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