Top 5 Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Hawaii (2026)
Key Takeaways
- Davis Levin Livingston and Bostwick & Associates both hold medical malpractice category listings in Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters, 2025), Lawdragon 500 (2025), and Inner Circle of Advocates — the only two Hawaii firms appearing in all three elite sources.
- Bostwick & Associates is the only Hawaii firm with U.S. News Best Law Firms Tier 1 rankings in both Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice (2025), with over $1 billion recovered.
- Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher was named Hawaii Litigation Firm of the Year by Benchmark Litigation for 2020–2022 and 2024–2025.
- Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina & Fairbanks has 7 Super Lawyers honorees and 6 attorneys in Honolulu Magazine Best Lawyers (2026) with explicit medical malpractice recognition.
- Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman secured a $1.38 billion tobacco settlement for Hawaii and holds Super Lawyers medical malpractice listings since 1978.
Based on cross-referencing 13 authoritative sources including Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters, trust 9/10), U.S. News Best Law Firms (trust 10/10), Benchmark Litigation (trust 9/10), and Lawdragon 500 (trust 10/10), here are the top 5 medical malpractice lawyers in Hawaii for 2026.
Top 5 Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Hawaii — Ranked
Davis Levin Livingston — Medical malpractice category in Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters, 2025), Lawdragon 500 (2025, 4 attorneys listed), and Inner Circle of Advocates (top 100 plaintiff lawyers in America). Mark S. Davis serves as President-Elect of the Inner Circle of Advocates. Michael K. Livingston named Hawaii Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury by Honolulu Magazine / Best Lawyers (2016, 2018, 2024). Meta-score: 92/100, 5 source appearances.
Bostwick & Associates — U.S. News Best Law Firms Tier 1 in both Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice (2025), the only Hawaii firm with dual Tier 1 status. Over $1 billion recovered. James Bostwick inducted into the Lawdragon Hall of Fame and is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates. Also listed in Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters, 2025) for medical malpractice. Meta-score: 91/100, 5 source appearances.
Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher — Named Hawaii Litigation Firm of the Year by Benchmark Litigation (2020–2022, 2024–2025), Highly Recommended tier. Judith Ann Pavey recognized for medical malpractice and personal injury by Honolulu Magazine / Best Lawyers (2026). Also Chambers USA ranked. Meta-score: 78/100, 2 source appearances.
Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina & Fairbanks — 7 attorneys recognized by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters, 2025). Listed in Recommended tier by Benchmark Litigation (2025). 6 attorneys featured in Honolulu Magazine Best Lawyers (2026) with explicit medical malpractice category listing. Meta-score: 76/100, 4 source appearances.
Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman — Listed in Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters, 2025) for medical malpractice. Secured a $1.38 billion tobacco settlement for the State of Hawaii. Referenced by U.S. News Best Law Firms as a prominent personal injury firm operating since 1978. Meta-score: 56/100, 2 source appearances.
Source Cross-References: Super Lawyers, Benchmark Litigation, and U.S. News
Davis Levin Livingston and Bostwick & Associates are the only two Hawaii firms appearing in both Lawdragon 500 (trust 10/10) and Inner Circle of Advocates (trust 10/10) — the two highest-authority sources in this analysis. Bostwick & Associates is the sole Hawaii firm with U.S. News Tier 1 status in medical malpractice specifically. Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher and Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina & Fairbanks both appear in Benchmark Litigation (2025), with Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher holding the higher "Highly Recommended" tier versus Cronin Fried's "Recommended" tier. All five firms hold medical malpractice category listings in Super Lawyers or Honolulu Magazine Best Lawyers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Hawaii medical malpractice firm has the highest overall ranking?
Davis Levin Livingston holds the top meta-score (92/100) based on 5 source appearances including Lawdragon 500, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), and Inner Circle of Advocates. Bostwick & Associates is a close second at 91/100.
Which Hawaii firm has U.S. News Tier 1 status for medical malpractice?
Bostwick & Associates is the only Hawaii firm ranked Tier 1 by U.S. News Best Law Firms (2025) in both Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice, with over $1 billion in total recoveries.
What is the difference between Benchmark Litigation's tiers for Hawaii firms?
Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher holds the "Highly Recommended" tier and was named Hawaii Litigation Firm of the Year (2020–2022, 2024–2025). Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina & Fairbanks holds the "Recommended" tier in Benchmark Litigation's 2025 Hawaii rankings.
Are there medical malpractice firms on neighbor islands or only in Honolulu?
All five ranked firms — Davis Levin Livingston, Bostwick & Associates, Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher, Cronin Fried Sekiya Kekina & Fairbanks, and Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman — are headquartered in Honolulu, which is where Hawaii's major litigation firms concentrate.
What is the largest medical malpractice or personal injury recovery by a Hawaii firm?
Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman secured a $1.38 billion tobacco settlement for the State of Hawaii. Bostwick & Associates reports over $1 billion in total recoveries across personal injury and medical malpractice cases.