Mia Dianne Nakazawa Obciana

Partner

  • Office Contact Info
  • Biography

    Mia Obciana has been licensed to practice law since 2004 and has experience in insurance defense, E&O defense, personal injury cases, property damage, complex business litigation, business transactions, product liability, employment matters, trust and probate litigation, administrative law, criminal prosecution and appellate work. Throughout her career, Mia has participated in numerous trials, mediation, and arbitration in state and federal courts.

    She graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law. After graduating, she practiced insurance defense in Southern California, representing a national professional insurance carrier defending medical professionals, attorneys, and accountants. During that time Mia also represented municipalities in employment matters throughout Southern California. In 2008, she moved back to Hawaii and worked as a deputy prosecuting attorney in the City and County of Honolulu, prosecuting offenses from DUIs to family abuse cases.

    Mia also worked as a deputy corporation counsel with the City and County of Honolulu, defending the City and County against property damage claims, personal injury, employment discrimination and participating in administrative hearings. She spent the majority of her time as adjudication counsel for the Honolulu Liquor Commission; prosecuting violations of the Rules of the Liquor Commission.

    While working at a prominent Honolulu law firm, Mia worked on probate litigation, business litigation, employment litigation, personal injury cases, contract disputes, and administrative law cases. She also assisted the state's premiere movie theatre chain apply for and obtain the first liquor license for movie theatres on the island of Oahu.

    Mia has been advising and representing business clients in transactional and litigation matters involving limited liability company member disputes, breach of contract, partnership contribution disputes, licensing and permitting, document review and drafting, and legal counsel.

    Mia’s extensive administrative law experience includes representing businesses and individuals in disputes and the application process before administrative agencies such as the Honolulu Liquor Commission, the Department of Planning and Permitting, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission. She has also handled judicial appeals of administrative agency decisions in the Circuit and Appellate courts.

    Mia has also represented both employers and employees in employment litigation matters involving wrongful termination, harassment, age discrimination, sex discrimination, medical status discrimination, racial discrimination, religious discrimination, and whistleblower protection.

    Admissions

    • Hawaii
    • California
    • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
    • U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii
  • Practice Areas
  • Education

    Education

    J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law

    B.A., University of Hawaii at Manoa, Political Science

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