ABTL Statement Updated June 2025

The Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL), founded over fifty years ago, has five thriving chapters with 6,000 members across California. ABTL is dedicated to promoting a dialogue between the California bench and bar regarding business trial and litigation issues. Bench and bar participation in ABTL programs and events is very strong, in part because ABTL includes both plaintiff and defense perspectives.

The Orange County Chapter (ABTL-OC) has more than 800 members. The Chapter provides top quality programs, combined with social hours where colleagues can meet with each other and with judges. Anyone is welcome to attend. 2025 dinner programs will take place on May 21st, September 3rd, and November 12th. ABTL-OC is also proud to support Orange County’s Public Law Center (PLC), and its May 21 meeting benefited the PLC.

In addition to its regular programs, ABTL is known for its unmatched statewide Annual Seminars, at which panels and speakers cover timely topics. This year, the Annual Seminar will take place at The Wailea Beach Resort in Maui, October 8-12, 2025.

The Orange County Chapter of the ABTL is also dedicated to mentoring and fostering relations with its “Young Lawyer Division” (YLD), which is defined as those practicing ten years or fewer. Our YLD organizes events throughout the year, including brown-bag lunches, “nuts and bolts” programs, happy hours, and judicial mixers.

Finally, ABTL-OC is devoted to giving back to the Orange County community. In addition to supporting the PLC via its May 21 meeting, each November the ABTL-OC collects new stuffed animals for the Orange County Superior Court’s adoption program.

Every Orange County litigator who handles any type of business case is encouraged to join ABTL-OC, and all lawyers are welcome at its programs. For more information, visit our website at www.ABTL.org, or contact our Executive Director, Linda Sampson, at abtloc@abtl.org.