Chase

Tajima

Chase Tajima is the managing partner at Trépanier Tajima LLP. Mr. Tajima handles all aspects of civil litigation including prefiling investigation, initial pleadings, discovery, depositions, dispositive motions, negotiations, settlements, trials and appeals 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.

Notable cases include:

• Anti-SLAPP motion granted against commercial restaurant landlord’s lawsuit that alleged misrepresentation and unfair competition. The Court dismissed four of five causes of actions 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 the 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 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, at *1 (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. See People of the State of California (Caltrans) v. MHC Ponderosa Limited Partnership (El Dorado County Superior Court No. PC20180539). 

• $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.)

• 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.

Prior to founding Trépanier Tajima LLP, Mr. Tajima was an associate attorney at Crockett & Associates practicing complex civil litigation in Los Angeles, California. 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. There, he achieved a trial victory against the IRS (T.C. Memo 2015-91), litigated a $70 million state tax assessments for a publicly traded hotel company and advised on a $30 million 1031 exchange of fractional condominium interests. 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 Hawaii State Bar Association’s tax section.

While in law school, he assisted the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office with a successful prosecution of a serial rapist and murderer. Mr. Tajima 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 his income taxation and ethical lawyering course work and qualified for the Dean’s Honor List. At Georgetown University Law Center, Mr. Tajima 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.