Walter H. Bithell

Founder & CEO

For more than 40 years Walt has been helping clients recover damages as a result of the wrongful acts of others. Walt knows how to navigate the complexities of litigation. He represents clients seeking recoveries for business and commercial damages, personal injury damages, construction damages, crop damages, product liability damages, professional liability damages and general litigation damages.

Walt was a Senior Partner and Lead Litigation Attorney with Holland & Hart for over 30 years before he established Bithell Law PLLC. Walt’s prior experience includes partnerships at Holland & Hart and Langroise, Sullivan & Smylie as well as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Idaho where he served as general counsel for the Idaho State Department of Insurance and the Idaho State Tax Commission. He has published and lectured extensively on trial-related subjects. He is a trained mediator and is on the approved list of mediators for both the Idaho Supreme Court and the Idaho Federal Court. He has participated in numerous mediations.

Mr. Bithell is admitted to practice in the following courts: Idaho Supreme Court (1968), United States District Court, District of Idaho (1968), United States Court of Federal Claims (1991) United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (1992), and the United States Supreme Court (1995).

Peer Recognition

Walter H. Bithell Professionalism Award. In 2010 the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA ) instituted an annual award called The Walter H. Bithell Professionalism Award. ITLA describes the award in the following words: “The Professionalism Award, named after highly esteemed Idaho plaintiff’s lawyer Walter H. Bithell, of Boise, recognizes commitment to integrity, excellence and professionalism as a lawyer for all clients, colleagues, judges and staff with whom he/she comes in contact with in the representation of Idaho citizens.”

The award is given to an Idaho lawyer at the annual meeting of the ITLA. The inscription on the award reads: “in recognition of outstanding professionalism in the practice of law – for his (her) integrity, fairness, love for the law, and the exemplary courtesy he steadfastly extends to all – clients, colleagues, judges and staff.”

Honors & Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America© Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs (2016)
  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers – Fellowship is extended only by invitation, after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality.
  • Fellow, the Litigation Counsel of America, A Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
  • Awarded the Idaho State Bar’s Distinguished Lawyers Award, 2013
  • The Best Lawyers in America© Lawyer of the Year, Bet-the-Company Litigation – Boise (2013)
  • The Best Lawyers in America© (1995-2015)
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (Litigation)
  • LawDragon, the Leading 500 Trial Lawyers in America
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation (2007- 2014)
  • Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Star, Commercial Litigation (2012-2016)
  • The Best Lawyers in America© Lawyer of the Year, Personal Injury Litigation – Boise (2009)
  • Idaho State Bar Professionalism Award (2006)
  • Idaho Trial Lawyers Association, Trial Lawyer of the Year (2006)
  • University of Idaho Alumni Association, UI Gold and Silver Award (2001) –recognizes living alumni who have a distinguished record of achievement and service in his/her specialized area of endeavor

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Committee Member, American Inns of Court, Ninth Circuit Committee
  • 2012 Litigation Counsel of America, Idaho State Delegate Co-Chair
  • National Board of Trustees, American Inns of Court (2006 – 2010)
  • President, American Inns of Court No. 130 (2005 – 2006)
  • President, Idaho State Bar (1998)
  • Idaho Supreme Court, Committee on Revisions to the Idaho Civil Jury Instructions (1995-2004)
  • Currently Board of Directors, University of Idaho Foundation
  • Currently sustaining Member, SCRIBES, The American Society of Writers on Legal Subjects
  • Commissioner, Idaho State Bar (1996 – 1998)
  • Board of Governors, American Association for Justice (formerly American Trial Lawyers Association) (1993 – 1996)
  • President, Idaho Trial Lawyers Association (1981-1982)
  • Past Member, Idaho Law foundation Board of Directors
  • Member, Idaho Mediation Association
  • Civil Case Mediator, Idaho Supreme Court
  • Idaho Federal Court Mediation Panel

Publications

President’s Column: Thanks
The Advocate
Author(s): Walter Bithell

President’s Column: Service
The Advocate
Author(s): Walter Bithell

President’s Column: The California Experience: A Valuable Lesson
The Advocate
Author(s): Walter Bithell

President’s Column: Thinking in the Future Tense
The Advocate
Author(s): Walter Bithell

President’s Column: Successful Lawyers Are Not Rude and Unprofessional
The Advocate
Author(s): Walter Bithell

President’s Column: Thinking, A Neglected Art
The Advocate
Author(s): Walter Bithell

Weekly Column Addressing Legal Issues from readers
The Idaho Statesman
Author(s): Walter Bithell

 

Speaking Engagements

January 2013 Civil Perspective of Idaho Evidentiary Issues Idaho Law Foundation

April 2010 A Delicate Balance: Judges, Juries, Lawyers and Journalists Panelist, Andrus Center for public Policy and the Idaho Press Club, in cooperation with the Idaho State Bar Association and University of Idaho College of Law Seminar

June 2007 Voir Dire ITLA

April 2007 Lawyering Process – Settlement Risk Evaluation University of Idaho

March 2007 Voir Dire Idaho State Bar, Trial Skills Academy

February 2007 Anatomy of a Civil Trial Panelist, ITLA

November 2006 Judges Panel, National Moot Court Region 13 Competition University of Idaho

September 2006 Holland & Hart Trial Advocacy Institute

July 2006 Non-Economic Damages – Real, Substantial, and Provable ITLA

October 2001 Evidence Issues Idaho State Bar

July 2001 Representing Clients in Mediation Moderator, Idaho State Bar Annual Meeting

June 2001 Living With, and Loving the Law ITLA

November 2000, May 2001, and November 2001 Torts Idaho State Bar, Citizens Law Academy

May 2000 Presenting an Effective Closing Argument Idaho Law Foundation

February 2000 Building a Plaintiff’s Practice Young Lawyers Section, Idaho State Bar

July 1999 Expert Witness Reports Federal Practice Program

February 1999 Anatomy of a Civil Trial – Mock Trial Presentation (Plaintiff’s Opening Statement) ITLA

November 1998 – January 1999 Magistrate Judges’ Conference District Judges’ Conference  and Civil Law Update Speaker, Idaho Law Foundation

September 1998 Admissions Ceremony Speaker, Idaho State Bar

August 1998 Convocation University of Idaho School of Law, Class of 2001

July 1998 Chicken Soup for the Motion Practitioner Panelist, Federal District Conference, District of Idaho

November 1997 Applied technology in the Courtroom: — Winning Techniques ITLA

April 1997 Judging Panel: Mock Trial Competition Idaho Law Foundation

January 1997 Tort Law Developments District Judges’ Seminar

December 1996 Annual Law Update 1996 – Tort Law Idaho State Bar

November 1996 Cases You didn’t Know About That Will Make You Money: Representing People Who Get Sick/Die from Eating at a Restaurant. ITLA

November 1995 Judging Panel: National Moot Court Regional Competition University of Idaho College of Law

July 1994 Settlement Conferences Panelist, Federal District Conference

July 1994 Evidence Panelist, Idaho Judicial Conference

February 1992 Update ’92: Questions You Need to Know But Haven’t Thought To Ask ITLA

November 1991 Fall Seminar: Ethics in Litigation ITLA

October 1991 Multidistrict & Complex Litigation: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Mechanics of the Use of Computers in The Courtroom Idaho Law Foundation

October 1991 Topics in the History of Medicine Boise State University

September 1991 Idaho Practical Skills Course: Insurance Law Idaho Law Foundation

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