Summer L. Sylva

Areas of Practice

Commercial Litigation: represents domestic and international clients in state and federal courts in complex civil litigation matters that include contract disputes, business torts, adversarial proceedings, professional malpractice, product liability, discrimination, consumer protection violations, insurance and reinsurance actions, and regulatory and corporate compliance issues.

Real Estate Litigation: represents owners, developers, buyers, sellers, and their agents in disputes regarding property ownership, title conflicts, development agreements, and land use and zoning issues.

Construction Litigation: represents contractors, engineers, architects, owners, and suppliers in contract, tort, and construction defect disputes.

Probate Administration and Litigation: represents domestic and international clients in the administration and litigation of estates subject to formal and informal probate in the State of Hawaii.

Education

J.D., Cornell Law School
Public Law Certificate
Symposium Editor, Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy
President, Native American Law Students Association
Scholarship Recipient, Native Hawaiian Leadership Project

B.A., Barnard College-Columbia University
Scholarship Recipient, Native Hawaiian Higher Education Program

Bar Admissions

State and Federal Bars of Hawaii, New York, and New Jersey

Professional Certifications and Affiliations

Hawaii State Bar Association
New York State Bar Association

Publications

"Court Rejects Product Liability Insurance Claim against General Liability Policy," Int'l Law Office's Product Liability USA (April 3, 2008)

"Indigenizing Water Law in the 21st Century: Na Moku o Ko`olau Hui, A Native Hawaiian Case Study," Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy, Vol. 16(3) (Summer 2007)

"Health of Hawaiian Women," Pacific Health Dialog, Vol. 5(2) (Sept. 1998), co-authored with Mele Look and Gigliola Baruffi