William M. Harstad

William M. Harstad is a partner and chair of the Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution practice at Carlsmith Ball LLP in Honolulu, HI, with a practice focused on bankruptcy, banking law, and commercial litigation. Harstad advises financial institutions and businesses on insolvency, insurance, and environmental disputes. These matters can require attention to written agreements, legal obligations, and the consequences of decisions made early in the process.

Harstad completed a J.D. from Washington University School of Law and a B.A. from Grinnell College. This background supports the careful legal analysis needed in matters involving bankruptcy, banking law, and commercial litigation. Academic training provides a basis for interpreting legal requirements and working through issues in a structured way. That foundation is relevant when reviewing disputed facts, drafting or interpreting documents, or determining how an agreement or legal rule applies to a client’s situation.

Harstad has experience involving commercial claims, bankruptcy cases, environmental issues, and banking-related disputes. Such assignments require careful attention to the details of the record and the legal framework governing the work. Depending on the circumstances, the attorney may need to evaluate documentation, prepare agreements or arguments, confer with other participants, or address procedural deadlines. Experience with these matters helps connect the immediate legal questions to the broader circumstances in which they arise.

William M. Harstad is also associated with his work bringing litigation and financing considerations together in troubled business matters. Harstad brings that experience to the analysis of legal issues and the preparation needed to address them. The practice places importance on understanding a client’s situation rather than treating similar-looking matters as identical. Careful assessment of facts, legal requirements, and options helps define a clear path through a transaction, claim, or dispute. This practical focus shapes the attorney’s continuing work.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Carlsmith Ball LLP
• Member, Hawaii State Bar Association
• Member, New York State Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association

Licensed State

• Hawaii
• New York

Education

• Washington University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Grinnell College
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges