Max Kopper joined PMK in 2016 and became a partner on Nov. 1, 2019. He represents clients addressing construction, business, real estate, and community association governance disputes on Oahu and the neighbor islands. He previously served as an associate with the Honolulu firm of O’Connor, Playdon & Guben, LLP, focusing on construction and insurance litigation. He earned his J.D. Degree in 2011 from the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law, where he graduated cum laude.
As a young attorney, Max Kopper focused on insurance law. He soon realized that it wasn’t going to be his life’s work because it didn’t allow him to work directly with clients.
“It’s really about problem-solving and helping people. There are few things people are as passionate about as their own homes, and seemingly small issues – like a malfunctioning elevator – can have a big impact on their lives. At the end of the day, I very much enjoy providing a service to people who feel in need and stuck.”
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kopper has watched condominium and homeowner association boards evolve to accommodate new challenges, such as how to alert residents of positive cases within a property and how to hold meetings during a pandemic.
In 2020, boards began conducting some meetings via phone or zoom and in 2021, they further adjusted to that new method of business. Along with this shift is the realization that while in-person meetings are still valuable (and required for annual meetings), there are times when virtual meetings are more efficient and less expensive.
In addition, PMK clients are requesting more virtual meetings.
“Because they come at a more reasonable price for clients, we can offer our opinions on issues more readily, so they don’t have to wait until a dispute has become a huge, expensive mess to bring us on,” Kopper said.
Kopper was born in Hilo and is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools. He lives in Kaneohe with his wife and two children, ages six and three. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor pursuits, specifically finding ways to introduce his children to the Oahu of his childhood, such as showing them his favorite “secret” Kaneohe Bay fishing spots.
