Sandler, Lasry, Laube, Byer & Valdez LLP (SLLBV) honors the remarkable life and legacy of our friend, partner, and colleague Lynne Lasry, whose extraordinary career, compassion, and commitment to justice left a lasting impact on our firm, the legal profession, and the countless people whose lives she touched. Lynne was an extraordinary lawyer, trial advocate, mentor, partner, mother, grandmother and friend whose influence extended far beyond the courtroom.

Lynne’s remarkable journey began with a passion for ballet. She danced with the Royal Ballet of London before injuries ended her professional dance career. She then attended the University of California, Davis, majoring in Spanish literature, and later obtained her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law.

Following admission to the bar, Lynne practiced with several criminal defense attorneys, and later joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California as an Assistant United States Attorney, where she handled both civil and criminal matters. As a federal prosecutor, Lynne earned a reputation for exceptional trial skills, integrity, professionalism, and fairness. She was respected not only by colleagues and judges, but also by opposing counsel who came to admire her honesty and humanity. After leaving the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Lynne became a partner at a local San Diego law firm, where she built a distinguished civil litigation practice involving commercial, employment, and real property matters. President Bill Clinton twice nominated Lynne for a federal district court judgeship, reflecting the extraordinary regard in which she was held throughout the legal community. However, this was in an era of substantial political warfare about judicial nominations, and Lynne never received a confirmation hearing in the United States Senate.

Thereafter, in March of 2000, Lynne joined with her close friends and partners Jim Sandler, Tom Laube, Jeff Byer and Richard Valdez to form SLLBV. Lynne’s hard work and exceptional lawyering was paramount to the firm’s success.  Throughout her tenure with SLLBV, Lynne was consistently recognized as being among the top lawyers in San Diego and the state.

Lynne also gave significant time and attention to training and mentoring young lawyers.  Throughout her career Lynne was particularly well known as a champion of the rights of women, both as clients and as women lawyers, especially young women lawyers.  She represented many women in cases seeking to right wrongs which otherwise might have gone unnoticed.  She mentored and counselled many dozens of young women lawyers who looked to her as a prime example of what a strong woman could achieve in the legal practice.

Among her creative approaches was the creation of a structured internship program at SLLBV. The internship program focused on female students in law school who were eager and interested in joining the local legal community after completing law school and passing the California Bar. The program was an outstanding success, benefitting and shaping the careers of the young women who completed it.

A passionate advocate for practical legal education, Lynne also taught and directed professional programs for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, served as an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego School of Law, and taught advocacy skills programs throughout the United Kingdom, Asia, and Europe. Through all this, Lynne never ignored those less privileged.  She represented numerous pro bono clients, including members of the Tourette’s community, raised dogs for Canine Companions for Independence, and served on non-profit boards both local and statewide. It was always Lynne’s character and devotion to others that shone the brightest. As a practitioner, she would spend hours with people who were without means or power to try to help them face the challenges of a legal system skewed against them. Never in her interactions would Lynne make anyone feel undeserving or “less than”.  While Lynne earned widespread admiration for her legal talents, her SLLBV partners and others who knew her best will remember her most for her extraordinary kindness, empathy, and grace.

Lynne leaves behind a worldwide community of friends and colleagues, along with her beloved family: her husband Allen Snyder; her children Rachelle Minix and Charles Snyder; their spouses Stephen Minix and Isabel Bussarakum; her grandchildren Jaedyn, Logan, Carsyn, Dean, and Theo; her mother Lois Lasry; and her brother David Lasry and his family. 

In keeping with Lynne’s lifelong dedication to assisting those in need, you can donate to the Lasry/Snyder Endowment Fund of the San Diego County Bar Foundation (sdcbf.org).