Firm Overview
Our Approach
Yoka | Smith, LLP ∙ A Strong ADVOCATE FOR Businesses Nationwide
At YOKA | SMITH our focus is representing businesses in high-exposure lawsuits in a variety of legal practice areas. From our offices in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, attorneys from our firm represent clients in jurisdictions across the country. The businesses we represent trust our years of real trial experience and commitment to representing them in the most complex lawsuits, including commercial disputes, product liability, class actions and complex torts, catastrophic personal injury and environmental liability claims.
Go-To LITIGATION Firm
Since our law firm’s founding, our focus has always been, and continues to be, trying cases. We are experienced and focused on efficiently and effectively representing our clients in the courtroom in complex lawsuits. Our law firm has been repeatedly selected as an All Star Go-To Law Firm.
Our philosophy — our primary objective — is representing businesses in high-exposure lawsuits. We have built a solid reputation for successfully representing FORTUNE 500® companies and other major national corporations involving a range of lawsuits.
Value to Clients
Across the Board LITIGATION Experience
Our attorneys represent clients in California and nationwide, with representative clients that include numerous FORTUNE 500® companies and other major corporations throughout the country.
We were selected as an All Star Go-To Law Firm, an honor given to firms with at least five consecutive years of being listed as a Go-To Law Firm. We efficiently and effectively handle big cases for big corporations. When the stakes are high and losing is not an option, our clients trust the attorneys of YOKA | SMITH.
Product Liability, Catastrophic Personal Injury, Commercial Disputes
We provide strategic, aggressive representation for businesses, including FORTUNE 500® companies, throughout the country against catastrophic personal injury claims, class actions, complex tort actions and commercial disputes involving:
- Product liability
- Transportation and trucking liability
- Construction site and equipment liability
- Fitness clubs and premises liability
- Punch press liability
- Fire and petrochemical liability
- Environmental law
- Class Action Defense
- Commercial Disputes
- Employment-related Litigation
Local Expertise with a National Presence
From our offices in Los Angeles and Irvine, YOKA | SMITH represents local, national and multi-national businesses in litigation throughout California and the country.
Awards & Recognition
Walter Yoka, Bryan Martin, Chad Chen, Aaron Case, Andrew Figueras and Courtney Arbucci recognized as 2025 Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendents
Los Angeles Business Journal 2024 Leaders of Influence: YOKA | SMITH Selected as One of LA’s Most Admired Law Firms To Work For
Walter M. Yoka, Christopher E. Faenza, Alice Chen Smith Recognized: 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America
Product Liability, Catastrophic Injury, Class Action
Walter M. Yoka and Christopher E. Faenza selected as Leaders of Influence: Litigators and Trial Attorneys by the Los Angeles Business Journal
Walter M. Yoka, Christopher E. Faenza and Alice Chen Smith selected as 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers
YOKA | SMITH recognized as Best Law Firm – 2024; Personal Injury – Defendants
YOKA | SMITH recognized as Best Law Firm – 2024; Personal Injury – Defendants
YOKA | SMITH recognized by Best Law Firms – 2024; Product Liability Defendants
YOKA | SMITH recognized by Best Law Firms – 2024; Product Liability Defendants
Walter M. Yoka, Christopher E. Faenza, Alice Chen Smith Recognized: 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America
Walter Yoka, Christopher Faenza and Alice Chen Smith have been recognized in the 2nd edition of Lawdragon’s guide to the most elite courtroom advocates in the nation. Those selected represent the all-stars in commercial litigation, financial and securities matters, white collar and investigations, and IP, cybersecurity and data privacy.
Honorees are selected through submissions, journalistic research of the lawyers behind the biggest cases, and editorial vetting from a board of peers.
Los Angeles Business Journal 2023 Leaders of Influence: YOKA | SMITH Selected as One of LA’s Most Admired Law Firms To Work For
YOKA I SMITH will be recognized in this year’s Los Angeles Business Journal’s Leader of Influence: Most Admired Law Firms To Work For – September 18, 2023
The Law firms that we have distinguished as Most Admired To Work For are consciously working towards creating diverse, positive, and supportive environments to help drive the success of their attorneys.
We thank the Los Angeles Business Journal for this recognition, and the amazing colleagues we are fortunate to work with at YOKA | SMITH.
Los Angeles Business Journal 2023 Leaders of Influence: YOKA | SMITH Selected as One of LA’s Most Admired Law Firms To Work For
Attorney Chad Chen Earns Super Lawyers® 2023 Rising Star Recognition – Business Litigation
YOKA | SMITH recognized by US News & World Report – Best Lawyers – 2023
YOKA | SMITH recognized by US News & World Report – Best Lawyers – 2023
Walter M. Yoka, Christopher E. Faenza, Alice Chen Smith and Lauren A.R. Lofton Recognized by Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America
Walter Yoka, Christopher Faenza, Alice Chen Smith and Lauren A.R. Lofton are among the all-star litigators selected for the the inaugural guide to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America.
The guide is dedicated to those attorneys who excel representing principally corporations and other organizations in litigating claims involving Antitrust, Securities, Financial, M&A, Intellectual Property and Patents, Product Liability, Mass Tort, White Collar, Government Investigations and Energy disputes.
Walter M. Yoka Recognized By Best Lawyers – 2023
Walter M. Yoka Recognized By Best Lawyers – 2023
Aaron S. Case – Ones to Watch – Best Lawyers 2023
Aaron S. Case – Ones to Watch – Best Lawyers 2023
Lauren A.R. Lofton – Ones to Watch – Best Lawyers 2023
Lauren A.R. Lofton – Ones to Watch – Best Lawyers 2023
Lauren A.R. Lofton Elected as District 7 Governor for California Women Lawyers
YOKA | SMITH is pleased to announce that partner Lauren A.R. Lofton was elected as the District 7 Governor for California Women Lawyers. CWL is the only statewide organization with the mission of advancing women in the legal profession and in society. She will serve for two years on the board.
Alice Chen Smith has just been included in the list of very impressive women determined to be Women of Influence: Attorneys by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
The Los Angeles Business Journal received hundreds of nominations from which their publisher determined who was worthy of this honor. To be included speaks volumes for Alice and the firm. The list, including Alice, will be published on April 18th by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Walter Yoka, Alice Smith and Christopher Faenza selected as 2022 Super Lawyers
Yoka & Smith, LLP recognized by Best Lawyers – 2022
Yoka & Smith, LLP recognized by Best Lawyers – 2022
Walter M. Yoka Recognized By Best Lawyers – 2022
Walter M. Yoka Recognized By Best Lawyers – 2022
US News & World Report has named Yoka & Smith, LLP to the 2021 list of Los Angeles Metro Tier 1 “Best Law Firms.”
US News & World Report has named Yoka & Smith, LLP to the 2021 list of Los Angeles Metro Tier 1 “Best Law Firms.”
Yoka & Smith Recognized By Best Lawyers for 2021 – Product Liability Defense
Yoka & Smith Recognized By Best Lawyers for 2021 – Product Liability Defense
Yoka & Smith Recognized By Best Lawyers for 2021 – Personal Injury Defense
Yoka & Smith Recognized By Best Lawyers for 2021 – Personal Injury Defense
Alice Chen Smith and Chad Chen Have Been Selected as a Super Lawyers Southern California Rising Stars for 2020
Yoka & Smith Recognized By Best Lawyers for 2020 – Product Liability Defense
Yoka & Smith Recognized By Best Lawyers for 2020 – Product Liability Defense
Yoka & Smith Recognized By Best Lawyers for 2020 – Personal Injury Defense
Yoka & Smith Recognized By Best Lawyers for 2020 – Personal Injury Defense
Yoka & Smith Recognized By Best Lawyers for 2019
Yoka & Smith Recognized By Best Lawyers for 2019
Yoka & Smith Recognized By Best Lawyers for 2017
Yoka & Smith Recognized By Best Lawyers for 2017
Walter Yoka, Stephen Smith, Anthony Latiolait, Christopher Faenza, Jeffrey Gordon selected as 2016 Super Lawyers
Walter Yoka, Stephen Smith, Anthony Latiolait, Christopher Faenza, Jeffrey Gordon selected as 2016 Super Lawyers
Walter Yoka, Stephen Smith, Anthony Latiolait, Christopher Faenza, Jeffrey Gordon Selected as 2015 Super Lawyers
Walter Yoka, Stephen Smith, Anthony Latiolait, Christopher Faenza, Jeffrey Gordon Selected as 2015 Super Lawyers
Walter Yoka, Stephen Smith, Anthony Latiolait, Christopher Faenza, Jeffrey Gordon Selected as 2014 Super Lawyers
Walter Yoka, Stephen Smith, Anthony Latiolait, Christopher Faenza, Jeffrey Gordon Selected as 2014 Super Lawyers
Yoka & Smith Again Chosen by U.S. News — Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms” 2014
Walter Yoka Chosen as the 2014 “Lawyer of the Year” by U.S. News — Best Lawyers ® for Los Angeles Personal Injury Litigation — Defendants
Walter Yoka Chosen as the 2014 “Lawyer of the Year” by U.S. News — Best Lawyers ® for Los Angeles Personal Injury Litigation — Defendants
Walter Yoka Named to Southern California’s Top Rated Lawyers
Walter Yoka Selected as One of the Best Lawyers in America
Yoka & Smith Selected as a U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”
Yoka & Smith Selected as a 2013 All Star Go-To Law Firm of the World’s Leading Companies
Alice Chen Smith Has Been Selected as a Super Lawyers Southern California Rising Star for 2013
Alice Chen Smith Has Been Selected as a Super Lawyers Southern California Rising Star for 2013
Walter Yoka, Stephen Smith, Anthony Latiolait, Christopher Faenza, Jeffrey Gordon Selected as 2013 Super Lawyers
Walter Yoka, Stephen Smith, Anthony Latiolait, Christopher Faenza, Jeffrey Gordon Selected as 2013 Super Lawyers
Yoka & Smith Chosen as a Fortune 500 Go-To Law Firm of the World’s Leading Companies
Alice Chen Smith Has Been Selected as a Super Lawyers Southern California Rising Star for 2012
Alice Chen Smith Has Been Selected as a Super Lawyers Southern California Rising Star for 2012
Walter Yoka, Stephen Smith, Anthony Latiolait, Christopher Faenza and Jeffrey Gordon Chosen as Southern California Super Lawyers
Walter Yoka, Stephen Smith, Anthony Latiolait, Christopher Faenza, Jeffrey Gordon Selected as 2012 Super Lawyers
Walter M. Yoka Has Been Selected as the Best Lawyers’ 2012 Los Angeles Product Liability Litigation — Defendants Lawyer of the Year
Walter M. Yoka Has Been Selected as the Best Lawyers’ 2012 Los Angeles Product Liability Litigation — Defendants Lawyer of the Year
Walter Yoka, Stephen Smith, Anthony Latiolait and Christopher Faenza Chosen as Southern California Super Lawyers
Walter M. Yoka Selected as One of the 2010 Los Angeles Area’s Best Lawyers
Walter Yoka, Stephen Smith and Anthony Latiolait Chosen as Southern California Super Lawyers
Walter M. Yoka Selected as One of the 2010 Los Angeles Area’s Best Lawyers
Walter Yoka and the Firm Chosen as Go-To Lawyers by the Fortune 500 Companies
Walter Yoka, Stephen Smith and Anthony Latiolait Chosen as Southern California Super Lawyers
Walter M. Yoka Selected as One of the 2009 Los Angeles Area’s Best Lawyers
Walter Yoka Honored as the Initial Inductee to the ASCDC Hall of Fame
Walter Yoka, Stephen Smith and Anthony Latiolait chosen as Southern California Super Lawyers
Walter M. Yoka selected as one of the 2008 Los Angeles Area’s Best Lawyers
Walter Yoka and the Firm Chosen as “Go-To” Lawyers by the Fortune 500 Companies
Walter Yoka, Stephen Smith and Anthony Latiolait Chosen as Southern California Super Lawyers
Walter M. Yoka Selected as One of the 2007 Los Angeles Area’s Best Lawyers
Firm History
YOKA | SMITH is a boutique litigation law firm based in California and serving clients nationwide. We have had the privilege over the last 28 years of representing companies in various industries, including serving as regional and national counsel to several high-profile companies. We routinely represent clients in class action defense, product liability, commercial disputes and employment related litigation.
We are very proud of our longstanding relationships with our clients, and the trust and confidence they bestow on our firm to handle some of their most important cases. Throughout the years, our representation of many Fortune 500 companies has put us at the forefront of key legal issues. We routinely litigate with, and win, cases against opposing sides represented by AM Law 100 and AM Law 200 law firms.
As a litigation boutique, we pride ourselves on handling all aspects of our cases efficiently – from having one primary partner lead the overall direction of a case, to not over staffing cases with an unnecessary number of lawyers, to effectively using paralegals and staff – we never lose sight of the fact that our clients expect and deserve not only fierce and effective advocacy, but also efficient and cost-effective advocacy. Indeed, this model has served for our firm and our clients well through the years. In the last 5 years alone, we have taken to trial over 40 cases, and not only obtained defense verdicts and favorable settlements as defendants, but also recovered tens of millions of dollars as plaintiffs on behalf of our corporate clients.
Our value proposition to our clients is simple: local knowledge with national reach, all the while providing strategic, efficient and effective litigation at reasonable costs. While many boutique firms like to say similar things, few can back it up with our proven track record. We have spent the last 28 years proving to our corporate clients that our litigation boutique can not only complete with, but also out-perform, AM Law 100 and AM Law 200 firms, at a fraction of the costs.
Firm Leadership (L to R): Christopher E. Faenza, Walter M. Yoka, Alice Chen Smith (Managing Partner), R. Bryan Martin