Amanda M. Jones - Lawyer in Honolulu, HI

As a litigation partner, Amanda strives to blend practical advice with vigorous advocacy. She regularly advises and represents employers in labor and employment matters as part of her broader commercial litigation practice.

Amanda represents employers in state and federal trial and appellate courts, in arbitrations and in administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, and the Department of Labor. She has successfully defended employers against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and whistleblowing. She has also achieved favorable decisions in union grievance arbitrations. Amanda frequently advises clients on difficult employment matters and compliance issues, provides training to supervisors and employees, and conducts workplace investigations. She has been ranked in Chambers and Partners USA in the area of Labor and Employment since 2015. She was recently recognized in the Best Lawyers in America 2018 List in the area of Litigation-Labor and Employment.

Amanda also has significant commercial and real estate litigation and arbitration experience. She has handled several cases involving lender liability and foreclosure-related matters, unfair and deceptive trade practices and unfair competition claims, intellectual property matters, partnership and real estate disputes, and breach of contract claims.

Amanda grew up in Kaneohe and graduated summa cum laude from the William S. Richardson School of Law, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the University of Hawaii Law Review. Prior to her legal career, Amanda was a news reporter and anchor for the ABC affiliate in Biloxi, Mississippi.

EXPERIENCE

Employment Law and Labor Relations

• Achieved complete dismissal of race discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims for a construction industry employer
• Obtained summary judgment for high-end retail client in a sexual harassment case
• Succeeded in obtaining dismissal before trial of national origin discrimination and retaliation claims on behalf of a property management company
• Secured dismissal of whistleblower and emotional distress claims on behalf of an employer in the health care industry
• Served as first-chair in labor arbitration proceedings, resulting in rulings affirming employment terminations for just cause
• Prevailed on appeal in compelling terminated employee to arbitrate claims in accordance with employers arbitration agreement

Commercial and Real Estate Litigation

• Successfully defended national and local lenders and loan servicers in defeating claims by borrowers under the Truth in Lending Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act and other federal and state statutes
• Won dismissal of Land Court petition filed by borrowers challenging lenders title and secured affirmance of the dismissal on appeal
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of commercial landlord in lease termination dispute with tenant
• Secured a favorable arbitration award on behalf of a homeowner in construction defect dispute, including a substantial attorneys fee award
• Prevailed in arbitration on behalf of a purchaser in a real estate dispute

Educational Institutions Law

• Advised educational institutions on employment and educational matters, including compliance with equal employment laws, Title IX, Title VI, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
• Defended complaints filed with the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
• Represented charter school officials in litigation of due process claims

AWARDS

• Chambers Partners, Labor and Employment, Since 2015
• Best Lawyers in America?, Since 2017

EDUCATION

• J.D. (2007), William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii at Manoa, summa cum laude
• Bachelor of Journalism (1997), University of Missouri-Columbia, magna cum laude

ADMISSIONS

• Hawaii State Bar (2007)
• United States District Court for the District of Hawaii (2007)
• United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2010)

MEMBERSHIPS

• American Bar Association (member of the Litigation and Labor and Employment Law sections)
• Hawaii State Bar Association (member of the Litigation and Labor and Employment Law sections)

PUBLICATIONS

• Co-Editor, Hawaii Employment Law Letter (2008-present)
• Background Check Laws: Hawaii, Practical Law Institute (2013)
• Editor-in-Chief, University of Hawaii Law Review (2006-2007)

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• Negotiating So Everyone Wins, Hawaii Business magazine Wahine Forum (October 2017)(moderator)
• Overview of the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA), HSBA-Labor Employment Law Section seminar (August 2017) (moderator)
• Looking Ahead: What Can Employers Expect in 2017?, Cades Corporate Counsel seminar (March 2017) (presented with Paul M. Saito, Esq.)
• Embracing Conflict, Hawaii Business Leadership Conference (July 2016) (panelist with Russell Hata and Kawika Riley, moderated by Sunshine Topping)
• Proactive HR: Implementing Best Practices to Minimize Legal Risks, Hawaii Employers Council seminar (July 2016) (co-presenter with Kristin S. Shigemura, Esq.)
• Are You Ready for the New Overtime Exemption Rules?, Cades seminar (June 2016) (co-presenter with David F.E. Banks, Esq. and Paul M. Saito, Esq.)
• Wage and Hour Update: Recent Decisions and Proposed Changes to FLSA that Employers Need to Know, Society for Human Resource Management Hawaii Chapter annual conference (October 2015)
• Wage and Hour Master Class: The Advanced Interactive Workshop for Employers, BLR seminar (October 2015) (co-presenter with Paul M. Saito, Esq., Cheryl A. Kinoshita, Esq., Min Kirk and Herbert Lee)
• The Nights Watch and Employment Law in Hawaii, Hawaii State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section seminar (September 2015) (panelist with David F.E. Banks, Esq., Don Huynh, Esq. and David Simons, Esq.)
• Crime Shouldnt Pay: Avoiding Employer Liability from the Use of Criminal Background Checks, Hawaii Employers Council seminar (July 2015) (co-presenter with Kristin S. Shigemura, Esq.)
• Discipline and Discharge-Necessary Documentation, National Business Institute, Human Resource Law from Start to Finish seminar (December 2014)
• Federal Employment Laws You Need to Know, National Business Institute, Human Resource Law from Start to Finish seminar (December 2014)
• Files Are Our Friends: Strategies for Complying with Recordkeeping Laws and Avoiding Legal Disputes, Hawaii Employers Council seminar (May 2014) (co-presenter with Kristin S. Shigemura, Esq. and Elijah Yip, Esq.)
• The Brave New World of Workplace Technology, National Business Institute, Advanced Employment Issues in Hawaii seminar (December 2013)
• EEOC Audits and Enforcement Traps, National Business Institute, Advanced Employment Issues in Hawaii Seminar (December 2013)
• FMLA Master Class for Hawaii Employers, BLR seminar (October 2013) (co-presenter with David F.E. Banks, Esq., Paul M. Saito, Esq., and Cheryl Kinoshita, Esq.)
• What Employers Can Do Regarding Social Media Policies, Procedures, Emails and Handbooks, Society for Human Resource Management Hawaii Chapter annual confer