Walter Marshall Sanchez
Top rated Family Law attorney in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Sanchez Burke, L.L.C.
Practice Areas: Family Law, Criminal Defense, Estate & Trust Litigation; view more
Licensed in Louisiana since: 1984
Education: Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2007 - 2025 Call today:
337-417-9244
Free Consultation Sanchez Burke, L.L.C.
1200 Ryan StreetLake Charles, LA 70601 Visit website
Details
When Walter Marshall Sanchez founded Sanchez Burke, L.L.C., he did so with the intention of providing comprehensive representation for people facing an array of situations. He represents people in Lake Charles, Louisiana and the surrounding areas in matters such as complex family law, custody, and community property cases; white-collar crimes; commercial litigation; personal injury; professional disciplinary actions; sex crimes, and DWI and drug charges. His charitable work has also been noted, as the Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana presented him with its Philanthropist of the Year Award and the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association honored him with its Public Service Award.
Since 1984, Mr. Sanchez has been helping people overcome the obstacles that the justice system often presents. He knows how to pull the facts out of a case and use them to construct an argument that helps a client reach his or her goals.
In 1981, Mr. Sanchez earned a Bachelor of Science in Management and Administration from Louisiana State University. He then graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1984 from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, where he won the Flory Moot Court Competition.
Mr. Sanchez can count among his accomplishments numerous acquittals, case dismissals, dropped charges, and reduced sentences. Not only do clients take notice when these victories occur, but so does the legal industry. For his achievements, Mr. Sanchez has an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell; has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and holds an Avvo "Superb" rating (10/10). Acadiana Profile magazine consistently lists him as a Top Lawyer in the Acadiana Region; and the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers honored him with its Highest award, the Justice Albert Tate, Jr. Award.
Mr. Sanchez is a member of the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Louisiana and Southwest Louisiana Bar Associations, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Practice areas
Family Law, Criminal Defense, Estate & Trust Litigation, Professional Liability: DefenseFocus areas
Alimony & Spousal Support, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, Divorce, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Ethics & Professional Responsibility, Marital Property, Sex Offenses, Will Contests
First Admitted: 1984, Louisiana
Professional Webpage: https://www.waltsanchez.com/attorney/walter-m-sanchez/
- Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Past President, 1985 - Present
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Charter Member
- President, Southwest Louisiana State Bar Association, 2009
- U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana, 1985
- Fellow, Louisiana Bar Foundation, 1999 - Present
- Southwest Louisiana Bar Association, President, 2009
- National Legal Aid & Defender Association
- Hearing Committee Chair, Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, 2003 - 2009.
- Louisiana, 1984
- Member, American Mensa, Ltd., 1977
- Southwest Louisiana Bar Association, Member, 1984 - 2009
- American Bar Association
- Member, Board of Governors, LSBA, 2006 - 2008
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member, 1985 - Present
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1989
- Hernandez v. Hernandez, 640 So. 2d 818 (La. App. 3 Cir. 1994)
- Fastabend v. Fastabend, 606 So. 2d 794 (La. App. 3 Cir. 1992)
- Black v. Simms, 12 So. 3d 1140 (La. App. 3 Cir. 2009)
- State in the Interest of D.W., 865 Sol 2d 45 (LA Supreme Court 2004)
- Jones v. Jones, 747 So. 2d 94 (La. App. 3 Cir. 1999)
- State v. Bartholomew Cross, 747 So. 2d 94 (LA Supreme Court 1995).
- Board Certified Family Law Specialist, Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, 1995 to present
- Member, Louisiana Public Defender Board (LSBA President), 2007
- Member, Louisiana State Bar Association Family Law Advisory Commission, 2003 - 2004; 2018 - 2024. Chair, 2021 - 22., 2024
- President, Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District, 2011 - 2012
- President, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana, Inc., 1989 - 1992
- Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: President, 1998
- Trustee, Finance Council, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, 2002 - 2018.
- Member, Committee on Family Court Rules of the Judicial Counsel of Louisiana (Appointed by the Supreme Court), 2009 - Present
- Past Chair, Professional Division, United Way of Southwest Louisiana, Inc., Campaign, 1992 - 1993
- Member, Louisiana Public Defender Board, (Appointed by the Speaker of the House), 2004 - 2006
- Member, Louisiana State Law Institute, Special Committee to Study Reinstatement of Fault in Divorce, 1998 - 2001
- Member, Louisiana State Bar Association Board of Governors, 2006 - 2008
- Assistant Examiner, Committee on Bar Admissions, 1992 - 2004
- Commissioner, Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District, 2003 - 2017. Port President 2011 - 12.
- Member, Board of Trustees, LifeShare Blood Centers, 2003 - Present, Board Chair 2020 - 2024.
- Member, Joint Legislative Committee for the Study of the Indigent Defense System (Appointed by the Chief Justice), 1996 - 1997
- Past Member, Board of Directors, Lake Charles Symphony
- Hearing Committee Chair, Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, 2003 - 2009
- Member, Louisiana Task Force on Indigent Defense Services (Appointed by the President, Conference of Court of Appeals Judges), 2004 - 2007
- Right to Counsel Committee, 2005 - 2009
- Chairman, Indigent Defender Board, 14th Judicial District, 1988 - 1996
- Board Member, Louisiana Board of International Commerce, 2013 – 2017
- Board Member, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana, Inc., 1987 - 2006
- Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: Board Member, 1990 - 2008
- Past President, Southwest Louisiana State Fair and Trade Exposition, Inc.
- Member, Committee on Family Court Rules of the Judicial Counsel of Louisiana (Appointed by the Supreme Court), 2009 - Present
- President, Advisory Board, Lake Charles Seafarer's Center, Port of Lake Charles, 1986 - 1999
- Justice Albert Tate Jr. Award In 1986, the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers presented its first Justice Albert Tate, Jr. Award. The award is named in honor of the late Justice Albert Tate, Jr., who served on the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Louisiana State Supreme Court. The Award is presented for outstanding contributions to the Louisiana system of criminal justice and is dedicated to constitutional principles. The award is designed to honor individuals for dedication to, or in defense of, those constitutional principles for which Justice Tate stood. This is LACDL’s most prestigious award., Recipient, Judge Albert Tate Award, Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2007
- Selected as one of the three best attorneys in Southwest Louisiana by readers of Lagniappe Magazine in both 2019 and 2022., Top Three Best Attorneys in Southwest Louisiana, Lagniappe Magazine, 2022
- This is the highest confidential rating by peers and judges for both legal ability and ethics. 2019 - present., AV Rating - Martindale Hubbell, Martindale.com, 2019
- Best Aggressive Attorney, Designee, The Times of Louisiana Readers' Poll, 2003
- Selected for inclusion, "Top Lawyers of Acadiana: White Collar Criminal Law (2014 - 19). Family Law (2014 - 17; 2019, 2021 - 24). Non-White Collar Criminal Law (2018 - 19; 2022 - 24), Top Lawyers of Acadiana, Acadiana Profile Magazine, 2014
- Flory Trial Moot Court Competition, Winner, Paul M. Hebert Law Center, 1984
- Philanthropist Day Award, Recipient, Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, 2003
- Order of St. Charles, Member, Diocese of Lake Charles, 1990
- Listed in "Louisiana Super Lawyers", Criminal Law, 2007 - 2024., Louisiana Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2007
- Citizen of the Year, Recipient, Southwest Louisiana Chapter, National Association of Social Workers, 1995
- Selected for "The Best Lawyers in America", Family Law, 2007 - 2024., Best Lawyers in America - Family Law, Best Lawyers, 2007
- Listed "Best Lawyers in America", DWI Defense, 2011 - 2024., The Best Lawyers in America - DUI Defense, Best Lawyers, 2011
- Louisiana State University, B.S. in Management and Administration, 1981
- Presenter, Tulane Law School
- Presenter, Louisiana Judicial College
- Presenter, Louisiana Association of City and Juvenile Judges
- Presenter, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Presenter, American Civil Liberties Union
- Presenter, National Legal Aid and Defenders Association
- Presenter, Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Presenter, Louisiana Public Defenders Board
- Presenter, Southern University School of Law
- Presenter, Southwest Louisiana Bar Association
- Presenter, Loyola University School of Law
- Faculty Member, Trial Advocacy Training Program, Paul M. Hebert Law Center, LSU, 1993 - Present
Office location for Walter Marshall Sanchez
1200 Ryan Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone: 337-417-9244
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2007 - 2025
Certificates and credentials
Family Law
Additional sources of information about Walter Marshall Sanchez
See legal Q & A provided by Walter Marshall Sanchez
Q: What is a wrongful death claim in Louisiana?
A: You might be entitled to wrongful death damages if the death of your spouse or family member was caused by someone else’s negligent or faulty …Q: What are the personal injury damage caps in Louisiana?
A: If you are seriously injured, there are no caps to the damages you can recover in most cases. Building your case to prove all of your damages is an … See all answers by Walter Sanchez
