custody Section, Hawaii Divorce Manual, 2000-Present
- Appointed Special Master by the Family Court of the First Circuit Court, 1988
- Hawaii State Bar
- Past Member,Kaneohe Neighborhood Board
- Former President, est of Hawaii, 1976-1978
- Former Secretary/Director, Hawaii Defense Lawyers Association, 1985-1989
- American Bar Association, 1970
- Co-Chair, Special Guardian Ad Litem Committee, Family Law Section, 1994-1995; second term 2000
- Past Chairman, State of Hawaii Criminal Injuries Compensation Commission, 1986-1991
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Certified Arbitrator, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Certified Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1981-Present
- AV rated in Martindale Hubbell
Educational Background
- B.A., History, The College of Wooster , 1965
- Town School, Lick-Wilmerding School, San Francisco, CA 1957-1958
- Riverdale Country School, New York, NY, 1961
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- ABA Compendium – ABA Family Law Section Annual Meeting, American Bar Association, 1989 and 1993; also Divorce Law Update, Vail, Colorado, 1989; revised and republished as "Why Is My Client Nuts? . . . Dealing With the Difficult Divorce Client", Hawaii Bar Journal No. 13, Vol. II, 1998
- "Why Is My Client Nuts? . . . An Inquiry Into the Psychodynamics of Divorce"
- "Relocation Issues", ABA Family law Compendium, 2006
- Relocation "Settlement Technologies for Relocation Cases", American Journal of Family Law, Volume 22, Number 3, Fall, 2008
- Guide to the Psychodynamics of a Failing Marriage, Enlightened Divorce and Transition to Your New Life and a Successful New Relationship, 2004
- Lecturer, University of Hawaii, Law for the Non-Lawyer, 1978-1985
- Speaker, ABA Family Law Section Annual Meetings, Honolulu, 2006, San Francisco, 1997, New York, 1993, Honolulu, 1989
- Lecturer and Panelist, Hawaii Institute of Continuing Legal Education and Pacific Law Institute; various programs, 1977-1998
- "Further Reflections on Why My Client Is Nuts . . . An Inquiry Into the Psychodynamics of Divorce (Part II)", updated, revised edition; 1992 Divorce Law Update
- "Finding Your Way Through Hell – How to Survive Divorce", Family Advocate, Summer, 1990
- "Divorce; the Emotional Rollercoaster", Family Advocate, Winter, 1990
Other Outstanding Achievements
Honors
- Selected as one of Hawaii's "Super Lawyers", 2008
- Listed by Honolulu Magazine as one of Hawaii's "Best Lawyers" (1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005)
- Named by Super Lawyers as one of the top twenty-five Super Lawyers in the state, 2012
- Recognized in "The Best Lawyers in America" in every edition from 1983 to the present
- Named the Best Lawyers' 2011 Honolulu Family Lawyer of the Year
- Listed by Honolulu Magazine as one of Hawaii's "A+ Attorneys", 1993
Industry Groups
- None
Office location for Geoffrey Hamilton
1003 Bishop St
Suite 1188
Honolulu, HI 96813
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2025
