Chris Delaunay
Senior Associate, Government Affairs

Chris Delaunay was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2011 and joined the firm in December 2025.

Mr. Delaunay serves as Senior Associate in the firm’s Government Affairs practice, where he advises clients on legislative strategy, regulatory policy, and governmental engagement at the state and county levels. He brings more than a decade of experience in public policy and government relations, with a strong understanding of Hawaiʻi’s legislative processes and political landscape.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Delaunay served as Director of Government Relations at a public policy firm, where he led advocacy efforts, drafted legislation, and represented clients before legislative committees and administrative agencies, and passed measures successfully into law. He previously served as Government Relations Manager at an organization representing Hawaiʻi’s construction industry, including unionized labor and the state’s leading contractors, supporting policy initiatives that balanced economic development, workforce priorities, and regulatory considerations.

Mr. Delaunay’s background also includes service as a senior advisor to Honolulu City Councilmember Carol Fukunaga and several years at the Hawaiʻi State Legislature as a budget analyst, legislative analyst, and assistant committee clerk. He has also worked on statewide political campaigns, including serving as Hawaiʻi Island field organizer for Mazie Hirono’s 2006 congressional campaign.

Professional affiliations
Mr. Delaunay is a member of the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association.

Education
Juris Doctor from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and holds a Master of Arts in Foreign Affairs from the School of International Service at American University in Washington, D.C.