LOUISE HANAOKA
EDUCATION
University of California at Santa Barbara (B.A., Business Economics), 1982
Louise has been practicing law in Florida for over 20 years. She began her career in the State Attorney's office, where she prosecuted misdemeanor and juvenile crimes. Later, she prosecuted major felony cases and gained extensive jury trial experience.
In private practice, Louise was a shareholder in a Charlotte County law firm until she established her own practice in 2012. She represents criminal defendants in state court proceedings in juvenile, misdemeanor and felony cases through trial. Her practice areas also include all aspects of marital and family litigation proceedings, including State of Florida Department of Revenue child support hearings; State of Florida Department of Children and Family dependency and termination of parental rights trials; adoptions; dissolution of marriage proceedings; post-judgement contempt and enforcement proceedings; domestic violence injunction proceedings; and appeals. In addition, Louise represents clients in administrative proceedings before the Social Security Administration at the hearing level and before the Appeals Council, and also handles federal appeals for clients seeking Social Security Disability benefits.
Louise is a member of the Florida Bar Association and the U.S. District Court of the Middle District of Florida. She served as past President of the Charlotte County Bar Association, and was a member of the 20th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee. She is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimant's Representatives (NOSSCR), the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Charlotte County Chapter, and the American Association for Justice (AAJ). She is a past board member of the Animal Welfare League of Charlotte County and the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Girl Scouts of America.