Joy Yanagida

Joy Yanagida is an experienced Hawaii attorney and the founder of Yanagida & Associates, established in 1991. Her practice focuses on business law, real estate disputes, family law, and appellate matters. She assists individuals, families, and businesses with practical guidance, careful case evaluation, and steady representation in complex legal situations.

Joy’s academic background includes a Juris Doctor from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, and an A.B. with distinction from Stanford University. This strong educational foundation supports her analytical approach to legal problem-solving, negotiation, litigation strategy, and client counseling across varied practice areas. Over the course of her legal career, she has built a broad practice involving business contracts, business formation, shareholder disputes, franchising, mergers and acquisitions, and business litigation. She helps clients assess risks, protect interests, and resolve disputes with practical, effective advocacy.

In real estate matters, Joy represents clients in disputes involving commercial and residential property, condominiums, easements, land use, zoning, homeowners associations, mortgages, neighbor conflicts, eminent domain, and water law. Her work helps property owners, businesses, and families address disagreements with clarity, preparation, and a practical understanding of real estate concerns. Her family law practice includes divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, guardianship, paternity, marital agreements, restraining orders, and related matters. She offers clear guidance during sensitive transitions, helping clients protect their rights and make informed family decisions.

Before founding Joy Yanagida’s firm, she gained significant legal experience in Washington, D.C., including work with Dickstein, Shapiro & Morin, the Center for International Environmental Law, the Tower Commission, and the U.S. State Department Office of the Legal Adviser. She also served as an adjunct professor at American University’s Washington College of Law. She is admitted in Hawaii, the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Through disciplined advocacy and practical counsel, she helps clients address business, property, family, and appellate issues with confidence and informed direction.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney/Owner, Yanagida & Associates
• Member, Hawaii State Bar Association

Licensed State

• Hawaii

Education

• University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Stanford University
  AB

Awards & Badges