Joy Miyasaki is a partner in the firm's Honolulu Office and a member of its Tax practice group. Her practice encompasses all aspects of tax and estate planning, charitable planning, guardianships and conservatorships, estate and trust administration, resolving will and trust disputes, and tax controversies. She serves a broad range of clients, from diverse backgrounds and levels of wealth, including high net worth individuals and families. She draws on her background as a trial attorney with the Office of Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service, in Newark, New Jersey; an associate and then partner with Connecticut and New York-based private client law firm, now known as Withers Bergman LLP; working in a family business after moving home to Honolulu; and then starting and operating her own business. She joined Carlsmith Ball as a partner in 2018.
Joy is a Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. She is ranked in Band 1 for Private Wealth Law in Chambers & Partners. Chambers says: Joy is "known for handling complex and high-value estates matters." Chambers sources say: Joy is "terrific" and "a go-to person for gnarly issues," she is "an exceptional tax attorney and very good to work with." She is listed in The Best Lawyers of America. She was named Best Lawyers Honolulu Lawyer of the Year in tax litigation and controversy in 2015 and 2024, tax law in 2017, and trusts and estates in 2012 and 2018. She has taught estate planning as an adjunct professor at the William S. Richardson School of Law for over 20 years.
Joy is an active participant in professional and community affairs and a frequent speaker for professional and community organizations. She has served as President of the Hawaii Estate Planning Council; Chair of the Hawaii State Bar Association's Tax Section and Probate and Estate Planning Section; a member of the Disciplinary Board of the Hawai'i Supreme Court; and a Court-appointed member of the State of Hawai'i Committee on the Uniform Probate Code and Probate Court Practices. She has served as Chair of the Governor-appointed Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs.
Distinctions
- Selected by attorney peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers of America for Tax Law, Trusts and Estates, Nonprofit/Charities Law, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, and Litigation - Trusts and Estates, listed since 2008
- Named Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Honolulu, 2015 and 2024
- Named Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" for Trusts and Estates, Honolulu, 2012 and 2018
- Named Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" for Tax Law, Honolulu, 2017
- Selected by attorney peers for inclusion in Super Lawyers for Estate Planning & Probate, Tax, Business & Corporate, listed 2008-09, 2011-24
- Named Super Lawyers, Top 25: 2023 Hawaii Super Lawyers Top List
- Listed in Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth, Private Wealth Law, Band 1
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent, Peer Review Rating
- Acquisition International, Leading Adviser Award 2023, Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Administration Attorney of the Year - Hawaii
- America's Top 100 Attorneys, Estate & Trust Law, Tax Law, Hawaii, since 2017
- University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law, Adjunct Professor of the Year 2008
- Hawaii State Bar Association, Outstanding Volunteer Award 2003
- Connecticut Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, Award of Achievement 1993
- Office of Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service, Special Achievement Award 1986
Affiliations
- American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow, elected 2004
- Committee on Uniform Probate Code and Probate Court Practices, State of Hawaii, Court- Appointed Member since 2019
- Disciplinary Board of the Hawaii Supreme Court, Treasurer and Board Member 2008-18
- Hawaii Estate Planning Council, President 2011
- Hawaii State Bar Association, Tax Section, Chair 2007-08
- Hawaii State Bar Association, Probate and Estate Planning Section, Chair 2003-04
- Hawaii Women Lawyers, President 2003-04
- Hawaii Women's Legal Foundation, President 2006-07
- Omotesenke Domonkai Hawaii, Board Member since 2010
- Pacific Buddhist Academy, Secretary and Board Member 2002-09
- Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, State of Hawaii, Governor-Appointed Member, Chair 2015-17
- Project Dana, Advisory Council Member 2008-21
- The Practical Lawyer, published by American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education, Editorial Board Member 2008-24
- William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii, Adjunct Faculty 2000-21, Estate Planning Workshop
- Connecticut Bar Association, House of Delegates 1996-97; Assistant Secretary-Treasurer & Board of Governors 1994-96; Tax Section, Executive Committee 1990-97; Women and the Law Section, Executive Committee 1994-96; Young Lawyers Section, Chair 1993-94
- Connecticut Superior Court, Tax Session, Special Master 1994-97
- Legal Center for Connecticut Nonprofit Organizations, Board Member 1991-95
- Quinnipiac College, graduate business program, Hamden, CT, Adjunct Faculty 1992, Corporate Tax
- Representative Town Meeting, Westport, CT, legislative body for Town of Westport, Member 1995-97
- The Arts Council of Greater New Haven, Arts and Business Committee, Member 1994-97
- Women's Campaign School of Yale University, Admissions Committee, Chair 1996-97
- American Bar Association, Section of Taxation, Member, Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, Member
- American Bar Foundation, Fellow