Lynne R. Lasry

Lynne Lasry is a 1979 USD law school graduate, having previously attended U.C. Davis and the University of Barcelona for a degree in comparative literature.  She has been a trial lawyer and litigator for over 27 years, trying many complex criminal and civil federal and state cases.  From 1980-1982, Lynne focused on the representation of architects and engineers sued for malpractice.  From 1982-1987, she was a prosecutor with the United States Attorney's Office in San Diego, trying traditional federal crimes as well as civil rights violations, murder for hire, arms and technology smuggling and participation in foreign counter-intelligence investigations.  Since 1987, she has been in private practice, first as a partner of Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, LLP and, since 2000, as a partner of Sandler, Lasry, Laube, Byer & Valdez LLP.  Her firm is a boutique litigation firm specializing only in civil litigation, trial work and appeals.  For the last 20 plus years, Lynne has been a recipient of numerous local and national awards and recognition for her professional work, and for teaching trial and pre-trial skills to law students and lawyers.  She is a regular volunteer in various community service opportunities, and serves on a number of non-profit boards as a director.  She was twice nominated by President Clinton to the Senate for a lifetime appointment to the federal bench but never afforded a confirmation hearing before President Clinton left office.  In 2005, 2006 and 2007 Lynne was voted by her professional colleagues as one of the top 10 lawyers in the County of San Diego in the areas of employment law and commercial litigation, respectively.  In 2007 she was also selected as one of the top 50 Super Lawyers, one of the top 25 female Super Lawyers, and one of the top commercial litigation Super Lawyers in San Diego.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

LawSchool
University of San Diego, School of Law, J.D., 1979

Undergraduate
University of California at Davis, 1974-1975, and 1976-1977.  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, employment/wrongful termination issues, 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 (plaintiffs and defendants).

Assistant United States Attorney, Southern District of California.
Criminal Division - 1983-1987 .
Investigated, indicted, and tried violations of federal criminal statutes, including, but not limited to: 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

• Lawyering Skills II, 1989- present
• Advanced Trial Advocacy, 1993- present
• Litigation Practicum, 1998-present
• Teach litigation, pre-trial and trial skills, and advanced skills, to second and third year law students; assist with coaching mock trial and VIS teams for competition

National Institute for Trial Advocacy NITA

• 2001-present
  Co-Director, Pacific Deposition Program
  Co-Director, Expert Deposition Program
• 1987-present
  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 pretrial skills. Also retained for "in house" training at large firms, and pro bono training for legal services attorneys.

National Institute for Trial Advocacy-United Kingdom (NITA-UK)
1996, 1998.
Instructor of solicitors and barristers in the United Kingdom in trial and advanced pre-trial skills.

California Continuing Education of the Bar.
1990-present.
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.

Mediator
1998-present.

Pro Bono Legal Representation
1978-present.

• University of San Diego Legal Clinics
• San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program (SDVLP)
• Federal Civil Rights Pro Bono Project
• Miscellaneous Pro Bono representation

Special Master
1991-present.
Appointed by the State Bar of California pursuant to Penal Code § 1524.

ADVANCED TRIAL AND MEDIATION TRAINING

• United States Department of Justice, Advocacy Institute: Civil, 1982; Criminal, 1983
• National Conflict Resolution Center, 1989

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Selected Top 50 Super Lawyer, top 25 female Super Lawyer, and one of top commercial litigation Super Lawyers in San Diego, 2007
• Selected Top 10 Commercial Litigation Lawyer in San Diego, 2006, 2007
• Selected Top 10 Employment Lawyer in San Diego, 2005
• Honorable Robert E. Keeton Faculty Award, NITA, Outstanding Lawyer and Teacher of Trial Advocacy, 1999 (National Award)
• Outstanding U.S.D. Law Alumna, 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
• American Trial Lawyers Association
• Consumer Attorneys of San Diego
• National Institute of Trial Advocacy
• California Women Lawyers

LANGUAGES

English, Spanish

OTHER

• Delegate, Ninth Circuit Federal Judicial Conference, 1992-1997 and 2004-2006 (appointed)
• Delegate, State Bar of California Conference of Delegates, (pre-conference) 1999
• Master, American Inns of Court, Louis M. Welsh Chapter #9, 1997-present
• Member, Equal Justice Committee for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, 1995-April, 1997 (appointed)
• Member, Civil Justice Reform Act Committee for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, 1995, 1996 (appointed)
• 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 Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

COMMUNITY SERVICE

• Member, California Appellate Project Board of Directors, 2006-present
• Member, U.S.D. School of Law Alumni Board of Directors, 2004-present
  • Member, Dean Search Committee, 2005-2006
  • Member, Career Services Search Committee, 2005-2006
  • Member, Nominating Committee, 2005-2008
  • Co-Chair, Student Relations Committee, 2006-2007
• Co-Founder, Director, S.L. Scholarship Foundation, 1997-present,
• Board Member and Officer, The Institute for Effective Education, 1987-1990
• Chair, Public Affairs Committee, Mental Health Association, 1980-1981; member 1979-present
• Volunteer, American Red Cross (Fire Disaster), 2003
• Volunteer, Women’s Resource Fair, 1991-1994, 1997- 2004
• Volunteer, Therapy Dogs International, 2000-present
• Volunteer Puppy Trainer, Canine Companions for Independence, 1998-2000
• Volunteer Builder, Habitat for Humanity, 1999