Burt T. Lau

Burt T. Lau is of counsel at Kobayashi Sugita & Goda in Honolulu, Hawaii, with extensive experience in state and county government matters. His practice includes appeals, real estate transactions, environmental matters, governmental procurement and bid protests, campaign and election issues, and planning, zoning and land use. He advises on matters before state and county agencies and has experience with lobbying, land title issues, major purchase and sale transactions, and disputes involving public processes and governmental decision-making.

Lau built his professional foundation through decades of public-sector legal work before and during private practice. He served with the State Legislature and the 1978 Constitutional Convention, worked as a Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City and County of Honolulu, and later served as a Hawaii Deputy Attorney General. These roles provide substantial background in government operations, public law, and administrative decision-making.

Lau handled labor and workers compensation matters as a Deputy Corporation Counsel and later worked on affordable housing, including the Villages of Kapolei, as a Deputy Attorney General. Since joining the firm in 1991, he has advised clients on land use and zoning proceedings, procurement disputes, campaign spending and lobbying issues, real estate transactions, and matters involving title and land court procedures.

Burt T. Lau brings deep government experience to legal matters involving agencies, public procurement, land use, environmental requirements, elections, and real estate. His work is informed by prior service in legislative, municipal, and state legal roles. He helps clients navigate public decision-making processes, evaluate regulatory requirements, and address disputes or transactions that depend on government approvals, procedures, or compliance obligations.

Law Office Affiliations

• Of Counsel, Kobayashi Sugita & Goda, LLP
• Member, Hawaii State Bar Association
• Member, State Bar of Wisconsin
• Board Member and Officer, Hawaii Committee for Humanities
• Member, City’s Neighborhood Board Program

Licensed State

• Hawaii
• Wisconsin

Awards & Badges