Lynne R. Lasry
Contact
619.235.5655
Lynne Lasry is a trial lawyer, litigator, mediator and arbitrator who has tried many complex criminal and civil federal and state cases. She is routinely voted by her professional colleagues as one of the top lawyers in Southern California in employment law and commercial litigation.
Ms. Lasry is a 1979 University of San Diego School of Law graduate, having previously attended U.C. Davis and the University of Barcelona for a degree in comparative literature. Early in her career, she represented architects and engineers sued for malpractice while working at Hillyer & Irwin, A.P.C. She served as a prosecutor with the United States Attorney’s Office in San Diego, trying federal crimes including official corruption, civil rights violations, murder for hire, arms and technology smuggling, and participated in foreign counter-intelligence investigations.
She re-entered private practice in 1987, first as a partner with Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP and, since 2000, as a partner with Sandler, Lasry, Laube, Byer & Valdez LLP. Ms. Lasry has received many local and national awards and recognition for her professional work, and for teaching trial and pre-trial skills to law students and lawyers nationally and internationally. She is actively involved in community service and has served on a number of non-profit boards. President Bill Clinton nominated her for a lifetime appointment to the federal bench, but she was never afforded a Senate confirmation hearing before he left office.
Ms. Lasry has been named one of the top 50 SuperLawyers®, and is regularly selected as one of the top 25 female SuperLawyers®, and one of the top Commercial Litigation SuperLawyers® in San Diego. In 2008, she was awarded a Distinguished Alumni Award from USD School of Law – its highest honor – and recognized that same year as a Woman of Impact.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Law School
University of San Diego, School of Law, J.D., December 1979
Undergraduate
University of California at Davis, A.B. in Comparative Literature, 1977
University of Barcelona, Spain, 1975-1976
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Partner, Sandler, Lasry, Laube, Byer & Valdez LLP
2000-present
Complex trial and civil litigation for individual and business clients (plaintiffs and defendants) including business and commercial disputes, executive employment/wrongful termination issues (including independent investigations), professional negligence, real estate, and personal injury matters.
Partner, Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
1987-2000
Complex trial and civil litigation for individual and business clients.
Assistant United States Attorney, Southern District of California
Criminal Division – 1983-1987
Investigated, indicted and tried violations of federal criminal statutes, including: official corruption, criminal civil rights litigation, arms and high technology smuggling, murder for hire, and fraud.
Civil Division – 1982-1983
Represented the United States government and each of its agencies.
Associate, Hillyer & Irwin, A.P.C.
1980-1982
Complex civil litigation with emphasis on architectural and engineering malpractice
Adjunct Professor/Faculty
University of San Diego School of Law
- Advanced Trial Advocacy, 1993-2014
- Lawyering Skills II, 1989-2010
- Litigation Practicum, 1998-2000
- Taught litigation, pre-trial and trial skills, and advanced skills, to second and third year law students; assisted with coaching mock trial/VICAM/moot court teams for competition
- Postgraduate pre-trial and trial skills training to USD Law Alumni, 2012-present
National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA)
2001-2013
Co-Director, Pacific Deposition Program
Co-Director, Expert Deposition Program
1987-2015
Instructor of Faculty, Team Leader, Assistant Team Leader and Faculty Member for programs internationally acclaimed for the student-based advocacy training of lawyers, including trial and advanced pre-trial skills. Also retained for “in house” training at large firms, and pro bono training for legal services attorneys.
National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) – International
United Kingdom 1996, 1998
Instructor of solicitors and barristers in trial and advanced pre-trial skills.
US/AID – HED/ ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ROLI)
Moldova 2012
Instructor of Lawyers in trial skills as part of Moldova’s Rule of Law effort to change its legal system
Mexico 2010
Instructor of Judges, lawyers and academics in trial skills and instruction as part of Mexico’s Rule of Law changes to its criminal justice system
Philippines 2007
Instructor of Judges, lawyers and academics in trial skills instruction for anti-corruption prosecutors practicing in the Sandiganbayan Courts
California Continuing Education of the Bar
1990-2000
Instructor of lawyers in practical litigation skills training
Paralegal Program, University of San Diego, School of Graduate Studies
1984, 1985
Taught civil procedure and litigation practice in California and Federal Courts.
Judge Pro Tem, San Diego Small Claims Court
1992-2006
Private Mediator
1989-present
Pro Bono Legal Representation
1978-present
Special Master
1991-2009 (Penal Code § 1524)
ADVANCED TRIAL AND MEDIATION TRAINING
- United States Department of Justice, Advocacy Institute (Civil/Criminal)
- National Conflict Resolution Center (Mediation training)
HONORS AND AWARDS
- Firm selected as Top Small Litigation Law Firm in State of California by SuperLawyers®, 2012, 2013, 2014
- Selected, The Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation and Legal Malpractice), 2016
- Selected, The Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Individuals and Legal Malpractice – Defendants), 2017
- Selected, Best Lawyers Business Edition (Commercial Litigation), Winter 2016
- Selected, Lawyers of Distinction, 2015/2016/2017
- Selected, Southern California Top Rated Lawyers, 2015
- Selected, 1 of 3 “Top Influential” lawyers in San Diego by San Diego Daily Transcript, 2015
- Named San Diego “Top Lawyer” (Complex Civil Litigation and Employment Law) – 2013 – 2016 by Martindale-Hubbell® and San Diego Magazine
- Distinguished Alumna, USD School of Law, 2008
- Woman of Impact, University of San Diego, 2008
- Selected, Top 50 SuperLawyer® (2007; 2015); Top 25 Female SuperLawyer® (2007-2015) and one of top commercial litigation SuperLawyers®, 2007-2017
- Selected, Top 10 Commercial Litigation Lawyer in San Diego, 2006-2008, 2013 by San Diego Daily Transcript
- Selected, Los Angeles Women Leaders in the Law, 2012-2014, by Legal Leaders
- Selected, Top 10 Employment Lawyer in San Diego, 2005, 2009 by San Diego Daily Transcript
- Selected, Top Rated Lawyer in Labor & Employment, 2013 and 2014 by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell
- Honorable Robert E. Keeton Faculty Award, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 1999 (national award)
- Outstanding USD Law Alumna, Women’s Law Caucus, 1998
- Commendation, San Diego Inn of Court, Outstanding Service and Educator, 1997
- Commendations, State Bar of California, Board of Governors, Pro Bono Services, 1983, 1988-1989, 1994-1995
- Commendations for Distinguished Service, San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program, 1983-1998
- Commissioner’s Award for the Pacific Region, United States Department of Treasury, United States Customs, 1987
- Commendations, United States Department of Treasury, United States Customs Service, 1984, 1986, 1987
- Commendation, United States Immigration Service, Anti-Smuggling Unit, 1987
- Commendation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1987
- Commendation, United States Secret Service, 1987
- Commendation, Anti-Defamation League, 1986
- National Member of the Order of Barristers (awarded honorary membership for advocacy), 1984
- Miscellaneous awards and recognition for oral advocacy, mediation and conflict management, 1978-present
- Miscellaneous awards and recognition for instruction and teaching in various legal clinical education programs for trial advocacy, 1980-present
ADMISSIONS
- California
- United States District Court, Southern, Central and Northern Districts of California
- United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- United States Supreme Court
MEMBERSHIPS
- American, California and San Diego Bar Associations
- National Institute for Trial Advocacy
- California Women Lawyers
OTHER
- Board Member, California Appellate Project, 2006-present
- Succession Planning, Finance, and Personnel Committees
- Board Member, USD School of Law Alumni, 2004-2016
- President, 2014/2015
- President-Elect, 2013/2014
- Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 2010-2015 (Chair 2013/2014)
- Executive Committee, 2013-2016
- Nominating Committee, 2005-2014
- Student Relations Committee, 2006-2007
- Career Services Associate Dean Search Committee, 2006; 2014
- Law School Dean Search Committee, 2005-2006; 2011
- Master, American Inns of Court, Louis M. Welsh Chapter #9, 1997-2011
- Lawyer Representative, Ninth Circuit Federal Judicial Conference, 1992-1997 and 2004-2006
- Delegate, State Bar of California Conference of Delegates, 1999
- Member, Equal Justice Committee for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, 1995-April 1997
- Member, Civil Justice Reform Act Committee for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, 1995, 1996
- Director, San Diego Inn of Court, 1992-January 1997
- Faculty Instructor, 1992-1997, 1998, 1999
- Co-Director, Fall College of Advocacy, 1996
- Assistant Director, Fall College of Advocacy, 1995
- Director, Evidence Skills Workshop, 1994
- Assistant Director, Evidence Skills Workshop, 1993
- Secretary, January 1992-January 1994
- Lecturer, London, England, July 1986 (International Crime and Arms and Technology Smuggling); Soviet Union, July 1983 (USA/USSR Comparative Criminal Procedure)
- Instructor and judge for various legal skills courses for lawyers and law students
- AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
COMMUNITY SERVICE
- Advisor, Literacy and the Law, 2014-Present
- Literacy Tutor Training, READ/San Diego, completed 2/2014
- Impact Class Graduate, LEAD San Diego, 2012-2013
- Co-Founder/Director, S.L. Scholarship Foundation, 1997-present
- Board Member/Officer, the Institute for Effective Education, 1987-1990
- Chair, Public Affairs Committee, Mental Health Association, 1980-1981
- Volunteer
- American Red Cross
- Women’s Resource Fair
- Handler, Therapy Dogs International
- Puppy Raiser, Canine Companions for Independence
- Builder, Habitat for Humanity
- Miscellaneous Community Service