Allen L. Lanstra
Counsel
Litigation
T: 1.213.687.5513
F: 1.213.621.5513
Allen Lanstra is a trial attorney in Skadden’s Los Angeles Litigation Group.
Mr. Lanstra’s practice focuses on complex civil matters in trial and appellate litigation. His representations have led to successful results for clients on a broad range of legal subjects including intellectual property, contract, securities, deal litigation, fraud, class actions, constitutional law, business torts and corporate matters. Throughout his career, he has represented large institutions and prominent individuals in high-profile and discreet matters.
In 2011, Mr. Lanstra second-chaired an oral argument before the Supreme Court of the United States (Bond v. United States, No. 09-1227). His pro bono representations have produced a significant disability rights decision (Biscaro v. Stern, 181 Cal. App. 4th 702) and earned him the State Bar of California’s Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services.
Prior to joining Skadden, Mr. Lanstra practiced at a top Michigan firm where he developed extensive experience involving federal and state trial and appellate litigation, administrative law, and legislative and direct democracy efforts on a broad range of subjects including business litigation, constitutional law, election law, ERISA, telecommunications, insurance, health care and gaming. His representations resulted in numerous published decisions and favorable outcomes for Fortune 500 companies and other prominent clients, including a presidential campaign committee and the entire insurance industry.
He also served in the U.S. Department Justice, where he defended the United States in litigation under the Federal Tort Claims Act. His primary assignment was representation of the United States on the Boston FBI-Irish Mob civil litigation, which included a favorable published decision.
Mr. Lanstra serves on the adjunct faculty of the Loyola Law School, where he teaches state constitutional law and California initiatives & referenda. He also has taught state constitutional law, litigation with the federal government and state civil procedure at the Michigan State University College of Law.
Bar Admissions
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
Experience
Trial Attorney, United States Department of Justice, Civil Division (Honors Program), 2003-2004
Judicial Law Clerk, Hon. Robert P. Young, Jr., Michigan Supreme Court, 2001-2003
Legislative Aide, Michigan House of Representatives, 1994-1998
Authorships
A Casebook for the Dean’s Reading List: Holland, McAllister, Shaman and Sutton, State Constitutional Law: The Modern Experience,” 59-4 U. Kan. L. Rev. ___ (Spring 2011)
"A Modern Constitutional Crisis," Los Angeles Daily Journal, November 30, 2010
"Campaign Ads and Statutory Interpretation," Los Angeles Daily Journal, October 18, 2010
"Supreme Court "Short List" Should Include State Justices," Los Angeles Daily Journal, April 13, 2010
"Mentoring Towards the Pursuit of Good Judgment: A Do and Don’t List for New Attorneys," ABTL Report , vol. XXXI, no. 3 (Fall 2009)
"Your Name in Lights May or May Not Be Good for Your Client," 28-4 A.B.A. App. Prac. J. (Fall 2009)
"The People’s Choice," Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 10, 2009
"Resurrecting Michigan Constitutional Law," 85-3 Mich. B. J. 40 (2006)
"Annual Survey of Michigan Law – Torts," 48 Wayne L. Rev. 963 (2003)
"Annual Sixth Circuit Survey – Constitutional Law," 2002 Mich. St. L. Rev. 273
"Does Judicial Selection Method Affect Volatility? A Comparative Study of Precedent Adherence in Elected State Supreme Courts and Appointed State Supreme Courts," 31 Sw. U. L. Rev. 35 (2001)
"McDougall v. Schanz : Distinguishing the Authorities of the Michigan Legislature and the Michigan Supreme Court to Establish Rules of Evidence," 2000 Mich. St. L. Rev. 857
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