ReinglassADR.com / Alternative Dispute Resolution

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

Named the Best Lawyers® 2020 Mediation “Lawyer of the Year” in Orange County
Named the Best Lawyers® 2019 Arbitration “Lawyer of the Year” in Orange County
Honored by WISEPlace Women’s Shelter with the Lukens Legacy Award, 2017
Inducted as a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators, 2013
Named the Best Lawyers® 2012, 2016, and 2018 Employment Law - Individuals “Lawyer of the Year” in Orange County
Named by the Daily Journal as one of California’s Top 50 Neutrals, 2012, 2013
Inducted as a Distinguished Fellow in The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, 2006
American Association of University Women "Women of Achievement Award," 2005
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.
Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, Employment Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2004
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
ADL Jurisprudence Award, 1997
Orange County Women Lawyers Association, Lawyer of Year, 1996
Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, Business Trial Lawyer of Year, 1995
Inducted into the Western State University College of Law Hall of Fame, 1993

Speaking

American Association of University Women (AAUW), San Clemente/Capistrano Bay Branch, January Meeting: Speaker, January 23, 2021
California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA), Webinar Series, Practicing Law in a Pandemic: Speaker, May 29, 2020
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Labor and Employment Law Section: Speaker, November 11, 2019
International Academy of Mediators (IAM), Fall Conference, Scottsdale, AZ: Speaker/Facilitator: Nov. 7, 2019
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Seminar: Common Sense Rules of Mediation: Speaker, August 2019
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Labor & Employment Law Section, Speaker, July 2019
American Association of University Women (AAUW), Annual Legal Advocacy Fund Luncheon: Speaker, January 19, 2019
United State District Court (USDC), Advanced Mediation Training: Speaker, September 26, 2018
California Ambulatory Surgery Association (CASA), Annual Conference: Speaker, September 5, 2018
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Banking & Lending Section: Speaker, June 2018
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Alternative Dispute Resolution Section: Speaker, April 2018
International Academy of Mediators (IAM), Fall Conference, Austin, TX: Speaker/Facilitator: Nov. 2, 2017
Celtic Bar Association of Orange County (CBA), Travel Seminar in Reykjavik, Iceland: Speaker, September 2017
Daily Journal Law Forum: Speaker, July 2017
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Labor and Employment Law Section Symposium: Speaker, June 2017
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), ADR Section Meeting: Panelist, November 2016
Celtic Bar Association of Orange County (CBA),Travel Seminar in Ashford, Ireland: Speaker, October 2016
Italian American Lawyers of Orange County (IALOC), Annual Travel Seminar in Verona, Italy: Speaker, June 2016
International Academy of Mediators (IAM), Spring Conference in Queenstown, New Zealand: Speaker, March 2016
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), ADR Section Meeting: Speaker, November 2015
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Labor & Employment Section Meeting: Speaker, May 2015
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), ADR Recent Developments Seminar: Mediator, May 7, 2014
Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast: Ambassador, April 29, 2014
San Diego County Bar Association (SDCBA) - Labor & Employment Law Section: Speaker, April 28, 2014
Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL), Lunch Program: Speaker, January 21, 2014
United States District Court (USDC), ADR Recent Developments Seminar: Mediator, November 11, 2013
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Labor & Employment and Alternative Dispute Resolution Joint Section Meeting: Moderator, November 11, 2013
Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA): Speaker, August 29 - September 1, 2013
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), ADR recent Development Seminar: Speaker, May 1, 2013
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Real Estate Section January Meeting: Speaker, January 22, 2013
The Labor and Employment Law Section of the State Bar of California: Moderator, 30th Annual Meeting, November 2, 2012
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Labor & Employment Law Section Annual Seminar: Moderator, May 19, 2012
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Labor & Employment Law Section Meeting: Speaker, March 12, 2012
A Celebration Martin Luther King, Jr’s Legacy: Speaker, Jan. 18, 2012
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Labor & Employment Law Section Meeting: Speaker, Nov. 14, 2011
Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), 50th Annual Convention: Speaker, Nov. 11, 2011
Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA) 23rd Annual Fall Conference: Co-Panelist, Nov. 5, 2011
Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), Women's Caucus, 2008
Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), Gender Bias, 2008
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Solo, Small Practices, 2008
Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA), Cross-Cultural Mediations, 2008
League of Women's Voters, Independence of Judiciary, 2008
Western State University College of Law: Commencement Speaker, May 2007
Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), "Hot Topics in Employment", 2007
Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), Arbitrations, 2007
Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), Trials, 2006
Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), "Sexual Harassment Prevailing & Dealing With”, 2006
Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA), Labor & Employment Law Symposium: "Objection! Recurring Evidentiary Issues in Employment Litigation"; 2006
Ventura County Trial Lawyers Case Updates, 2005-2006
Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), Mediation & Arbitration Practice, 2005
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Mediations & Arbitrations, 2005
American Bar Association (ABA), Employment Discrimination, 2004
Rutter Group, Civil Procedure Before Trial, 1998-2007
Rutter Group/ CJA Litigation Program, "Employment Law," 1996-2001
Rutter Group/CJA Tort Litigation Program, "Wrongful Termination, Employment Discrimination," January 1995
Chairman and Delegate, Central District Delegation to 9th Circuit. Judicial Conference, 1993-1995, 2002-2004
Surviving Attorneys Fees Disputes, 1993-1994
Lecturer, Law and Motion Seminar, California State Bar Convention, 1990-1991
Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Action Guide on Establishing Good Client Relations, California Continuing Education of the Bar: Advisor, 1990
College of Trial and Advocacy, 1989-1991; 1989-1992, 1995
Oral Advocacy Workshops, 1988, 1990 and Evidence for Business Lawyers, 1990
Bridging the Gap, Law and Motion: Presenter and Speaker, 1987-1993

Publications

Author

"Sexual Harassment - The Evolution & The Revolution," Women in the Workplace, Nov. 1993;
"You're Served, What to do When Served with Subpoena", O.C. Psychological Association, July 1994;
CAOC, Attorneys Fees, 1999;
OCBA Labor and Employment Section, "Arbitration after Circuit City and Armendariz," 2001;
CAOC, Arbitrations, 2001;
CAALA, "To Arbitrate or Litigate, 2001";
The Advocate Magazine, "Depositions and Discovery Quicksand," 2002;
Bi-monthly column on employment law, trial advocacy, and related topics for the Los Angeles Daily Journal, 2001-2006;
ABTL, "Removal & Remand: Real or Sham Defendants?," January 2006;
CAALA, "Navigating Arbitration in Employment Cases," 2007;
LACBA, Senior Lawyer Guide article "Mandatory Retirement: Greener Pastures?";
"Navigating Arbitration in Employment Cases", CAALA Advocate Magazine, 2007;
"Mediation Confidentiality", CAALA, 2007;
"Presenting Your Client at Trial in an Employment Case", CAOC Forum Magazine, 2008;
Co-authored with Andrew Albert, Esq.: “Mediating Your Employment Case - Sooner or Later?”, CAALA Advocate Magazine, 2010;
"What the NFL Teaches Us About Mediation", CAALA Advocate Magazine, 2011;
"A Lesson About Settlements", Los Angeles Daily Journal, 2011.

Contributing -Author

Rutter Group/CJA, Wrongful Termination and Employment Discrimination Program Update, January, Published 1995;
Rutter Group, California Practice Guide, Employment Litigation, Chapter on Sexual Harassment, Published 2001;
The Rutter Group, California Practice Guide - Employment Litigation, Chapter 10, “Harassment”, Published 2006;
ABA, Litigating the Workplace Harassment Case, Chapter on The Intake Process, Investigation, Preparation, and Filing of a Harassment Claim, Published 2010;
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

Action Guide on Establishing Good Client Relations, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1990;
Served on Editorial Advisory Board and writes articles for Matthew Bender's Labor and Employment Bulletin.

Languages

Spanish
French

Reported Cases

Nelson v. Carlson City Dana Point, 17 Cal. App. 4th 732 (1993);
Corin v. Pomona College, 45 Cal. App. 4th 1716 (1996);
James Haluck, Michael Litton v. Ricoh Electronics, Inc., et al, 151 Cal. App. 4th 994 (2007);
David A. Vazquez, Jose R. Armas, and Samuel Moreno v. Cargill, Inc., 509 F. Supp. 2d 903, (2007).