Philip A. Okney

It is with deep sadness that Okney & Hamlin announces the passing of founding member, Philip A. Okney, who died on August 20, 2026, at the Guam Regional Medical City in Guam.

Philip was a distinguished attorney and public servant who dedicated more than four decades to the legal and civic life of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. An original member of the Marshall Islands Bar Association, he chaired the organization from 1988 to 1991 and served on its Judicial Standing Committee on Professional Conduct for five years. The Marshall Islands Government appointed him Registrar of Corporations from 1986 through 1993, and he later served as Chairman of the Board of the Land Registration Authority from 2006 to 2010.

In 1994, the Government approved his appointment as an officer before the Republic of the Marshall Islands Nuclear Claims Tribunal, where he served as Defender of the Fund, defending the $150 million Nuclear Claims Fund against claims resulting from islanders' exposure to excessive doses of radiation. He wrote extensively on the nuclear legacy in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and his scholarship on the subject remains an important contribution to the historical record.

Philip practiced before all RMI courts, tribunals, and administrative bodies, and was a frequent and respected voice at legislative hearings throughout his career. As legal counsel and delegate, he represented the RMI before the World Health Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and numerous United Nations conferences. Over the course of his career, he tried all manner of cases, from complex commercial litigation to customary land matters, always applying a forward-looking approach to the modern international issues facing small island nations.

Those who worked alongside Philip remember him not only for the depth of his legal expertise and his unmatched knowledge of the history of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, but for his wit, integrity, and kindness.

He was a mentor and good friend to many, and his standard of excellence and service will continue to guide the work we do.

The firm extends its deepest condolences to Philip's family during this time.