Randall Whattoff represents developers, technology companies, the tourism industry, and numerous other mainland and Hawai‘i businesses in complex commercial litigation. Mr. Whattoff has been named a “Top Litigator Under 40” by Benchmark Litigation, and is also recognized by Super Lawyers.  He has also been selected by Best Lawyers in America for his work in Commercial Litigation and Litigation–Securities.

Examples of Mr. Whattoff’s work include:

• Arbitration award of over $13 million in damages and pre-judgment interest to our client (Hawaiian Host) after a highly contested case involving a hostile takeover attempt by a group of foreign investor defendants.

• Class Action Defense: Mr. Whattoff has defended developers, real estate management companies, and consumer products companies in large class actions, often involving Hawai‘i’s Unfair and Deceptive Acts or Practices law. In one notable case, Mr. Whattoff defeated class certification of a putative class of thousands of current and former residents of a Hawai‘i development.

• Real Estate Litigation: Mr. Whattoff has represented developers and individuals in litigation involving breach of contract claims, partnership disputes, and construction defects. Mr. Whattoff recently obtained a dismissal for a world-class golf club in a real estate dispute involving claims from several development entities.

• Technology Litigation: Mr. Whattoff has represented mainland-based technology companies in lawsuits brought in Hawaii. In two recent cases, Mr. Whattoff obtained dismissals for mainland companies on grounds of personal jurisdiction and forum non conveniens.

• Environmental Litigation: Mr. Whattoff has defended developers and real estate companies in environmental litigation.

• Government Procurement: Mr. Whattoff has represented a wide range of businesses in claims related to public procurement, including protests, claims, and appeals arising under government contracts.

• Personal Injury Litigation: Mr. Whattoff has defended a number of businesses in personal injury litigation involving serious injuries. Mr. Whattoff has represented businesses ranging from amusement parks to major shippers sued under the Jones Act.

• Intellectual Property Litigation: Mr. Whattoff has a broad range of experience litigating intellectual property disputes related to trademark, copyright, Internet issues, and trade secrets.

Mr. Whattoff was previously a partner at Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel, and he began his legal career representing entertainment clients in Los Angeles at O’Melveny & Myers and Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert. In Los Angeles, Mr. Whattoff represented professional athletes in highly publicized contract disputes, individuals and entertainment companies in intellectual property disputes, and businesses in complex commercial litigation. In one notable case, Mr. Whattoff represented the estate of the musician Michael Jackson in litigation that determined control of Mr. Jackson’s estate.

Mr. Whattoff received his undergraduate degree from U.C. Berkeley, where he majored in sociology and minored in computer science. Mr. Whattoff attended Cornell Law School, where he was an editor of the Cornell Law Review

Professional and Civic Activities

• Board Member – Real Property Tax Review Board, City and County of Honolulu
• Fellow – HSBA Leadership Institute 2013
• Arbitrator – Court Annexed Arbitration Program