Richard Fried

2026 AOY Honoree, James E. Rogers College of Law - Class of 1963 and 1966

Richard Fried Jr. is one of Hawai‘i’s most accomplished trial attorneys and a nationally recognized leader in medical malpractice, aviation, product liability and serious personal injury law. A founding partner of Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina & Fairbanks in Honolulu in 1973, he has spent over five decades securing justice in Hawai‘i’s most complex, high-stakes cases. 

Originally from Arizona, Rick earned both his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Arizona, where he also captained the men’s varsity tennis team. He is admitted to practice before the Hawai‘i State Bar, the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai‘i, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Among the highlights of his distinguished career, Rick represented families in 51 helicopter crash cases and served as lead counsel in landmark litigation that produced the largest consumer protection recovery in Hawai‘i’s history — a milestone in pharmaceutical accountability that concluded last year. 

Throughout his career, Rick has advocated for victims of medical negligence, defective products and aviation disasters. He has served as president of the Hawai‘i State Trial Lawyers Association and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, co-director of Hawai‘i’s Innocence Project and, until recently, chair of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. He remains dedicated to mentoring young attorneys and supporting legal education through his continued ties to the U of A. 

For his outstanding career and his dedication to justice, the University of Arizona is honored to name Richard Fried Jr. the 2026 Alumnus of the Year for the James E. Rogers College of Law.