Can you put a price on losing everything you own? Can you put a price on losing your freedom? There are some of us who go throughout the day without any concern or acknowledgment of injustice or of ever being treated anything but fairly and friendly by the system and law enforcement. If you're one of those people, you may believe you will never have a need for Criminal Defense Attorney John Hamasaki. However, if you're like the rest of us (and know better) you should understand how important it is to have an attorney of John's impeccable qualifications and amazing talent on your side. While working a 2nd job I found myself confronted and consumed by a scenario where I was suddenly in danger of losing my main job, my apartment and my freedom. Please keep in mind that I don't lead an "at risk" lifestyle. I work in tech and I'm not involved in any illegal activities or hobbies so to be confronted with such a harsh reality with the only other option being to accept the SF bail bond $hakedown was something I was not financially prepared for. Luckily for me, at the request of friends, Attorney John Hamasaki stepped in and worked his magic to make the nightmare go away. This guy is the exact polar opposite of every negative derogatory comment you've ever heard about attorneys. He is your Bright Knight on the darkest of days and he "will" save you. Everyone needs to have Criminal Defense Attorney John Hamasaki in their corner. The problem is...there's only one of him. My strongest and highest recommendation is to reach out to Attorney Hamasaki and make him part of your personal and professional legal strategy because John Hamasaki is an attorney for the people. He is an attorney "of" the people. For those who don't ever believe they're in danger of being treated unfairly by the system or law enforcement, God forbid you suddenly find yourself shaken awake by the new reality of a jackbooted fist knocking on the front door of your forehead. Before "that" day arrives it's in your best interest to reach out and make this man's acquaintance because when it comes to the law and your liberty it's always better and brighter to have Criminal Defense Attorney John Hamasaki on your side. read more

When I was arrested at a campus protest in Oakland in 2010, I was completely unprepared for my jail stay, the 30 page police report generated during my long Santa Rita weekend and the seven false charges against me. In this report, there was statement after statement from Alameda County Sheriffs and high ranking officials in the Peralta Community College system that supported multiple felony counts of assault and battery against police officers. The charges were outrageous, but with all that "evidence" supporting them, my situation felt dire. My support network found criminal defense lawyer John Hamasaki through the National Lawyers Guild and that's when things started looking up. John was incredibly knowledgeable, strategic and dedicated. After his first miracle of getting me out of jail on O.R. (on my own recognizance/without having to post bail), he was never late, he never missed an appointment or a court date and never failed to return a phone call in a timely manner. At our first appointment, he explained the trial process, the charges against me and the best ways for friends and family to support me. My girlfriend and I wanted to be a part of the decision making process where legal strategy was concerned, and John treated us with respect, never failing to include us. When the jury finally deliberated, I was acquitted of the only remaining charge: resisting arrest. John had managed to neutralize the rest before the jury even had a chance to decide on them. He combined a sharp legal strategy with compelling moral arguments to win my case and I cannot recommend him highly enough. He believes in what he does, and he really made us feel like he was on our team. If you're facing criminal charges, take a load off your mind and put your trial in the expert hands of John Hamasaki. read more

So let me tell you my story and u be the judge on how great an attorney john is. Alright this is how my night went and how john handled business. It was around 8 at night I was downtown at the clubs on broadway. I ended up meeting these 2 women. After a few hours of drinking with them I had got a call from one of my boys inviting me to a house party. So I told the women I was with. And invited them to come , so they agreed at this point I was wasted and I should not of drove at all. But against my better judgment I did. So well I was driving I realized I was starting to see split lanes but I was almost at my destination so I kept on going apparently during this time my mirror clipped another car next to me but I was so drunk I was unaware so a few blocks later I realized there were 2 guys following me who I did not know apparently I clipped them so I tried to get away from these guys because I had know idea why they were following me so during the whole chase. I'm out of it and made a poor judgment call. These guys end up ramming my truck and spinning me out at this moment I get out of the car and for some reason me and the 2 guys get into it start wrestling around and finally the police arrive. at this point I know I messed up bad so I end up going to the drunk tank for my first Dui. I end up in court and met john. I told him what happened and how I messed up. All in all I got off easy with one day in jail 3 years probation and three days work project. Without john I wouldn't of got off so easy. So thanks for all the great work it was really a five star effort on his part. I would trust john with any case. he's the best!!! read more

John Hamasaki is without a doubt the most professional, compassionate, and knowledgeable, criminal defense attorney in the Bay Area. Within a few moments of meeting with John, it was clear that he was extremely passionate about his work and that he had a commitment to the defense of the Bay Area community. He was easy to work with and went above and beyond the call of service on multiple occasions in my defense. John makes the legal process seem simple and is able to effectively explain the otherwise highly confusing judicial system and legal jargon. Despite my rapid firing of questions via e-mail or on the phone throughout my case, John was always patient and calm. He has a well-rounded and thorough understanding of the law not only in San Francisco County, but also in the greater Bay Area. John never hesitated in his willingness and confidence to fight and win my case. Never once did I feel uncomfortable in explaining the facts of my case to John. He was honest and understanding, never once making me feel like a "criminal". He very thoughtfully and analytically determined the best course of action to take in my defense, which ended up producing a positive result in court. After contacting a number of other lawyers in the area, John had the quickest response time, was the most affordable, and was the most professional. It is rare to find an attorney that is not only trustworthy but that is truly invested in the well being of his clients. It is with deep gratitude and respect that I recommend John to any persons in need of criminal defense. read more

John Hamasaki helped me get through the San Francisco Court System. I frequently felt confused and powerless, but John was able to provide me with the necessary information and experience to make me feel knowledgeable and empowered. He was always able to provide a cogent explanation of events as they came to pass and worked to help me understand what was going on where others might not have. He is well-connected within the SF County Courthouse and seemed to hold the appropriate knowledge of the judges and other lawyers that he interacted with. He was punctual and was never late or a no-show. He often came to court more prepared than the DA. Even when events were happening around Christmas and New Years, John was able to devote the time necessary to keep things moving with my case. While I was incarcerated John worked to make me feel comfortable and secure, and to get me out on bail in the shortest possible amount of time. He worked with my parents to make sure that their concerns were addressed and ensured that they understood what was happening, and why. Not only is John a hardworking professional, but he is also congenial and personable. He is an amiable man who did not appear to take any news too hard, and, even when it seemed things weren't going our way, was optimistic about my future. His optimism kept me hopeful as well, and helped me through the process. I would highly recommend the Law Offices of John Hamasaki to any individual currently involved in criminal legal defense in San Francisco County. read more

When my girlfriend was arrested at an anti-budget cuts / trans & queer rights protest, John took her case. She was facing 5 charges, including three counts of assault & battery of a police officer, & a judge who had been a personal acquaintance of the prosecution's two key witnesses for years. She had been brutalized by the police while in custody & was suffering from trauma. She had been issued a stay-away order from campus that was putting her at risk of academic failure. I don't know what we would have done without John. He understood the political significance of the issues involved (harrassment of trans students & cuts to education) & was able to communicate them to the judge & jury. He was extremely dedicated, meticulous & passionate - working long hours on the case, tracking down witnesses & evidence, & making sure that we were informed & involved at every stage. He understood what it meant to be experiencing trauma & how stressful trial could be & he went out of his way to offer his enormous emotional support - not just to my girlfriend, but to me & even to her concerned family & friends. Most importantly, thanks to his exceptional performance in the courtroom, we were able to take on some of the most important political elite in Oakland & win - a significant victory! I have such profound respect for John & his work, I can't thank him enough. read more

John was a life saver for me, in many ways. I found myself in a very difficult, politically charged situation due to being at a protest and was connected with John Hamasaki. From the get-go, John went above and beyond in myriad different ways. As another reviewer says, he definitely was both professional and personable as well as effective. The care he showed in helping me while I was incarcerated and working to get me out was impressive- he interacted with and calmed down family and friends, explained to them how to be most helpful, came to see me regularly and jumped right into working on the case. As mine was a codefendant situation, he also did an excellent job working with my codefendant's lawyers, even when that was extremely difficult due to one of their personalities. I was always provided a fairly good idea of the process and what to expect, had questions promptly answered, and was able to get in touch with him with ease. At the end of it all, we reached a better-than-expected resolution, much because of John's perseverance and diplomacy and his own passion for justice and ensuring that my own blossoming career wasn't ruined due to political scapegoating. I am very grateful to John for his excellent legal representation, and highly recommend him. read more

John Hamasaki is extremely dedicated and knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer. In 2009 I was arrested for 4 felonies and 3 misdemeanors in San Francisco Superior Court. At the time I was a freshman at UC Santa Cruz, and had no idea how to deal with legal charges. John visited me in jail, made sure I was released and represented me throughout the case. I am beyond grateful he did so. John took the time to put legal proceedings into common, easy to understand terms and kept me informed every single step of the way. He was very friendly and approachable, which is very important as the stress of facing criminal charges can definitely take a toll on you. John is also very hands-on, he went with me to the scene and we walked through all of the evidence, and he personally appeared with me at every court date, which I've heard is unusual for lawyers to do. After a long battle and John's continuous hard work on my case I was able to come out of the situation with absolutely zero charges and a clean record. I am confident that when you hire John you hiring the best criminal defense attorney out there. He will work endlessly to get the best outcome for you. John cares about his clients and it truly shows in his outcomes. read more

Are you looking for a consultation with a lawyer in the Bay Area that is well regarded as a top defense attorney? I highly recommend Hamasaki Law. I first came to know about John Hamasaki's practice after he succesfully represented former classmates of mine after incidents of police brutality at UC Berkeley. I contacted him as an advocate for a family friend that was a victim of a negligent driver that hit her as she was crossing the street in Downtown San Francisco. She was seeking a second opinion after her own attorney was unresponsive. He generously took the time to listen to all the details of the case and patiently explained the realistic options avaialble to her, a limited English speaker, in a kind, straightforward manner and made himself available over phone and email and followed up with us in the weeks that followed even though she was not his client. I believe this demonstrates his commtiment to go above and beyond what is required of an attorney to serve our community and would not hesitate to get in touch with him if and when you are needing legal representation. read more

We searched a long time for a right lawyer. My father, a small local businessman, was falsely accused by a disgruntled customer after brandishing a weapon in self defense. When we finally found John Hamasaki, our family felt relieved in working with someone we felt we could put our confidence in. John was very on point with his decision making in terms of our strategy and approach. He even used current events to help us think about when we would want to hold trial. We never made it to trial though, and we know it's because of Johns determination and attention to detail. The DA slowly lost confidence and we got all charges, a felony and misdemeanor, dismissed. My father is 63 years old working on managing his health and high blood pressure. Seeing him smile for the first time after a year and a half of court hearings and family illness, gave us another chance at breathing and life. And we couldn't have done it without the right lawyer. We thank John Hamasaki and his office for being so supportive. Highly recommend! read more

s a first year college student who had never been in trouble before, getting arrested was an extremely stressful experience. Luckily, John Hamasaki helped me through it. Although I did not know much legal terminology he made sure to explain everything that was going on and put things into plain English for me. He was great about keeping me updated on developments in my case, and replied rapidly whenever I had a question. He is also a very good support system and is friendly enough to make one feel comfortable speaking about ones case. He makes sure to explore as many options as possible, which makes it clear that he puts forth much time and effort and always pushes for the best possible outcome. I felt at ease knowing that John was defending me and knew he was working as hard as possible. I would highly recommend him to anyone having the misfortune to end up in the criminal justice system. read more

When my best friend got arrested, John Hamasaki was her criminal defense lawyer. I was really worried about her and what the outcome of the trial would be, but John was amazing and she came out of the affair with no charges. Besides winning the case, I would like to emphasize John's excellent work throughout the process. He is really hard-working and dedicated. He would do a lot of extra work in order to make his client and her family and friends feel comfortable and supported. He would call my friend regularly to check in and keep her posted on the status of the case. He also worked hard to keep an open-line of communication between them. This made her feel comfortable to confide in him and ask for advice whenever she needed throughout the case. He is a really friendly, responsible, reliable and hard-working person and I would recommend him to anyone looking for a criminal defense lawyer. read more

John Hamasaki is the best lawyer. My friend had a serious problem in criminal case last year. When I contacted John during weekend, he helped us even during weekend and he was always responsive. He has lots of deep knowledge of criminal cases. So he know how to deal with each case even for the complicated case. My friend case's result is really good. John spent significant time for the case and he was looking for the best resolution. John is very kind and sincere lawyer. he had always took care of client's side. He always listened what client said and looked for what is best solution/resolution from client perspective. I strongly 100% recommend John for any criminal case. He is definitely the best lawyer in bay area. If you have problem in your life, John is the right person who can help you/your family. He saved my friend's family life. read more

One of my friends was arrested at a demonstration about budget cuts and LGBTQ rights on campus at Laney Community College in Oakland. I witnessed the entire thing so I was later contacted by her attorney's team to discuss how the incident had transpired and asked if I would testify at her trial. Although I had limited contact with Mr. Hamasaki the contact I did have left a great impression on me. He was kind and reassuring not only to her friends but also to her family who was present throughout the duration of the trial. While at the trial I felt confident testifying on behalf of my acquaintance as I knew that her attorney at worked tirelessly to gather as much evidence as possible for her defense. In the end his work paid off as she was found not guilty. John Hamasaki is a great defense attorney and I highly recommend him! read more

I make my living from buying computers and other goods from Craigslist and reselling them. Unbeknownst to me, I was buying Apple Macbooks from a guy who was stealing from the company he was working for. He got busted and pulled me into the mess as well. The cops got a search warrant and ransacked my place -- took all my working capital (laptops and cash) and my camera as well! I ended up staying 2 nights in jail and had 6 counts of misdemeanors to deal with. Then by the hand of fate, John was appointed to represent me. In less than a month, he got my camera back. And in just a few short months, he got my case dismissed!!! I got all my cash and assets that were rightfully mine back. Not only is John on top of his game who delivers but he is also indeed a life saver!! read more

Back in 2012, my son was coming back home, after spending sometime in San Francisco for school purpose. So, he left an unsolved minor incident behind, however he needed legal representation. Since we leave in Georgia, would had been very inconvenient and, costly to make a trip back to San Francisco. That's when I was referred to Mr. Hamasaki. I was able to contact Mr. Hamasaki by phone and, I knew right the way that I was dealing with a very reputable man. Mr. Hamasaki, not only charged me a really fair fee, but avoid my son a trip back to California. Most impressive of all, he allowed me to make 3 payments and solved my son's problems even before the last payment was sent. Mr. Hamasaki is not only an outstanding attorney but also a man with a highest level of integrity. read more

Hace algunas semanas solicite el servicio de esta firma de abogados, tuve un D.U.I en el área de contracosta y me recomendaron contratar sus servicios. Ellos me atendieron de una forma profesional y muy amable, lo mejor fue que me atendieron en español, durante el proceso me mantuvieron informado del progreso de mi caso, GANARON MI CASO EN LA CORTE y fue en un corto tiempo. Todos son muy profesionales, principalmente Kirsten Haigh, quien fue la persona que me atendió y llevo mi caso, su español es excelente y su amabilidad y profesionalismo es lo mejor. Recomiendo a todos aquellos que estén buscando la representación de una firma de abogados para su caso, que soliciten los servicios de dicha firma, son altamente eficientes y profesionales. read more

It's hard to give John Hamasaki justice because re-living what led to my trial is hard, but he deserves all the credit and praise that comes his way. We went up against a Alameda Superior Court DA, with some not so favorable charges against me, and a jury that didn't have the best impression of me. One charge got dropped mid-trial, and I was found Not Guilty for everything in the end. Words can't express how much John helped me, how different my life would be had he not fought for me, and how grateful I will always be. He also should've had a microphone to drop at the end of his closing argument. THAT GOOD. Retain his services, he is a top notch criminal defense lawyer. read more

John's the best kind of attorney: sharp as nails, heart of gold, and could prob moonlight as a comedian if he had the urge. He represented myself and several other UC Berkeley students pro bono when we were brought up on charges related to political protest in 2009. During our year long court proceeding John was consistently supportive and available 24/7 - a trait I've come to realize is rare amongst attorneys. He would eventually add critical strategic components to our defense, which he introduced to the jury in compelling fashion, and my co-defendant and I were acquitted of all charges. Thanks John. If you ever needa favor ;)) read more