Joseph F. Kotowski, III was born in Buffalo, New York and graduated from Hutchinson Central Technical High School. He attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Government in 1997. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Cornell, Mr. Kotowski relocated to Hawaii and worked at the Legislative Information Systems Office at the Hawaii State Capitol. In 1998, he was employed as a paralegal for a sole practitioner specializing in medical malpractice defense.

In 2003, Mr. Kotowski received his law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii. While in law school, he served as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the University of Hawaii Law Review, was a member of both Phi Delta Phi and the American Inns of Court, and received several awards and scholarships, including the James Koshiba Law Review Scholarship and the C. Jepson Garland Memorial Scholarship Award. Mr. Kotowski also performed pro bono work with the chambers of The Honorable Barry M. Kurren, United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Hawaii. Mr. Kotowski was admitted to the state and federal bars of Hawaii in 2003.

Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Kotowski joined a large and prominent Hawaii law firm as an associate. His practice focused on insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, real and personal property disputes, and general commercial litigation. In 2005, Mr. Kotowski was admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In 2008, he joined the firm of Tom Petrus & Miller, LLLC, continuing his practice in the areas of insurance coverage and professional liability litigation.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER