Birney B. Bervar

Birney B. Bervar is a seasoned criminal defense attorney based in Honolulu, Hawaii. He has over four decades of experience in federal and state courtrooms. Since 1993, he has maintained a robust private practice, defending individuals and businesses against charges ranging from misdemeanors to federal death penalty cases.

Mr. Bervar earned his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in 1984, following his Phi Beta Kappa graduation in Accounting from the University of Washington in 1981. While completing law school, he served as a student public defender in Washington, D.C., gaining early hands-on trial experience representing indigent clients.

Mr. Bervar’s legal career began in 1984 as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Pierce County, Washington, where he prosecuted serious felony cases, including vehicular homicide, assault, and murder. In 1989, he transitioned to defense work as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in Hawaii, handling high-profile federal cases for clients unable to afford private representation.

A founding partner of Bervar & Jones since 2002, Mr. Bervar has earned a strong reputation for his courtroom skill and strategic defense work. He has successfully defended hundreds of clients, utilizing his comprehensive prosecutorial and defense background to secure favorable outcomes in complex criminal matters.

Mr. Bervar has served as President and Vice-President of the Hawaii Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and led the Federal Bar Association’s Hawaii Chapter. He also represented Hawaii as the Criminal Justice Act Panel Attorney National Representative and served as a Judicial Conference Delegate. His accolades include being named a “Super Lawyer” since 2008 and a “Top 100” lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers.

Birney B. Bervar’s dedication to justice and defense excellence is backed by a lifetime commitment to the legal profession. As a Life Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, he remains at the forefront of advocacy for those facing criminal charges in Hawaii and beyond.

Law Office Affiliations

• Founding Partner, Bervar & Jones Attorneys At Law
• Member, Hawaii Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Member, Federal Bar Association, Hawaii Chapter
• Member, National Trial Lawyers
• Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Licensed State

• Hawaii
• Washington

Education

• Georgetown University Law Center
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Washington
  Phi Beta Kappa in Accounting

Awards & Badges