Law Enforcement
General counsel to the 2600 members of the
Maryland Troopers’ Association
Personal Injury
Twice voted Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Maryland by the Daily Record!
Workers' Compensation
We’ve helped thousands
of injured workers
Medical Malpractice
Get a team of the best medical malpractice lawyers for your med mal or birth injury case.
The Latest From Our News Blog
A Love Letter to Jim Lanier
If you want to know where to find Jim Lanier, look on the side that is right and that is just. Jim Lanier’s compass points in right direction. In 2018, when Jim joined Warnken, LLC, I knew we had just made an important addition to the workers’ comp team. Not long after, Jim was a 2021 inductee to the College of Workers’ Compensation Attorneys.
Also in 2021, Jim was on the shortlist for judge. The shortlist was an achievement in and of itself – people who mattered said, “Hey Governor, this guy Lanier is worthy of consideration for a really important job in our society.”
Jim was qualified to be a judge. He has a ton of experience in multiple practice areas. He’s been plaintiff/claimant and defense. He cares about the community, the Bar, and his clients.
But perhaps above all else, Jim cares about the injured worker and the system meant to provide a just relief to the injured worker. His reputation had preceded him when former Governor Larry Hogan did his homework. Hogan, in Jim’s interview for the bench, asked, “Jim, wouldn’t you be a better fit as a Workers’ Comp Commissioner?”
In a typical Jim answer, Jim replied, “Governor, I will go where you best think I can serve the citizens of Maryland.”
A few years later, Jim remains with Warnken, LLC. We’re better off, as are injured workers. Not just his clients, but all injured workers.
The Robert J. Zarbin Legislative Advocacy Award
It is not just former Governors and his colleagues at Warnken, LLC who recognize his contributions. The Maryland Association for Justice has just given Jim Lanier the 2024 Robert J. Zarbin Legislative Advocacy Award! This award is given in recognition of exemplary legislative advocacy efforts in support of civil justice for the citizens of Maryland. The award will be given this Friday, April 12, 2024.
Congratulations, Jim!!
(Congratulations, also, to Jim’s co-winners, Patrice Meredith Clarke and David Harak.)
Jim has been advocating for fair laws for injured workers for years. The workers’ comp system, the Labor and Employment article of the code, and COMAR are full of small elements that can have big impact on the life of the injured worker. No issue therein is too small or too big to be analyzed and made more just and Jim is tireless at the task.
The Future for Jim Lanier
Jim Lanier has accomplished a lot. He is the immediate past chair of the Negligence, Insurance and Workers’ Compensation section of the Maryland State Bar Association. He is the current co-chair of the Maryland Association for Justice workers’ compensation section (with his Warnken, LLC colleague Rebecca Smith). He is the co-author of the MSBA’s Workers’ Compensation Manual, a comprehensive guide to workers’ compensation in Maryland and he co-taught the MSBA’s seminal course on workers’ compensation. He has represented thousands of injured workers, often in some of the most complex and catastrophic cases.
I have no doubt that our former Governor is correct – Jim is meant to be a Workers’ Compensation Commissioner with the Maryland WCC. Until then, his colleagues at Warnken, LLC remain grateful that he is with us. And injured workers are grateful also. Whether it is as a Commissioner, as an advocate, or as an endlessly giving community member, Jim has been, and will be, a huge asset to workers’ compensation in Maryland.
Thanks, Jim.
Helpful Links
- Birth Injury Lawyer
- Client Testimonials
- Injury Lawyer Database
- Maryland Workers' Compensation
- Warnken Reviews Links
Warnken, LLC Attorneys At Law
Warnken, LLC started more than 20 years ago. The firm’s founder, Byron L. Warnken, Esq., has been an attorney for more than 40 years. He is also a full-time law professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law. In the early 1990’s, Warnken, LLC consisted of Byron L. Warnken and his wife Bonnie L. Warnken, who handled mostly medical malpractice and personal injury cases. In 1997, the firm began to expand, with more lawyers being hired to handle the work associated with representing the Maryland Troopers Association. Since then, the MTA has been a focus for Warnken, LLC. Warnken, LLC also has a reputation throughout the State for success in personal injury and workers’ compensation cases.
Personal Injury Attorneys
Voted MD’s Best Personal Injury Law Firm 2021. More than 3000 litigation matters in more than 25 years of practice.
Warnken, LLC handles personal injury cases and workers’ compensation cases. We also handle medical malpractice, birth injuries, truck accidents, negligence, wrongful death, catastrophic personal injury, and other injuries or disputes.
Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
Workers’ compensation is by far the fastest growing practice area at Warnken, LLC. A decade ago, Warnken, LLC had less than 20 comp files at any given time a few years ago. Today there are more than 500. Some of the best workers’ compensation lawyers in Baltimore practice law at Warnken, LLC
Our comp practice grew from serving law enforcement. Being one of the most dangerous jobs, police officers and other public safety employees often need counsel for workplace injuries. In order to serve our existing clients, we gained the expertise.
Law Enforcement
Since 1997, Warnken, LLC has been general counsel to the Maryland Troopers Association. We handle administrative discipline, trial boards, disability retirement, grievances, and generally anything else active or retired law enforcement personnel face. We take great pride in the work.