Hamasaki Law San Francisco, CA 94110

"John Hamasaki helped me through a very difficult time. I live in Oakland and he helped me resolve a case in the Alameda County courts. He really takes time to get to know you as a person, which is so very important, because the criminal justice system is designed to alienate and intimidate you into pleading guilty. I discovered that the old adage, "innocent until proven guilty" definitely isn't respected in american courts -- judges, prosecutors, and bailiffs treat you like trash when there are charges against you, long before you are convicted of anything. As someone who was completely new to the criminal justice system, their mind tricks totally worked on me and I was ready to go to jail for sure. John really took time to get to know me as a person, and what my values are, and by doing so he helped me see myself as so much more than a criminal. Because of his humanizing approach, I came to put a lot of trust in him. John helped me see through the prosecution's puffery, he helped me understand which aspects of the charges were grossly overblown, and what the more realistic outcomes would be. John is also a consummate professional, a real legal nerd. And I mean that in the best way possible!! He has a meticulous understanding of court processes. You definitely want a lawyer who sees all the possible angles and tactics to get a favorable resolution for your case. John is also quite capable when it comes to speaking before a court and doing all that trial stuff, too. We didn't end up going to trial, but he did do a pre-trial hearing for me in which two witnesses were cross-examined. I saw from that experience that he shows up prepared, he knows how to construct the arguments he wants to make through witness testimony. At the same time, his thinking is flexible and agile: when the judge or witness are uncooperative, he can still keep the cross-examination moving. All in all, John Hamasaki is a thorough gentleman! I highly recommend his services!"

"John Hamasaki took on my politically potentially sensitive case on principle, and he stuck with principle throughout. He was present, thoughtful, non-judgmental, and committed to my interests. Even after seeing my case through to a positive outcome, he followed up with me to make sure that all the aftermath of my case were resolved. He's a responsible, easy-to-work-with attorney."

"John and his team are an exceptional group of people with all the right qualities. Back in November of 2015, my grandmother and myself were in need of a good lawyer for my father. I called around and felt helpless until I spoke with John. He helped me understand the process that needed to take place, he showed that he cared about my father and his future and he took initiative. John and his team were great supports, as well as great communicators. I highly recommend Hamasaki Law."

"John Hamasaki is the best criminal defense attorney you will find the Bay Area. He is extremely knowledgeable and always has his client’s best interest at hand. In 2009 I was facing 4 felonies in 3 misdemeanors as a result of my arrest in San Francisco. I was a freshman at UC Santa Cruz and had no idea how I could come out of this situation without facing legal sanctions. Luckily for me, John stepped in to represent me, and I am very happy he did so. John worked tirelessly to achieve the best outcome for me. After a lot of hard work on his end I was able to put that situation to rest while having a completely clean record and facing absolutely no legal sanctions. I never thought that my situation would be resolved in that manner, but John made what seemed impossible possible. I highly recommend John Hamasaki, he is not only passionate about his work, but he is a person with great character."

"John Hamasaki is without a doubt the most professional, compassionate, and knowledgeable criminal defense attorney in the San Francisco 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 diverse members of our 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/legal jargon. Despite my rapid firing of questions via e-mail or via phone throughout my case, John was always patient and calm and most importantly quick to respond! 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."