About

The Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL) was founded in Los Angeles, California in 1973 to develop a better forum for the discussion of business trials. This included an aggressive effort to promote communication between the bench and bar. The ABTL is unique in providing a forum in which litigators and judges meet together to address issues important to business trial lawyers. Judicial participation in ABTL programs and events is very strong, in part, because the ABTL includes all business litigators, including both plaintiff-focused and defense-focused practices.

Today, the ABTL has five thriving chapters across California, including chapters in Northern California (2000 members), San Joaquin Valley (200 members), Los Angeles (2,400 members), Orange County (690 members), and San Diego (765 members).

Each chapter provides top quality legal education programs in an atmosphere where there can be a frank exchange between bench and bar and an opportunity for old colleagues to meet in a busy world where lunch is no longer the order of the day. In addition, the ABTL is known across the state for their unmatched Annual Seminars, featuring keynote speakers from the bar and the bench: United States Supreme Court, U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and California Supreme Court.

As stated by Allan Browne, the Founding President of the ABTL, “One of the great byproducts of ABTL is the fact that it has developed wonderful camaraderie amongst [trial lawyers] in commercial and business matters. All of us share similar concerns in the courthouse as well as the legislature.”

We invite you to visit the individual chapter web pages to learn more about their governing bodies, the benefits of ABTL membership, and the calendar of events being held in each chapter’s city.