CALI award for best Oral Argument in Legal Practice II

Prior to joining the firm, Matt served as a budget analyst in the Hawaii State Legislature for the House Finance Committee from 2011-2015.

Matt graduated cum laude from the William S. Richardson School of Law in 2016 where he served as Student Bar Association President, Law School Visit Coordinator, and Legal Writing Teaching Assistant.

During law school he served as a research assistant to Professor Ronald Brown at the William Richardson School of Law. He also served as the law school's representative to the Young Lawyers Division of the Hawaii State Bar Association from 2015-16. In addition, Matt also served as a student member on the Access to Justice Task Force tasked with developing the feasibility of a Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Matt also served as the head coach of the Ete football team in 2014.

Prior to attending law school, Matt graduated with honors from Punahou School, and attended Occidental College where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Asian Studies with an emphasis in Japanese History in 2011. During college, Matt participated in track and field, and served as the team captain in 2011. During this time Matt spent his summers as a teaching assistant mentoring elementary, middle and high school students.

Mr. Slovin has received numerous professional honors and recognitions including recognition as one of the "Best Lawyers in Hawaii" by Honolulu Magazine in the area of government relations. He has also been listed in Hawaii Super Lawyers and has been recognized by Chambers USA for his work in government relations and land use issues. Mr. Slovin has also received the Martindale-Hubbell AV rating. In 2011, Mr. Slovin was honored by the Hawaii State Bar Association with the Ki'e Ki'e award for his pro bono work.

Gary M. Slovin joined the firm as counsel in August 2012. Prior to joining Ashford & Wriston, Mr. Slovin was a partner and former managing partner with one of Hawaii's largest law firms. He is currently admitted to practice law in Hawaii and Pennsylvania

Land Use Matters: Successfully coordinated development efforts for a large retail chain located on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai; represented a developer in Hawaii in a contested case before the Honolulu Zoning Board of Appeals that resulted in a store being allowed to operate in the Bougainville Industrial district; represented a leeward side landowner in major litigation before the Hawaii State Commission on Water Resource Management regarding allocation of water that has historically flowed through the Waiahole Ditch System

Lobbying: Has successfully represented numerous business interests before the Hawaii State Legislature. Examples include passage of a licensing statute for the Hawaii Dietetic Association, general excise tax reform on behalf of the Direct Sellers Association, a workplace exemption on behalf of Covanta Energy Corporation, an excise tax exemption on behalf of McDonald's Corporation and franchise legislation on behalf of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers

Governmental Relations: Established legislative, governmental and public relations strategy for the operators of the H-Power Facility, the waste-to-energy facility in Honolulu that disposes of nearly all of Oahu's solid waste and converts it to electrical energy

Ms. Ito has been the recipient of numerous professional recognitions. In 2008, she was a recipient of the Pacific Business News Forty under 40 award. In 2011, Ms. Ito received the Stars of Hope award from the Hata Foundation and the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii. She also received in 2011 the Hawaii Justice Foundation Spirit of Pro Bono Award, as well as the Hawaii State Bar Association's Ki'e ki'e award, for her pro bono work with the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission and the Hawaii Consortium of Legal Service Providers to obtain much needed additional funding for indigent legal services in Hawaii.