Education
B.A. from California State University, Los Angeles, CA (1977)
J.D. from Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles, CA (1980)
Language
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English
Walter M. Yoka
Founder/Of Counsel
Walter M. Yoka is a distinguished trial attorney and founding partner of YOKA | SMITH, a nationally respected litigation firm celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025. Walter’s a nationally recognized trial attorney focused on litigating cases involving products liability, commercial disputes and class actions. In addition to having tried numerous high-profile cases to verdict, Walter has also successfully argued in California’s Supreme and Appellate courts.
Admitted to practice in California and multiple federal courts, he has earned Pro Hac Vice admissions in over 20 states.
Among his many affiliations, Walter is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the International Society of Barristers. Walter has also been a leader in professional organizations that shape the legal profession. He served as President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2014, President of CAL-ABOTA in 2021, and President of both the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC) and the California Defense Counsel.
Beyond the courtroom, Yoka has played an active role in shaping California’s civil justice system. In 2003, Walter was appointed by Chief Justice Ronald George to serve on the Judicial Council Blue Ribbon Panel of Experts on the Fair and Efficient Administration of Civil Cases and formerly served as a member of the Judicial Counsel Civil & Small Claims Committee. Chief Justice George also appointed him to serve on the Civil & Small Claims Advisory Committee on Electronic Discovery.
Recognized as a Super Lawyer every year since 2004, Yoka has also been honored in Best Lawyers in America since 2006 and named Lawyer of the Year for Product Liability Litigation-Defendants in Los Angeles multiple times. He was the first inductee into the ASCDC Hall of Fame and has received prestigious accolades, including the Lee B. Wenzel Civility Award from ABOTA, the Champion of Justice Award from Loyola Law School’s Civil Justice Program, and the 2025 Jim Robie Award for Civility and Professionalism from the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Walter was chosen as the 2018 Southwestern Law School Alumnus of the Year. He continues to be active in the legal community as a member of several boards, including serving as Vice Chair and Trustee of Southwestern Law School’s Board of Trustees. In 2025, Southwestern awarded Walter the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.).
Experience
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Trial Victory for Yoka | Smith in Tire Defect Litigation
05.22.2023
Trial; Defense Verdict
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Nickerson v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Corp.
07.29.2020
Voluntary Dismissal of Putative Consumer Class Action Following Successful Motion to Dismiss; Defense Ruling
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Chelgren v. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
11.01.2018
Jury Trial; Defense Verdict
Awards & Recognition
- Walter was proud to have served on the California Judicial Counsel Civil and Small Claims Committee. In 2003, Walter was appointed by then Chief Justice Ronald George to serve on the Judicial Counsel Blue Ribbon Panel of Experts on the Fair and Efficient Administration of Civil Cases, which resulted in significant amendments to the California Rules of Court. Subsequently, Chief Justice George also appointed him to serve on the Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee on Electronic Discovery, which also resulted in significant amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure.
- Walter has been recognized as a Super Lawyer every year since 2004, and selected by his peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America since 2006. He has also been included in the Los Angeles Times Southern California's Top Rated Lawyers List. Further, he was recognized as Best Lawyers in 2012, 2014 and 2018 as Lawyer Of The Year Product Liability Litigation-Defendants Los Angeles, California. He was also recognized as a 2025 and 2026 Law Dragon 500 Leading Litigators In America for product liability, catastrophic injury and class action. He was also selected as Leaders Of Influence: Litigators and Trial Attorneys by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
- Walter was honored to have been the first person inducted into the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel Hall of Fame in 2008, the highest award given by that organization.
- In 2011, Walter received the prestigious Lee B. Wenzel Civility Award from the Los Angeles chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the highest award given by the chapter.
- Walter was also the recipient of the prestigious Champion of Justice award from the Civil Justice Program of Loyola Law School in 2016.
- Walter was proud to have been the 2018 Southwestern Law School Alumnus of the Year.
- More recently, Walter was recognized as the recipient of the 2025 Jim Robie Award for Civility and Professionalism by the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Litigation Section.
- Walter continues to be active in the legal community as a member of several boards, including serving as the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for Southwestern Law School.
Professional Associations and Memberships
News
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Walter M. Yoka, Alice Chen Smith, and Chris Faenza selected as 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators
09.05.2025 -
Walter M. Yoka & R. Bryan Martin Recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America
08.22.2025 -
Los Angeles Business Journal 2024 Leaders of Influence: Yoka | Smith Selected As One of LA's Most Admired Law Firms To Work For
09.19.2024 - Walter M. Yoka, Christopher E. Faenza, and Alice Chen Smith Selected As 2023 Southern California Super Lawyers 01.12.2023
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Formation of Southwestern Law School Yoka-Panish Civil Justice Fellowship
09.23.2021 -
Walter Yoka, Stephen Smith, and Christopher Faenza Selected As 2021 Southern California Super Lawyers
01.21.2021