

Bio
Michelle A. Reinglass
"It always seems impossible until it's done." - Nelson Mandela
Admitted
1979, California and U.S. District Court, Central District of California;
1981, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California;
1989, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Education
University of California, Irvine
Western State University, B.S.L, J.D.
Professional Affiliations
State Bar of California;
Orange County Bar Association (President, 1993; Treasurer, 1991; Secretary 1990;
Member, Board of Directors, 1984-1989; Chairman, Business Litigation Section, 1989);
Los Angeles County Bar Association;
Consumer Attorneys of Los Angles;
Orange County Trial Lawyers Association (Member 1987-Present, Board of Directors, 1987-1989);
Volunteers in Parole (Chair, Advisory Committee, 1990-1991);
ABOTA, O.C. Chapter, 1997;
International Academy of Mediators (Distinguished Fellow);
Southern California Mediation Association;
California Employment Lawyers Association (“CELA”), Board Member, 1998-2009, Chair 2005-07;
College of Labor & Employment Lawyers (a Fellow);
American Board of Trial Advocates, Orange County Chapter (1997-Present);
Federal Bar Association, Orange County Chapter (member for over 20 years);
Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Orange County Chapter (Member over 20 years, former Board Member);
Judicial Council’s Committee on Access and Fairness;
Federal Court Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Committee;
Federal Court Magistrate Judge Evaluation Committee, Committee Member and Chair;
California Association of Large Local Bar (CALB), Past President and Chair of Bench Bar Coalition;
9th Circuit Judicial Conference, C.D. Cal., Past Lawyer Representative (2 terms) and Chair (1994-1995).
Biography
Awards
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Named the Best Lawyers® 2020 Mediation “Lawyer of the Year” in Orange County
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Named the Best Lawyers® 2019 Arbitration “Lawyer of the Year” in Orange County
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Honored by WISEPlace Women’s Shelter with the Lukens Legacy Award, 2017
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Inducted as a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators, 2013
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Named the Best Lawyers® 2012, 2016, and 2018 Employment Law - Individuals “Lawyer of the Year” in Orange County
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Named by the Daily Journal as one of California’s Top 50 Neutrals, 2012, 2013
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Inducted as a Distinguished Fellow in The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, 2006
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American Association of University Women "Women of Achievement Award," 2005
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Named as one of Southern California’s “Super Lawyers”, 2004-2021, including top 100 lawyers in Southern California, top 50 Women Lawyers and top 50 from Orange County.
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Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, Employment Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2004
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Named by The Los Angeles Daily Journal as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential Lawyers in California," 2001, "Top Female Litigators," 2002-2005, 2009, as well as one of the “Top Labor & Employment Lawyers”, 2009-2010
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Listed in The Best Lawyers in America©, since 2001
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ADL Jurisprudence Award, 1997
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Orange County Women Lawyers Association, Lawyer of Year, 1996
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Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, Business Trial Lawyer of Year, 1995
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Inducted into the Western State University College of Law Hall of Fame, 1993
Speaking
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American Association of University Women (AAUW), San Clemente/Capistrano Bay Branch, January Meeting: Speaker, January 23, 2021
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California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA), Webinar Series, Practicing Law in a Pandemic: Speaker, May 29, 2020
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Labor and Employment Law Section: Speaker, November 11, 2019
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International Academy of Mediators (IAM), Fall Conference, Scottsdale, AZ: Speaker/Facilitator: Nov. 7, 2019
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Seminar: Common Sense Rules of Mediation: Speaker, August 2019
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Labor & Employment Law Section, Speaker, July 2019
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American Association of University Women (AAUW), Annual Legal Advocacy Fund Luncheon: Speaker, January 19, 2019
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United State District Court (USDC), Advanced Mediation Training: Speaker, September 26, 2018
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California Ambulatory Surgery Association (CASA), Annual Conference: Speaker, September 5, 2018
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Banking & Lending Section: Speaker, June 2018
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Alternative Dispute Resolution Section: Speaker, April 2018
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International Academy of Mediators (IAM), Fall Conference, Austin, TX: Speaker/Facilitator: Nov. 2, 2017
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Celtic Bar Association of Orange County (CBA), Travel Seminar in Reykjavik, Iceland: Speaker, September 2017
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Daily Journal Law Forum: Speaker, July 2017
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Labor and Employment Law Section Symposium: Speaker, June 2017
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), ADR Section Meeting: Panelist, November 2016
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Celtic Bar Association of Orange County (CBA),Travel Seminar in Ashford, Ireland: Speaker, October 2016
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Italian American Lawyers of Orange County (IALOC), Annual Travel Seminar in Verona, Italy: Speaker, June 2016
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International Academy of Mediators (IAM), Spring Conference in Queenstown, New Zealand: Speaker, March 2016
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), ADR Section Meeting: Speaker, November 2015
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Labor & Employment Section Meeting: Speaker, May 2015
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), ADR Recent Developments Seminar: Mediator, May 7, 2014
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Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast: Ambassador, April 29, 2014
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San Diego County Bar Association (SDCBA) - Labor & Employment Law Section: Speaker, April 28, 2014
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Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL), Lunch Program: Speaker, January 21, 2014
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United States District Court (USDC), ADR Recent Developments Seminar: Mediator, November 11, 2013
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Labor & Employment and Alternative Dispute Resolution Joint Section Meeting: Moderator, November 11, 2013
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Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA): Speaker, August 29 - September 1, 2013
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), ADR recent Development Seminar: Speaker, May 1, 2013
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Real Estate Section January Meeting: Speaker, January 22, 2013
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The Labor and Employment Law Section of the State Bar of California: Moderator, 30th Annual Meeting, November 2, 2012
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Labor & Employment Law Section Annual Seminar: Moderator, May 19, 2012
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Labor & Employment Law Section Meeting: Speaker, March 12, 2012
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A Celebration Martin Luther King, Jr’s Legacy: Speaker, Jan. 18, 2012
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Labor & Employment Law Section Meeting: Speaker, Nov. 14, 2011
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Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), 50th Annual Convention: Speaker, Nov. 11, 2011
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Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA) 23rd Annual Fall Conference: Co-Panelist, Nov. 5, 2011
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Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), Women's Caucus, 2008
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Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), Gender Bias, 2008
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Solo, Small Practices, 2008
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Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA), Cross-Cultural Mediations, 2008
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League of Women's Voters, Independence of Judiciary, 2008
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Western State University College of Law: Commencement Speaker, May 2007
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Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), "Hot Topics in Employment", 2007
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Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), Arbitrations, 2007
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Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), Trials, 2006
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Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), "Sexual Harassment Prevailing & Dealing With”, 2006
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Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA), Labor & Employment Law Symposium: "Objection! Recurring Evidentiary Issues in Employment Litigation"; 2006
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Ventura County Trial Lawyers Case Updates, 2005-2006
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Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), Mediation & Arbitration Practice, 2005
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Mediations & Arbitrations, 2005
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American Bar Association (ABA), Employment Discrimination, 2004
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Rutter Group, Civil Procedure Before Trial, 1998-2007
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Rutter Group/ CJA Litigation Program, "Employment Law," 1996-2001
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Rutter Group/CJA Tort Litigation Program, "Wrongful Termination, Employment Discrimination," January 1995
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Chairman and Delegate, Central District Delegation to 9th Circuit. Judicial Conference, 1993-1995, 2002-2004
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Surviving Attorneys Fees Disputes, 1993-1994
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Lecturer, Law and Motion Seminar, California State Bar Convention, 1990-1991
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Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Action Guide on Establishing Good Client Relations, California Continuing Education of the Bar: Advisor, 1990
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College of Trial and Advocacy, 1989-1991; 1989-1992, 1995
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Oral Advocacy Workshops, 1988, 1990 and Evidence for Business Lawyers, 1990
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Bridging the Gap, Law and Motion: Presenter and Speaker, 1987-1993
Publications
Author
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"Sexual Harassment - The Evolution & The Revolution," Women in the Workplace, Nov. 1993;
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"You're Served, What to do When Served with Subpoena", O.C. Psychological Association, July 1994;
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CAOC, Attorneys Fees, 1999;
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OCBA Labor and Employment Section, "Arbitration after Circuit City and Armendariz," 2001;
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CAOC, Arbitrations, 2001;
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CAALA, "To Arbitrate or Litigate, 2001";
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The Advocate Magazine, "Depositions and Discovery Quicksand," 2002;
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Bi-monthly column on employment law, trial advocacy, and related topics for the Los Angeles Daily Journal, 2001-2006;
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ABTL, "Removal & Remand: Real or Sham Defendants?," January 2006;
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CAALA, "Navigating Arbitration in Employment Cases," 2007;
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LACBA, Senior Lawyer Guide article "Mandatory Retirement: Greener Pastures?";
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"Navigating Arbitration in Employment Cases", CAALA Advocate Magazine, 2007;
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"Mediation Confidentiality", CAALA, 2007;
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"Presenting Your Client at Trial in an Employment Case", CAOC Forum Magazine, 2008;
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Co-authored with Andrew Albert, Esq.: “Mediating Your Employment Case - Sooner or Later?”, CAALA Advocate Magazine, 2010;
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"What the NFL Teaches Us About Mediation", CAALA Advocate Magazine, 2011;
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"A Lesson About Settlements", Los Angeles Daily Journal, 2011.
Contributing -Author
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Rutter Group/CJA, Wrongful Termination and Employment Discrimination Program Update, January, Published 1995;
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Rutter Group, California Practice Guide, Employment Litigation, Chapter on Sexual Harassment, Published 2001;
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The Rutter Group, California Practice Guide - Employment Litigation, Chapter 10, “Harassment”, Published 2006;
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ABA, Litigating the Workplace Harassment Case, Chapter on The Intake Process, Investigation, Preparation, and Filing of a Harassment Claim, Published 2010;
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Contributing Author with Rachel Goldstein, Esq.:
American Bar Association (ABA) book, Litigating the Gender Harassment and Retaliation Case, Chapter 3, “ Investigating, Preparing, and Responding to the Administrative Charge and Court Complaint: Plaintiff’s Perspective”, Published 2019, (update of the 2010 ABA book).
Advisor
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Action Guide on Establishing Good Client Relations, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1990;
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Served on Editorial Advisory Board and writes articles for Matthew Bender's Labor and Employment Bulletin.
Languages
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Spanish
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French
Reported Cases
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Nelson v. Carlson City Dana Point, 17 Cal. App. 4th 732 (1993);
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Corin v. Pomona College, 45 Cal. App. 4th 1716 (1996);
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James Haluck, Michael Litton v. Ricoh Electronics, Inc., et al, 151 Cal. App. 4th 994 (2007);
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David A. Vazquez, Jose R. Armas, and Samuel Moreno v. Cargill, Inc., 509 F. Supp. 2d 903, (2007).

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