Biography
Makoa is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. In 2024, he was named to the Daily Journal’s Top Verdicts list twice: as plaintiff’s counsel for a $12.5 million breach of contract judgment, and as defense counsel for a complete verdict in a $5 million defamation action.
Makoa’s practice covers commercial disputes, investor claims in FINRA arbitration, and employment matters. He has tried cases to verdict as both plaintiff’s counsel and defense counsel, and has argued appeals in the California Court of Appeal.
Makoa graduated from the UCLA School of Law, where he was an editor of the UCLA Law Review, won tournaments on the moot court and trial advocacy teams, and co-chaired the Public Interest Law Fund. Before law school, he triple-majored in religious studies, legal studies, and philosophy at Northwestern University, graduating cum laude.
Prior to starting Rosenberger + Kawabata, he was a member of the team representing owners of VW vehicles impacted by “dieselgate,” a scandal resulting in the largest fine ever imposed on an automaker. Mr. Kawabata was also a member of the team that represented the EPA’s environmental remediation contractor involved in multi-district litigation arising from the Gold King Mine spill. Both events were covered on the front page of the New York Times.
Makoa was sworn into the California bar by the judge presiding over his first trial. The jury returned a verdict for his client after less than 30 minutes of deliberation.