Allen L. Lanstra

Allen Lanstra’s diverse practice focuses on complex, high-stakes litigation. From his extensive experience handling high-profile and discreet matters for large institutions, corporate leaders and public figures, Mr. Lanstra has developed a reputation as a tested and trusted counselor during crisis.

Mr. Lanstra has obtained successful results in a wide range of matters, including commercial and business disputes, class actions, shareholder derivative actions, securities fraud, unfair competition and false advertising (including Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17200, 17500 matters), computer fraud and abuse, corporate governance and investigations, business torts, constitutional law and political law. Some of his many notable representations and achievements include:

• defending CashCall, Inc. in a trial in the U.S. District Court (C.D. Cal.) commenced by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau;
• defending the directors of Sempra Energy in federal securities litigation and federal and state court derivative actions following the SoCalGas leak at its Aliso Canyon facility;
• defending Bank of America in class action litigation in federal court in California concerning tax forms provided to mortgage customers;
• representing Bank of America in tax litigation against the State of New Jersey pertaining to credit card account revenues;
• representing Société Générale (Suisse) SA in litigation in federal district court in Texas arising out of the Stanford Ponzi scheme;
• second-chairing oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in conjunction with appointed counsel in Bond v. United States (2011);
• defending the former CEO of Qualstar Corporation in litigation alleging breaches of fiduciary duty and reaching a favorable settlement for the client based on counterclaims;

Before joining Skadden, Mr. Lanstra clerked for Justice Robert P. Young, Jr. of the Michigan Supreme Court; served as an Honors Program attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., where he helped defend the United States in Federal Tort Claims Act litigation in Boston concerning FBI informants James “Whitey” Bulger and Stephen Flemmi; and entered private practice as a commercial and appellate attorney for a prestigious Midwest-based firm where he participated in a wide range of litigation matters, including representation of a presidential campaign committee during the 2004 election.

Mr. Lanstra serves as the attorney development partner for litigators in the Los Angeles office. In that role, he is responsible for leading the training and mentoring of the litigation department’s associates, with a focus on the development of litigation and trial skills, efficient management, and the continuous improvement of the delivery of client services. He also is active in hiring.

Education:

• J.D., Michigan State University, 2001 (summa cum laude; Editor-in-Chief, Michigan State University Law Review)
• M.S., Walsh College, 1998 (magna cum laude)
• B.A., Michigan State University, 1993

Admissions :

• California
• Texas
• Michigan

Associations:

• Board of Directors, Western Center on Law & Poverty
• Board of Directors, Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL)
• Member, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
• Member, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce