pacific business news Forty Under 40

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By Pacific Business News, June 20, 2010, 6:00 p.m. HST

Honolulu attorney Kimberly Koide is described by colleagues as committed, compassionate, diligent and instrumental in developing an emerging trust litigation practice group at one of Hawaii’s largest law firms. The Punahou School and University of Hawaii graduate earned her law degree at the University of California at Los Angeles in 2004 and immediately joined the Honolulu law firm of Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel where she specializes in civil litigation, trust and probate disputes, estate planning and trust administration. She also has served as a director with the Hawaii State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division and was an officer for the association’s probate and estate planning section.

Koide is a member of the Rotary Club of East Honolulu and a longtime volunteer with the YMCA. She also has mentored and tutored students at various schools across Oahu and was a swim and aerobics instructor.

How the events of the past two years influenced my career plans: A few years ago, I noticed an increase in trusts and estates disputes, and I made the decision to utilize my experience in civil litigation and concentrate on trusts and estates litigation as my niche area of expertise. Although I was excited to learn this new area of law, I was somewhat apprehensive at the thought of “change” and transitioning into a new practice group.

Looking back at these past two years, however, I realized that I not only gained a tremendous amount of substantive knowledge and experience as a trusts and estates attorney, but this experience has allowed me to grow as a professional in Hawaii’s business community. I attribute this growth to my mentors and colleagues who invested the time and effort to train and develop me as an attorney and professional. This positive experience has influenced my decision to continue developing my expertise as a trusts and estates litigator, and I hope to one day have the opportunity to share my own experiences and serve as a mentor to another young professional.

Does the brain drain still exist for Hawaii’s young adults? Although in recent years, I have heard of young professionals moving back to Hawaii after working on the Mainland, as a general matter, I believe the brain drain still exists. In my opinion, until there are more job opportunities for business professionals or until we close the gap between Hawaii and Mainland salaries, the brain drain will continue to exist.

When and how I start my day: On the average, I wake up anywhere between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. I prefer to start my day early, as I enjoy the quiet moments prior to the start of a busy work day. I make it a point to watch the morning news while I get ready for work.

What I do to relax: Since I am sitting in an office for a large portion of my day, I always find that physical exercise is a great stress reliever. I enjoy jogging outdoors and going to the gym, and after a good workout, I look forward to soaking in a hot bath. Of course, I also enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing with my dog, and making jewelry.

Senior Associate Attorney
Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel