Cases
Representative Matters: Trust Administration: Ms. Grimes has over two decades of experience in representing
advising trustees in connection with the administration of their trusts
the assets under their management, including legacy
inception assets. Ms. Grimes has worked on complex termination planning matters for large centuries-old Hawaii trusts distributing assets, pro rata
non-pro rata, to multi-generational beneficiaries. Ms. Grimes advises fiduciaries in the area of trust accounting (principal
income), trust administration, diversification
prudent investment,
fiduciary responsibilities. Ms. Grimes also represents parties in trust-related disputes over valuation
distribution of trust assets.
Nonprofit/Charities: Ms. Grimes advises nonprofit organizations on structure, governance,
compliance issues applicable to exempt organizations, including investments under management. She served as primary legal counsel to the Hawaii Host Committee for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation held in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2011,
the National Host Committee for the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2016. For over a decade, she has represented a large charitable trust in its support of four charitable organizations serving health care, educational,
charitable purposes in the Kamuela area of the Big Isl
of Hawaii.
Public Pension Plan: For over two decades, Ms. Grimes has served as primary outside counsel to a government retirement fund with more than 20,000 participants
retirees enrolled in defined benefit, defined contribution, deferred compensation,
welfare benefit plans. Ms. Grimes has advised in the areas of procurement of investment consultants, investment managers, actuaries, custodians,
third party administrators
has represented the plans in administrative appeals
litigation by plan participants involving disability
retirement eligibility
benefits, domestic relations orders,
assists in the drafting of legislation, rules,
regulations affecting the plans.
Employment Advice: Ms. Grimes advises employers on personnel
benefits matters, employment agreements, h
books, workplace issues, equal employment opportunity issues, wage
hour compliance, confidentiality
non-competition agreements, work-for-hire arrangements, trade secret
trademark protection,
trade symbol registration.
Proprietary Rights: Ms. Grimes works with individuals
business to protect their proprietary
intellectual property rights. She advises on confidentiality
non-competition agreements, work-for-hire arrangements, trade secret
trademark protection,
trade symbol registration.
Background: In a prior career, Ms. Grimes worked for Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith in New York City
for a Merrill Lynch - Sun Hung Kai (overseas securities) joint venture in Hong Kong
then as Operations Manager for Merrill Lynch International (Asia) & Co. Ltd.'s Asia-Pacific Institutional Office in Hong Kong. During law school, Ms. Grimes externed as a student law clerk for the Administrative Judge for the First Circuit, State of Hawaii, whose calendar included motions
probate proceedings. After law school, Ms. Grimes worked as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Ronald T.Y. Moon, Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court.
