FROM THE ATTORNEY’S PEN

by Michelle Tucker

If you have been reading this column for the last few months, you know we have been hard at work building a business that can sustain itself, so that you can count on us to be there in times of need. Our business is bringing knowledge to the consulting table, applying that knowledge as we guide you to reach your goals, and servicing your wants and needs. Sustaining this business depends on its people - advisors with the requisite talent to meet your needs. With that in mind, I’d like to introduce you to two of our newer attorneys, Michelle Hobus and Carlos DiPonio, and one who is not so new to our firm, Richard Sakoda.

Michelle Scully Hobus became an attorney in 1992, and joined us in 2004. She began in the trenches learning what our paralegals do, mastering the task of preparing trusts under the instruction of senior attorneys and conducting final signing meetings. These are skills she will one day delegate to others. She has become an estate planning seminar speaker and will be available for client initial consultations.

Carlos Di Ponio joined us in the month of March 2005. He became an attorney in 2002, and will follow on the same path as Michelle, gradually becoming a seminar presenter and consultant.

Both Michelle and Carlos possess the qualities necessary to be valued estate planning attorneys. They have training, patience, compassion, intelligence and integrity, they are mindful of both the financial and legal implication of their work, and they are dedicated to lifelong learning and to helping others. Through guidance from those of us more experienced in estate planning, tax and financial matters, we are confident that Michelle and Carlos will be excellent estate planning attorneys. Michelle Scully Hobus

Essential to their growth will be Richard J. Sakoda, who has been practicing in the area of estate planning law for 12 years, nearly 10 years of which have been with Sterling & Tucker. Richard handles many of the more technical aspects of estate planning, including document drafting and plan implementation. His role is less visible than those of us who do seminars, but nonetheless essential to the delivery of exceptional estate planning services.

MEET CARLOS DI PONIO

Carlos Di Ponio is our newest associate attorney in the law firm of Sterling & Tucker. He received his bachelor’s degree (honors) from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada, where he majored in History and graduated on the Dean’s List.

Mr. Di Ponio separately attended two law schools and graduated cum laude with a Juris Doctor degree from Michigan State University College of Law in 2002. That same year, he also received his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Windsor Faculty of Law in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Di Ponio was an Editor on the Journal of International Law and was assistant vice president of the Entertainmentand Sports Law Society at Michigan State, and served on the Windsor (Law) Review of Legal and Social Issues at the University of Windsor.

Mr. Di Ponio is admitted to practice law before all the courts in the State of Hawaii, and in the Province of Ontario, Canada under the Law Society of Upper Canada, and before the Federal Courts in both countries. He is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association and the Canadian Bar Association.

Before joining Sterling & Tucker, Mr. Di Ponio was in private practice concentrating in the areas of civil, criminal, and compliance litigation.

In addition to practicing law, Mr. Di Ponio has actively performed community service for various organizations ranging from the Italian-Canadian War Veterans’ Association, Easter Seals, and the Memorial Boys and Girls Club.

He can be reached at 531-5391 Ext. 331

MEET MICHELLE HOBUS

Michelle Scully Hobus is also an associate attorney in the law firm of Sterling & Tucker. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Sciences from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Ms. Hobus received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law, where she was President of the Public Interest Law Foundation and involved in the Moot Court program.

After graduating from Law School, Ms. Hobus started a non profit organization in San Francisco and became an accomplished public speaker and advocate of violence prevention on the local, state and national level. She has also spent time working with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in San Francisco and India.

Ms. Hobus is admitted to practice law in the states of Hawaii and California. She is a member of the American Bar Association and the Hawaii State Bar Association. Before joining Sterling & Tucker, Ms. Hobus worked in the Tax Division of the Hawaii State Attorney General’s Office.

You can reach Ms. Hobus at 531-5391 Ext. 339