Joseph Ernst is a Director in the labor and employment department of the law firm Torkildson Katz. He counsels and defends employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including wrongful discharge, discrimination, harassment, whistleblowers, and retaliation claims. Mr. Ernst also counsels employers about wage and hour, disability and leave issues, downsizing, employer successor liability, and dislocated worker notification issues. Mr. Ernst is admitted to practice law in all state and federal courts in Hawaiʻi. He received his BA degree, with distinction, in Government and World Affairs from the University of Tampa. He received his JD degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and served as Editor-in-Chief of the University of Pittsburgh Journal of Technology Law and Policy. Mr. Ernst is the incoming Chairman of the Board for Shriners Children’s Hawaii. He serves on several other nonprofit boards, including the Blood Bank of Hawaii’s board of trustees, as the HR Committee chair.