Atty. Terrence M. "Terry" Lee
Terry is one of the most experienced real estate and restaurant attorneys in Hawaii and is a licensed real estate broker. In his roughly 40 years of practice, Terry has represented a "who's who" list of local and national developers, hoteliers, investors and entrepreneurs on a wide variety of Hawaii real estate acquisition, development, business, hotel and restaurant matters.
Profile Summary
About Terrence M. "Terry" Lee at a glance
Terrence M. "Terry" Lee is a family law, business, real estate, and zoning attorney based in Honolulu, Hawaii, practicing at Lee & Martin LLLP. Admitted to practice in Hawaii, Hawaii State Bar Association. Educated at University of California Hastings College of the Law (J.D., 1980) and University of Hawaii at Manoa (—, 1977). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Land Use and Zoning Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Real Estate Law (2026). Serands clients in Honolulu, HI and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Terry is one of the most experienced real estate and restaurant attorneys in Hawaii and is a licensed real estate broker
- In his roughly 40 years of practice, Terry has represented a "who's who" list of local and national developers, hoteliers, investors and entrepreneurs on a wide variety of Hawaii real estate acquisition, development, business, hotel and restaurant matters
- Terry's current clients include Safeway, Inc., Parallel Capital Partners, Roy's Holdings, Inc., Outback Steakhouse, Inc., Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Diamond Parking, Inc., and Watumull Properties Corp. Terry has substantial experience in all aspects of investment and development projects — from acquisition through development, operations, leasing and sales
- Terry's representation has included owners and investors in retail/commercial operations, shopping centers, warehouses, hotels, restaurants, office buildings, service companies, and other businesses
- Terry's work routinely includes advising on appropriate legal structure, advising on and negotiating key deal points, handling land use requirements, resolving title issues, negotiating and drafting long term ground leases, operating/partnership agreements, tenant leases, construction agreements, financing arrangements, brokerage agreements, and other core contracts
- Terry also has extensive experience representing commercial landlords and tenants in all aspects of leasing transactions with particular emphasis on commercial/retail and restaurants
- Terry also represents a significant number of clients seeking to obtain, retain, or transfer liquor licenses throughout the islands
- Terry's extensive business experience allows him to bring a unique perspective to his legal practice
- Terry co-founded several successful businesses in Hawaii, including the world-famous Roy's Restaurants, (www.royshawaii.com)
- Terry has served and currently serves as a director of several large Hawaii companies, including Gentry Pacific, Inc. (land ownership and investments) and Roy's Holdings, Inc. (the owner of Roy's Restaurants in Hawaii)
- Effective July 1, 2015 through December 13, 2020, Terry served as a member of the board of directors (appointed by the Honolulu City Council) that governs the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) and was Vice Chairman
- HART is a semi-autonomous public transit authority responsible for the planning and construction of the City's fixed guideway rail system
- The capital costs of the initial 20 mile portion of the rail system is estimated to cost over $10 billion, exclusive of financing costs
- Over the years, Terry has developed close working relationships with all the major landowners and lenders in Hawaii, including Kamehameha Schools, James Campbell Company, Alexander & Baldwin, Weinberg Foundation, Bank of Hawaii, First Hawaiian Bank, American Savings Bank and Central Pacific Bank
- Further, he enjoys a positive working relationship with all the major escrow and title companies doing business in Hawaii, including Title Guaranty of Hawaii, the title and escrow company that handles many of the large commercial real estate transactions in Hawaii
- Terry Lee was born and raised in Honolulu
- He graduated from Iolani School and the University of Hawaii, where he obtained his B.A. in economics, with high honors, in 1977
- Terry received his law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law, in 1980
- Terry is a regular lecturer on Hawaii real estate matters and is a frequent continuing legal education panelist
- Outside of the office, Terry enjoys working out, spending time with his wife and family, and raising and riding horses at his small ranch in Waimanalo
Practice Areas Explained
Terrence M. "Terry" Lee's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Terrence M. "Terry" Lee handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Family law attorneys handle divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, prenups, and protective orders. Find verified family lawyers near you.
Terrence M. "Terry" Lee is one of 187,066 family law attorneys indexed nationally. Browse family law attorneys in Hawaii →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Terrence M. "Terry" Lee is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Hawaii →
Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.
Terrence M. "Terry" Lee is one of 316,149 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in Hawaii →
Terrence M. "Terry" Lee is one of 40,226 zoning attorneys indexed nationally. Browse zoning attorneys in Hawaii →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Hawaii
Practicing law in Hawaii. Legal matters in Hawaii are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Honolulu are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Hawaii state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Hawaii brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Hawaii courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Hawaii attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Honolulu or all attorneys in Hawaii.
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