What We Do
Services
COMPASSIONATE ASSISTANCE WHEN YOU ARE CHARGED WITH A CRIME. Getting arrested can be an embarrassing and horrifying experience. It may affect every aspect of your life, including your bank account, your job and even the relationships you have within your family. If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime in Hawaii, the attorneys at Bervar & Jones, Attorneys at Law are here to protect your legal rights and help you attain the best possible result for your case.
Committed to providing results for Hawaii clients
Bervar & Jones, Attorneys at Law has represented hundreds of clients in state and federal courts on charges ranging from traffic offenses to serious felonies, including assault and battery, sexual offenses, theft, drug crimes, motor vehicle crimes, DWI/DUI, white collar crime, and more. In addition, we can help you clear your criminal record and get past criminal charges sealed or expunged. Whatever your legal dilemma may be, we have the experience and ability to provide a helping hand and extricate you from legal trouble.
Birney B. Bervar
Birney Bervar has been practicing in the field of criminal law since 1983. Mr. Bervar graduated Phi Beta Kappa in Accounting from the University of Washington in 1981, and received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1984. Mr. Bervar worked as a student public defender in Washington D.C., while he completed his last year at Georgetown Law Center.
After graduation from law school, Mr. Bervar served five years as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office in Tacoma, Washington. Mr. Bervar was a felony trial prosecutor on all types of cases ranging from theft and fraud, to assault and first degree murder. As a prosecutor, Mr. Bervar handled all the county's felony Vehicular Homicide and Assault cases, and taught prosecution skills to other prosecutors in the State of Washington.
Mr. Bervar moved to Hawaii in 1989 to work as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the District of Hawaii. Mr. Bervar was an Assistant Federal Public Defender from 1989 to 1993 representing people charged with federal crimes who could not afford to retain an attorney. As an Assistant Federal Public Defender, Mr. Bervar was the trial attorney for a number of high profile and complex cases.
Since 1993, Mr. Bervar has been in private practice in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he continues to concentrate on the defense of criminal cases in federal and state courts. Mr. Bervar has successfully defended hundreds of people and businesses accused of criminal offenses from minor traffic charges to federal death penalty cases. In 2002, Mr. Bervar became a founding partner of Bervar & Jones, a law firm which offers legal services in a variety of areas.
Mr. Bervar was president of the Hawaii Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in 1995, its Vice-President in 1994, and was a member of its Board of Directors from 1991-2004. Mr. Bervar was President of the Federal Bar Association, Hawaii Chapter, from 1991 - 1993. Mr. Bervar was the Criminal Justice Act Panel Attorney National Representative for the District of Hawaii from 1995 - 2002 and a District of Hawaii Judicial Conference Delegate from 2002 - 2004. He has been rated as a "Super Lawyer" since Super Lawyers began their rating in Hawaii in 2008. Mr. Bervar has also been selected by the National Trial Lawyers as a "Top 100" Lawyer. He is a Life Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Auto accidents, medical and other professional malpractice, product defects, air craft accidents, injuries on business premises, accidents involving visitors to Hawaii , accidents on watercraft or doing other ocean activities. We have been helping injured Hawaiians for over 30 years.
Ward D. Jones
Mr. Jones has won many personal injury cases including:
- $2.8 million settlement for passenger seriously injured on City Bus during sudden stop
- $450,000 settlement for fall from electric skateboard
- $1.6 million award for physician’s failure to timely diagnose and treat breast cancer
- $1.5 million settlement in a vehicular accident
- $950,000 award for physician’s failure to timely treat a bleeding ulcer
- $135,000 award for slip and fall injury on a public sidewalk with slip hazard
- $90,000 settlement for slip and fall injury on a public sidewalk
- $160,000 settlement in a back injury case
- $600,000 settlement with County for failure by lifeguard to respond to swimmer in distress
- $700,000 settlement for injury from lava while passenger was on lava viewing boat tour
- $89,000 settlement for slip and fall on surface defects in a private parking lot
Ward D. Jones
Mr. Jones has represented the public interest for many years. Past cases include:
- The development of a large Waikiki ocean front condominium/hotel development which could create traffic congestion and interference with ocean activities by the public is enjoined by the court in favor of 40% smaller project.
- One of the world’s largest life insurance companies is found to have breached its fiduciary duty to shareholders of a small Hawaii life insurance company during a hostile takeover.
- Two major insurance companies are forced to defend their insureds against million dollar damages claims.
- $22 Billion jury award in a case against the late Ferdinand Marcos for conversion of treasure consisting of gold bullion and a solid gold Buddha statue. On appeal judgment was revised to award $6 million for wrongful imprisonment and torture and $13 million for the value of the Buddha statute.
- $600,000 settlement of claim by U.S. Olympic Taekwondo coach for wrongful termination by USOC and USTU allegedly based upon his race.
Litigation involving wills and trusts disputes of all kinds, including challenging or defending estate plans, claims of mismanagement of estates. We can also assist in processing of probates through the court system including liquidation of estate assets.
Ward D. Jones
Mr. Jones cases involving wills and trusts include:
- A will obtained by undue influence which would result in the loss of a $350,000 family home to outsiders is set aside.
- A court challenge to a will which set up a trust for the benefit of an heir is repelled.
- $300,000 settlement in a breach of oral trust case.
Real estate disputes of all kinds including title disputes, boundary disputes, adverse possession, residential and commercial lease rent arbitration of mandatory lease to fee conversion, commercial landlord/tenant disputes, failure to disclose construction defects or other defects, misrepresentation in sales transactions, real property tax appeals. We can assist you in your Hawaii real estate transactions.
Ward D. Jones
Mr. Jones protects your rights in real estate disputes:
- A landlocked homeowner’s right to access to the outside is protected
- A homeowner’s right of way to the ocean is protected from challenge
- A deed which would transfer away the family home worth $400,000 and obtained through undue influence, is set aside
- The real property tax assessor is forced to reduce his tax assessed value for a Hawaii golf course open to the public, by over $10 million.
- $86,000 settlement for a condo unit owner who suffered water damage from another unit
- Commercial landlord successfully repels damages lawsuit seeking $400,000 in economic damages for breach of lease
Business disputes including breach of contract, collection matters, shareholder/director disputes, partnership disputes, insurance disputes. We can assist in your incorporation, dissolution, or sale/purchase of a Hawaii business.
Helping businesses and individuals successfully resolve disputes
- Business litigation
- Breach of contract
- Property damage
- Personal injury claims
-Insurance claims
- Construction litigation
- Consumer litigation
- Products liability
- Product defects
- Torts
The best way to deal with civil litigation is to establish a relationship with a law firm that will help you avoid it. The attorneys at Bervar & Jones, Attorneys at Law will advise you on how to establish sound practices and draft strong contracts to protect you. If you are facing a lawsuit, we will create a strong response within the limited legal timeline. We will arrive at the best negotiated solution or go to bat for you at trial. We can help business owners navigate the court system and avoid some of the inherent disadvantages in the defense of these types of suits.
Ward D. Jones
Mr. Jones can help with your commercial disputes:
- $1.5 million settlement with State of Hawaii for breach of school bus transportation service contract
- $229,000 judgment against a borrower who defaulted on loans from a private individual
Collection disputes of all types including both secured and unsecured debts, real estate, foreclosures, attachment and garnishments.
Contested and uncontested Divorce, child custody, paternity, restraining orders, prenuptial and antnuptial agreements.
Full-service family law firm in Honolulu
Whether you are anticipating the joys of adoption, experiencing the pain of marital conflict or facing another legal issue close to home, the attorneys at Bervar & Jones, Attorneys at Law listen to your needs, understand your concerns and help you reach solutions to your legal problems.
We have served families in Hawaii for decades. Our family law attorneys provide legal services across a wide spectrum of areas, including:
- Adoption
- Alimony
- Child custody and visitation
- Child support
- Child support modification and enforcement
- Divorce
- Juvenile delinquency and dependency proceedings
- Mediation
- Pre- and post-nuptial agreements
