Walter J. Lack

Engstrom, Lipscomb & Lack
Engstrom, Lipscomb & Lack
10100 Santa Monica Blvd, 12th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90067 United States

Founding & Managing Partner


Walter J. Lack is a founding partner and the managing partner of Engstrom, Lipscomb & Lack. He received his J.D. from Loyola Law School in 1973. Mr. Lack was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1973, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in 1979, and the U.S. Supreme Court in 1981. His areas of specialty are aviation crashes, class action, complex business litigation, environmental litigation, insurance bad faith, mass toxic tort and professional liability. Mr. Lack was lead counsel for more than 1,500 residents of Hinkley and Kettleman, California (the “Erin Brockovich” case) and lead counsel in cases with an aggregate recovery in excess of $10 billion.


Mr. Lack has earned numerous awards and honors and is recognized by LawDragon Magazine as one of the 500 leading lawyers in the United States (2005-2015), by Southern California Super Lawyers as a “Top Ten Super Lawyer” (2004-present) and a recipient of American Lawyer Magazine’s “Top 10 jury Awards” in the U.S. in five separate years. He is a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and an Advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is a lecturer to trial lawyer groups throughout the country on a variety of topics within the civil justice system.


Areas of Practice

Aviation Crash Litigation

Class Actions

Complex Business Litigation

Environmental Litigation

Insurance Bad Faith

Mass Toxic Tort

Professional Liability


Education

Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, CA, 1973, J.D.

Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA, 1970, B.A.


Bar Admissions

California, 1973

U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1979

U.S. Supreme Court, 1981


Published Works

Construction Defect Law Caved in by Supreme Court: The Land of Aas — CAOC Forum, April, 2002

Three Trial Attorneys — Loyola Lawyer, Winter, 2001

Fiduciary Duties; What Are They? When Do They Exist? and Why Use Them? — CAALA Advocate, March, 2001

100 Most Influential Lawyers in California — The Daily Journal, California Law Business, October, 2000

Top Ten Cases — LA Daily Journal Verdicts & Settlements Supplement, DeWald v. Knyal, listing #6, March, 2000

Insurance Bad Faith: Expert Witnesses and Evidence — CAOC Forum, November, 1999

Bum Deal — LA Daily Journal Verdicts & Settlements Supplement, June, 1999

Two Law Firms’ Teamwork Keys Success — LA Daily Journal Verdicts & Settlements Supplement, June, 1999

Personal Injury — The National Law Journal, February, 1999

Surviving a Toxic Tort Case from Retainer to Trial — CAOC Forum, May, 1997

Spoiliation: A Defense Perspective — CAOC Forum, January, 1996

Formulating a Defendant’s Discovery Plan in a Mid-Air Collision — Southern Methodist University School of Law, Journal of Air Law and Commerce, Vol. 47, No. 4, 1982

The Availability of Strict Liability in the Excess Judgment Case — California Trial Lawyers Journal, Spring, 1973

The Anatomy of a Federal Employer’s Liability Act Case — California Trial Lawyers Journal, October, 1972


Professional Associations

Superior Court Arbitration Panel, 1976-Present

Chairperson, Bar Fee Dispute Committee

The Standing Committee on Discipline for the Central District of California, 1997-2000, Member

Governor’s Los Angeles Judicial Selection Advisory Committee, 1999-2003

American Arbitration Association, 1976-Present, Member, Panel of Arbitrators

State Bar of California, Member

American Association for Justice, Leaders Forum Member

Consumer Attorneys of California, 2001-Present, Board of Governors

Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles, Member

Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Member, Board of Directors

American Board of Trial Advocates, Advocate

American Board of Trial Advocates, 1998-2001, National Executive Committee Member

Loyola-Marymount University, 1986-1989, Alumni Board of Directors

Loyola-Marymount University, 1991-1994, Alumni Board of Directors

Loyola Marymount University, 1999-Present, Board of Regents


Litigation Percentage

100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation


Notable Past Positions

Deputy Attorney General, State of New Mexico


Speaking Engagements

Frequent Lecturer, Trial Lawyer Groups throughout Country

Guest Lecturer, California Judicial College, 1995-1997


Honors and Awards

Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated

Best Lawyers® Lawyer of The Year in Los Angeles, 2015

Best Lawyers in America 2009-2016

Top 10 Southern California Super Lawyers, 2007-2009

Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers, 2004-2017

Finalist, Consumer Attorneys of California Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2003-2004

Finalist, Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from Trial Lawyers for Public Justice

Daily Journal’s Top 10 California Jury Verdicts, 1993-1994, 1996, 1999, 2004

Daily Journal’s “One Hundred Most Influential Lawyers in California” 2004-2005

Los Angeles Business Journal Top 50 Litigators in Los Angeles, 1999-2004

California Governor’s Judicial Selection Committee, 1998-2003

Los Angeles Business Journal Los Angeles’ 25 Most Powerful Attorneys, 2002

Pat Summerall Success Story Aired on Fox News, 2002

Top 500 Leading Lawyers in America – Lawdragon 2006-2007

Top 500 Leading Plaintiffs Lawyers in America – Lawdragon, January 2007

“The Legends” Lawdragon Magazine 10th Anniversary 2015

Who’s Who in Law – Los Angeles’ 25 Most Powerful Attorneys – Los Angeles Business Journal March 4-10, 2002

Who’s Who in Law – L.A. Business Journal, March, 2002

Who’s Who in Law – L.A. Business Journal, February, 2001

Who’s Who in Law – L.A. Business Journal, February, 1999

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