Attorney Spotlight Archives | Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman LLP

Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman Virtual Roundtable Q&A: Women in Law

Posted on March 11, 2025March 16, 2026 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration with a 1987 presidential proclamation. The law passed by Congress marked the month of March with observances to honor the achievements of American women in a variety of fields, including the law.

This year, we are celebrating Women’s History Month with a virtual roundtable of female attorneys at Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman discussing their experiences in the field of law. This year, attorneys that work in a variety of practice areas in our firm shared their insights. Participants included Allison Aoki, Alyssa Segawa, Beth Nardi, and Ilana Waxman.

Women In Law Virtual Roundtable Q&A with Alyssa Segawa

Posted on March 11, 2025August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

Alyssa R. Segawa is a native of Honolulu and a partner at Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman. Alyssa’s practice concentrates on asbestos litigation, personal injury, product liability, Roundup litigation, appellate and federal practice matters. She has a particular interest in helping victims of mesothelioma seek justice through the legal system.

When Alyssa was 16, her grandfather, a retired pipefitter at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, passed away from mesothelioma. She knows what the families of the Galiher firm’s clients are going through and works hard to make sure that they can enjoy their time with loved ones.

Women In Law Virtual Roundtable Q&A with Ilana Waxman

Posted on March 11, 2025August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

Ilana Waxman is the managing partner of Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman. Ilana focuses her practices on toxic exposure cases, particularly for clients with mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases. She also represents the families of children born with birth defects due to chemical exposures, Hawai’i residents suffering from Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma as a result of Roundup exposure, survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and other catastrophic injury cases.

Ilana works every day to hold corporations and insurance companies accountable for their role in creating one of the greatest public health disasters this country has ever seen. She is proud to fight for justice for individuals who are suffering from preventable diseases due to the greed or callousness of others.

Women In Law Virtual Roundtable Q&A with Allison Aoki

Posted on March 11, 2025August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

Allison Aoki is a native of Hawaii and a Partner at Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman. Her practice focuses on asbestos litigation, birth injury cases, pesticide injury litigation, premises liability, product liability and toxic tort issues. Allison attended Keio University in Tokyo, Japan, and earned her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She earned her law degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu. While there, she was honored with the CALI Award for Excellence in the Future. Allison is admitted to practice law by the State Bar of Hawaii.

Women In Law Virtual Roundtable Q&A with Elizabeth Nardi

Posted on March 11, 2025August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

A veteran lawyer with extensive courtroom experience, Elizabeth is a litigator in Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman’s Maui office. Her practice focuses on obtaining justice for individuals impacted by the Maui fires. A Lahaina resident who evacuated and lost her home during the August 8 fires, Beth brings first-hand perspective of the challenges facing victims. In addition, her practice focuses litigation related to asbestos exposure and exposure to Monsanto’s Roundup pesticide. She also represents victims of child sexual abuse.

Before joining the firm, Elizabeth served more than 10 years as a deputy prosecutor in Hawaii and California, where she handled a wide variety of criminal jury trials to verdict. Elizabeth earned her law degree from California Western School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Managing Partner Ilana Waxman Earns National Trial Lawyers Honor

Posted on June 18, 2024August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman is proud to announce that Managing Partner Ilana Waxman has been recognized among the nation’s top plaintiffs civil trial lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers organization.

Waxman was singled out by the invitation-only organization based on her work on behalf of individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma from asbestos exposure, as well as victims of childhood sexual assault. Her practice also focuses on representation of families of children born with birth defects due to exposure to toxic chemicals and individuals suffering from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma from exposure to Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide.

Attorney Alyssa Segawa Selected to AAJ Leadership Role

Posted on March 13, 2024August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman is proud to announce that firm partner Alyssa Segawa has been selected to represent trial lawyers in Hawai’i on the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice (AAJ).

The appointment to a national leadership role within the largest association of trial lawyers reflects a career-long commitment by Segawa to promoting professionalism and the highest standards within the legal profession.

What is the American Association for Justice?

Formed in 1946 and based in Washington, D.C., the AAJ’s mission is to promote justice and fairness for injured individuals and safeguard the constitutional right to a trial by jury. Organization members in each state are represented by two members of the Board of Governors. Segawa represents Hawai’i, while Johnston represents Texas. The selection was announced at the AAJ’s winter meeting in Austin, Texas, in February.

About Alyssa Segawa

Segawa is a partner in Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman’s Honolulu office. Her practice focuses on asbestos litigation, personal injury, product liability, Roundup litigation, appellate and federal practice matters. She has a particular interest in helping victims of mesothelioma seek justice through the legal system.

She has held numerous leadership positions in the AAJ, as well as in the organization’s state chapter, the Hawaii Association for Justice. In addition, she has served on the Hawaii Association for Justice Board of Governors since 2014 and is active in the Hawaii Bar Association.

In 2022, Segawa was part of a Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman team that secured a $5.63 million settlement on behalf of a Hawai’i student who was sexually assaulted by a teacher. The settlement ranked among the Top 50 in the nation for 2022, according to an analysis of state and federal records by researchers at TopVerdict.com.

Since the devastating West Maui wildfires destroyed the town of Lahaina in August 2023, Segawa and the entire Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman team have been working to help victims recover, rebuild and obtain justice.

How Do We Fight Corporate Negligence?

Seek justice with the help of our experienced Hawaii attorneys. We’ve battled corporate giants on behalf of individuals like you for over 40 years, aggressively fighting those responsible for personal injury and wrongful death caused by corporate wrongdoing and fraud committed against the government. If you’ve suffered catastrophic injury or loss caused by corporate negligence or believe you have a government whistleblower case, we can help. Contact us for a free consultation. Contact is kept confidential.

Law Firm Earns 1 of the Top 50 Largest Injury Settlements of 2022

Posted on March 6, 2024August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

A multi-million dollar litigation settlement secured by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman trial lawyers is recognized among the Top 50 in the nation for 2022. The case underscores the Hawai’i-based firm’s ability to handle some of the most challenging types of injury litigation, which include asbestos exposure and sex assault.

The case involved a $5.63 million settlement on behalf of a Hawai’i student who was sexually assaulted by a teacher, according to an analysis of state and federal records by researchers at TopVerdict.com.

“Sexual assault litigation is extremely difficult. The victims often feel like the legal system is uncaring and victimizes them all over again. It’s extremely gratifying to represent these individuals and help them obtain justice,” said Galliher DeRobertis & Waxman lawyers Ilana Waxman and Chris Johnson, who played leadership roles in the case. “We were able to win a significant settlement that avoided having the victim testify in trial. Recognition like this is just another indication that our passion for clients and their causes can make a difference.”

Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman Elevates Alyssa Segawa, Allison Aoki to Partner

Posted on February 20, 2024August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

Growing Hawai’i-based law firm represents victims of mesothelioma, Maui fires, toxic exposure, and childhood sex abuse

HONOLULU, Hawaii — Hawai’i-based personal injury firm Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman is proud to announce the elevation of veteran lawyers Alyssa Segawa and Allison Aoki to partner.

Peter Kraus Receives ADL Larry Schoenbrun Jurisprudence Award

Posted on November 11, 2022August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

We are thrilled to see others recognize the leadership of Waters Kraus & Paul’s Founding Partner, Peter Kraus. He is this year’s recipient of the Larry Schoenbrun Jurisprudence Award awarded annually by the Anti-Defamation League Texoma. The award is presented to a member of the legal community for outstanding leadership, exemplary contributions to the community, and a commitment to the ideals of ADL, the leading anti-hate organization in the world.

As a firm, we’ve witnessed Peter’s leadership and fearless commitment to justice, tolerance and inclusivity inside and outside our firm’s walls. An active member of our community, Peter is a board member of the Dallas Holocaust Museum, the Southwestern Medical Foundation and public radio and television station KERA. He also serves on the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice and the board of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.

Peter is an ardent supporter of consumer and victims’ rights, having testified before the Texas Legislature and frequently lobbied Congress on behalf of asbestos litigants. Peter also serves on several asbestos bankruptcy creditor and trustee advisory committees. In January 2020, he was appointed by Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, to serve a second 5-year term on the board of the Federal Judicial Center Foundation. He also served his alma mater as a member of the Duke University Annual Fund executive committee and is a former chairman of the boards of the Greenhill School and the St. Paul Medical Foundation.

Our firm, Waters Kraus & Paul, has been a proud sponsor of the ADL’s annual Walk Against Hate since its inception in 2019. The event works to promote diversity, respect and inclusion. Peter also served on the board of the Public Interest Law firm, an organization he and the firm continue to support.

A Dallas, Texas native, Peter attended Duke University for his bachelor’s degree and received his law degree from the University of Texas. He is a member of the Dallas Bar Association and The National Trial Lawyers: Top 10 Asbestos/Mesothelioma Trial Lawyers Association, an invitation-only honor. Licensed to practice law in Texas, California, Hawaii, Missouri, and Virginia, Peter has been elected for membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates by his peers. He has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the latest edition of The Best Lawyers in America© magazine for his work on behalf of plaintiffs in Personal Injury Litigation and Product Liability Litigation from 2016 through 2021. He has received this recognition for four consecutive years beginning in 2016. Peter has also been recognized on the D Magazine “Best Lawyers in Dallas” list and the Thomson Reuters Texas Super Lawyers® list repeatedly over the last 20 years.

ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is, “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all.