John Midori Hamasaki

John Midori Hamasaki

also known as John Hamasaki

5.0
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 17 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at San Francisco, CA
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI

1388 Sutter Street., Suite 805, San Francisco, CA

About John

Biography

Practice Areas

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes

Retainer

Always


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in California for 17 years

State: California

Acquired: 2008

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Hamasaki Law

1388 Sutter Street., Suite 805, San Francisco, CA, 94103

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John Midori Hamasaki's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

15 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (15) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 15 reviews

Posted by anonymous | October 13, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes

Prevailing outcome / civil matter

John represented me in San Francisco County for a civil matter, and prevailed in two separate hearings related to the same matter in which I was the petitioner. John and his associate were incredibly compassionate, kind, supportive and responsive during a time that was difficult and concerning for m...e, which helped greatly to mitigate the stress of the situation and court procedures. Their work product was very thorough and high quality and obviously resulted in favorable outcomes for me. John was also very supportive and helpful with technical questions as situations continued to develop before and after our hearings. Overall my experience with John and his team exceeded expectations and I am happy to provide him a very strong and positive reference!

Posted by anonymous | June 01, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Clearing the Rain

In late 2014, our family was hit by what seemed like the perfect storm. Our business was barely holding on, we began caretaking my grandfather post-stroke, and my grandmother was terminally ill. And when we thought things couldn't get harder, my father, a small businessman with a strong reputation in... local SF community, was arrested based on false accusations. A man with no criminal history and has owned his business in the same location for over 25 years was charged with committing a criminal threat against a troublesome customer and brandishing a weapon when in reality it was self defense. Although he has worked in the same location for so many years, it hasn't been the safest. Our store has been victim to many troublesome customers and robberies, including armed robberies, throughout the years. The day my father was arrested, he brandished a firearm in self defense because a hostile customer was challenging him to fight. Accused him of damaging items he barely touched and escalated to wanting to fight. When my dad wouldn't fight and instead brandished the firearm, the customer left and it seemed like the end of it. Then the nightmare came. The customer had called the police and made up a story of how my father threatened his life with the firearm. And when the surveillance was pulled, there was no audio. My father was arrested and we began almost a year and a half journey of court hearings and worry. We hear all the time of innocent people wrongly convicted and incarcerated. What if my father became a statistic? We spent a long time searching for the right lawyer as we were in a vulnerable position, skeptical of others especially after how the police handled the situation. We spent searching for a little over 2 weeks and John Hamasaki was our choice. From the very first phone call to our first meet, John was always very straightforward about our options and made it clear that it would be a process we would have to go through, but he would do everything he could to make sure we fought this case the right way. John was very attentive to all the details of the case and made our family feel that our case was of priority, which we appreciate a lot. We know lawyers are extremely busy handling multiple cases but John was never too busy to answer our countless questions. Everyone who worked in his office was always more than courteous and welcoming. And we never made it to trial. The felony was dismissed at the preliminary hearing and the DA offered to dismiss the misdemeanor while we were scheduling for trial. I credit this solely to Johns strategic decisions in scheduling our hearings and talking with the DA. Our family felt each move in our case was well calculated and that's when you know you're working with a great lawyer. We can't thank the office of John Hamasaki enough for what they have given us, which is a new start. My father is 63 years old and with all the stress finally lifted, he can now focus on his well being which is a better quality of life to spend with loved ones. And that is something no words could express how grateful we are of John Hamasaki. Thank you John, truly.

Posted by Susanne | January 31, 2016

Helpful Lawyer

I highly recommend John Hamasaki. He advised me on a legal situation. He was very knowledgeable and provided me with lots of useful information. He also helped me think through various legal implications of my situation that I would never have thought of.

Posted by anonymous | January 11, 2016

Recommended as an excellent lawyer

A really smart connected attorney friend recommended John as an excellent and trusted lawyer. And he was right. John's professionalism and experience was invaluable in understanding the core issues I was dealing with and helping me address them. I would recommend John unequivocally.

Posted by Cynthia F. | August 04, 2015 | Criminal Defense

Best criminal defense lawyer!

John Hamasaki is an excellent criminal defense attorney. John represented me when I was facing 4 felonies and 3 misdemeanors. At the time I was a freshman at UC Santa Cruz and my education was at the forefront of my priorities. I needed to obtain the best possible outcome in this situation in order t...o move forward and focus on my studies, with John’s help I was able to do just that. Shortly after my arrest John came to visit me in jail and offered to represent me and I am beyond grateful he did. John explained legal proceedings in terms that I could understand and assured me he would work his hardest to achieve the result I desired. John was extremely supportive and informative throughout the entire process. It was clear to me that John was working his hardest every single step of the way and that he actually cared about my case. Due to John’s knowledge and experience I was able to put that situation to rest with a completely clean record, an outcome I never thought would be possible. When you hire John you are definitely hiring a top criminal defense lawyer.

See All Client Reviews

John Midori Hamasaki's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse John
Maria Belyi headshot
Maria Belyi

Criminal defense lawyer | Jul 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I know John through his work for the Bar Association of San Francisco and his criminal defense work. He is a zealous advocate for his clients, and he is dedicated to helping those being prosecuted by the government. He is a great attorney and a good person to turn to when in need of help."

Laura Mary Nash Furniss headshot
Laura Furniss

Domestic violence lawyer | Jun 12

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I have had the pleasure of knowing John for many years. I worked opposite him during my time with SFDA and was consistently impressed with his integrity, demeanor and skill. I had the pleasure of working with John, representing clients with different interests but suffering harassment and abuse from the same perpetrator. John's mastery of both the criminal legal system as well as the civil harassment and family violence legal processes make him a formidable ally or an intimidating opposition. John is a skilled trial attorney and I wholeheartedly endorse him as an attorney and counselor at law."

Jessica Louise Beeler headshot
Jessica Beeler

Criminal defense lawyer | Jan 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"John is passionate about defending the rights of the accused. It is exciting to see him work for justice, especially for issues involving free speech and illegal search and seizure. He is committed, organized, and takes action, both on his cases and in his numerous volunteer efforts that I have seen first hand. He is a great lawyer who truly cares for his clients as well as the community."

Kaiya H Reeve headshot
Kaiya Reeve

Criminal defense lawyer | Dec 21

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"John Hamasaki works tirelessly and meticulously on his cases. He cares deeply about his clients and is passionate about providing the best defense possible. He is a devoted advocate who has a broad range of experience in defending criminal cases."

Joanna Privratsky Sheridan headshot
Joanna Sheridan

Criminal defense lawyer | Sep 14

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"John Hamasaki is a dedicated, creative and fearless advocate for his clients."

Charles Jason Simpson Woodson headshot
Charles Woodson

Criminal defense lawyer | Sep 14

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"He is a fantastic litigator and great advocate for his clients."

Melissa A. Newman headshot
Melissa Newman

Litigation lawyer | Aug 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I highly endorse this lawyer."

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 13

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse John. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Peter Anthony Fitzpatrick headshot
Peter Fitzpatrick

Criminal defense lawyer | Jan 21

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"John works extremely hard for his clients. Everytime I've seen him in court he's been effective and respected by the Court. I endorse this lawyer."

Gregory Mackean Bentley headshot
Gregory Bentley

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mr. Hamasaki has mentored me since I was law student and I continue to consult with him regarding my practice to this day. He is always willing to advise newer attorneys and is a source of great practical advice. He allowed me to co-chair a jury trial with him while I awaited my bar exam results and his courtroom skills became immediately apparent. He is a true and tested trial lawyer with a natural ability to break down complex legal issues in a manner which both his clients and a jury can relate."

Sarah Louise Pequignot headshot
Sarah Pequignot

Criminal defense lawyer | Feb 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I wholeheartedly endorse Mr. Hamasaki as the passionate, dedicated criminal defense attorney that he is. Mr. Hamasaki has repeatedly demonstrated to me that there is nowhere he would rather be than in a courtroom, advocating for his client. His commitment to criminal and social justice, his creativity, and his diligent work ethic combine to make him a formidable force in the courtroom."

Jennifer Suyun Kang headshot
Jennifer Kang

Criminal defense lawyer | Feb 16

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"John is an extremely hard working and tenacious attorney who vigorously represents his clients' best interests and is not afraid to go to trial. He is dedicated to criminal and social justice and has obtained excellent results for his clients."

Timothy Murphy Phillips headshot
Timothy Phillips

Criminal defense lawyer | Feb 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"John fearlessly defends people accused of crimes. His focus is always on finding any way possible to improve the outcome for each and every client. I recently referred someone to John and he has brought this vast experience to bear in diligently representing her in the face of serious charges."

Matt A. Sullivan headshot
Matt Sullivan

Criminal defense lawyer | Nov 16

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"John is a passionate and aggressive advocate who believes in the Constitution and in his clients."

Heather C Chang headshot
Heather Chang

Criminal defense lawyer | Oct 25

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"John is aggressive and passionate about criminal defense and justice for his clients. He is a stalwart advocate and the one you want fighting all your battles. He won't take no for an answer and will see your case through to the end. He is a great listener and truly cares about his clients."

Joshua Beal Davis headshot
Joshua Davis

Criminal defense lawyer | Oct 11

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I recommend Mr. Hamasaki. If you need someone in your corner who is dedicated and can aggressively represent you, John is an excellent choice. He obtains very impressive trial results and favorable settlements."

Jonah Chaplin Chew headshot
Jonah Chew

Criminal defense lawyer | Sep 03

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mr. Hamasaki and I share office space. On a day to day level, I see John working incredibly hard for his clients. He is dedicated, creative, and intelligent."

Russell Loren Goodrow headshot
Russell Goodrow

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 10

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I worked with Mr. Hamasaki on a tough co-defendant case, where our clients' interests were not necessarily aligned. During that case, I witnessed Mr. Hamasaki dispose of a serious, multi-count burglary/theft case in a meticulous manner, where his out of custody client stayed out of custody."

Abigail Alido Rivamonte headshot
Abigail Rivamonte

Criminal defense lawyer | Jul 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"John is a hardworking attorney that gets the job done. He's never afraid to go to trial and has achieved great results with his streak of not guilty verdicts. I"

Sara Ann Zalkin headshot
Sara Zalkin

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 21

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Mr. Hamasaki loves jury trial, and not surprisingly is all the more effective for that reason."

View All Endorsements
Laura Mary Nash Furniss headshot
Laura Furniss

Family lawyer

Maria Belyi headshot
Maria Belyi

Criminal defense lawyer

Joanna Privratsky Sheridan headshot
Joanna Sheridan

Criminal defense lawyer

Anne Casey Costin headshot
Anne Costin

Employment and labor lawyer

Gregory Mackean Bentley headshot
Gregory Bentley

Criminal defense lawyer

Jessica Louise Beeler headshot
Jessica Beeler

Criminal defense lawyer

Peter Anthony Fitzpatrick headshot
Peter Fitzpatrick

Criminal defense lawyer

Suzanne Marie Morris headshot
Suzanne Morris

Criminal defense lawyer

Matt A. Sullivan headshot
Matt Sullivan

Criminal defense lawyer

Joshua Beal Davis headshot
Joshua Davis

Criminal defense lawyer

Russell Loren Goodrow headshot
Russell Goodrow

Criminal defense lawyer

Mir Kamran Meyer headshot
Mir Meyer

Criminal defense lawyer

Daniel Alexander Flores headshot
Daniel Flores

Criminal defense lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2015

Rising Star, SuperLawyers

2013

Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service, Justice & Diverstiy Center

2009

Misdemeanor Trial Attorney of the Month, Office of the Public Defender, San Francisco

Work Experience

2010 - Present

Owner, Hamasaki Law

2009 - 2009

Attorney, Office of the Public Defender, San Francisco

Associations

2016 - Present

Bar Association of San Francisco, Barristers Club

Board of Directors

2016 - Present

California Attorneys for Criminal Justice

Board of Governors

2015 - Present

Criminal Law & Government Investigations of the Barristers Club for the Bar Association of San Francisco

Co-chair

2014 - Present

Asian American Bar Association

Board of Directors

2014 - Present

American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section

Member

2013 - Present

American Constitution Society for Law and Policy

Member

2010 - Present

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

2010 - Present

California Public Defenders Association

Member

2010 - Present

California Attorneys for Criminal Justice

Member

2009 - Present

San Francisco Bar Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

People v. Z.L.

Dismissal.

People v. M.G.

Not Guilty at Jury Trial.

People v. P.C.

Charged with marijuana felony, plea to infraction

People v. E.A.

DUI dismissed

People v. A.M.

Not Guilty at trial.

See More Legal Cases

Education

2008

University of San Francisco School of Law

Juris Doctor

Speaking Engagements

2014

University of San Francisco School of Law

Opening Statements & Closing Arguments

2014

University of San Francisco School of Law

Careers in Criminal Law

2013

Internet Archieve

We Are Legion: The Story of the Hackivists Panel Discussion

Publications

2015

2010

The Daily Californian Trial Begins for Feb. 26 Protesters

Languages

English

Avvo Rating

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  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
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Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution