ABTL Orange County

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Navigating Bench Trials and Arbitrations: Essential Dos and Don’ts


2025 Programs

  • January 22, 2025 – Dinner Program (Westin South Coast Plaza)
  • March 19, 2025 – Dinner Program (Westin South Coast Plaza)
  • May 2, 2025 – Joint Board of Governors Retreat (Coronado Island Marriott)
  • May 21, 2025 – Robert Palmer Wine Tasting Dinner Program (Westin South Coast Plaza)
  • September 3, 2025 – Dinner Program (Westin South Coast Plaza)
  • October 8 – 12, 2025 – 51st Annual Seminar – Wailea Beach Resort, Maui, Hawaii
  • November 12, 2025 – Dinner Program and Orange County Superior Court Stuffed Animal Drive (Westin South Coast Plaza)


2024 Programs

  • January 24, 2024 – The Ethos of Trial (Westin South Coast Plaza)
  • March 13, 2024 – Pulling Back the Curtain: A Behind the Scenes Look at State and Federal Court Operations (Westin South Coast Plaza)
  • April 12-14, 2024 – Joint Board of Governors Retreat (Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course)
  • May 29, 2024 – Robert Palmer Wine Tasting Dinner Program: Meet CA Supreme Court Associate Justice Kelli Evans (Westin South Coast Plaza)
  • September 11, 2024 – AI and the Future of Law (Westin South Coast Plaza)
  • October 17 – 20, 2024 – 50th Annual Seminar – The Meritage Resort & Spa (Napa Valley)
  • November 13, 2024 – Dinner Program and Orange County Superior Court Stuffed Animal Drive (Westin South Coast Plaza)

2023 Programs

  • January 25, 2023 – From Ethical Violations to Criminal Convictions: United States v. Avenatti (Westin South Coast Plaza)
  • February 22, 2023 – Brown Bag Lunch with Hon. Fred Slaughter (United States District Court)
  • March 15, 2023 – Chain Reaction: A Trial Lawyer’s Guide to Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies (Westin South Coast Plaza)
  • March 30, 2023 – YLD Happy Hour (The Goldfinch)
  • April 28 – 30, 2023 – ABTL Joint Board of Governors’ Retreat (Allegretto Vineyard Resort)
  • May 24, 2023 – Robert Palmer Wine Tasting Event: Wine & War Stories with the Public Law Center (Westin South Coast Plaza)
  • September 13, 2023 – An Evening with the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, Justice Patricia Guerrero (Westin South Coast Plaza)
  • October 11 – 15, 2023 – 49th Annual Seminar – The Finer Points: Practical Skills in Impractical Situations (Fairmont Orchid, Big Island, Hawaii)
  • November 8, 2023 – A Crash Course In Evidence: How Judges Approach Key Evidentiary Issues (Westin South Coast Plaza)

2022 Programs

  • January 25, 2022 – Truth, Lies and Consequences: Trial Lessons Learned from the Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes Cases (Webinar) [Jury Instruction and Verdict Form]
  • January 26, 2022 – New Board Mini-Retreat (Virtual)
  • February 15, 2022 – The State of Cybersecurity in 2022 (Webinar) [FBI Presentation Summary]
  • March 23, 2022 – So Much Has Changed, So Much Has Stayed the Same: Litigation in the Post-COVID Era (Westin South Coast Plaza)
  • April 27, 2022 – Brown Bag Lunch with Hon. Nathan R. Scott (Orange County Superior Court)
  • April 29 – May 1, 2022 – Joint Board of Governors Retreat (Pasea Hotel & Spa)
  • July 20, 2022 – Robert Palmer Wine Tasting Event and Members-Only Outdoor Summer Judicial Mixer (The MET)
  • September 14, 2022 – The Art of Persuasion: How to Persuade Like a Human Being, Not a Lawyer (Westin South Coast Plaza)
  • September 22 – 25, 2022 – 48th Annual Seminar – Back to Basics: Fundamentals of Trial Practice in a New Era (Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego)
  • November 30, 2022 – Depp v. Heard: Lessons for Business Litigators (Westin South Coast Plaza)

2021 Programs

  • January 26, 2021 – A New Era in Jury Selection in California: Preparing for and Complying with AB3707 (Webinar) [Template-for-Virtual-Bench-Trial-Pretrial-Order]
  • February 10, 2021 – U.S. Soccer & Fair Pay (Webinar)
  • March 9, 2021 – An Arbitration Debate: ArbiGREAT? or ArbiHATE? (Webinar)
  • July 21, 2021 – Robert Palmer Wine Tasting Event and Summer Judicial Mixer (The Boardwalk)
  • October 20 – 24, 2021 – 47th Annual Seminar – Evolution of Business Litigation: Adapting and Overcoming (Mauna Lani – Auberge Resort, Big Island, Hawaii)
  • November 10, 2021 – Is American Democracy in Danger? (Westin South Coast Plaza)

2020 Programs

  • January 29, 2020 – Dinner Program – Sargon the Gatekeeper [Presentation Materials]
  • March 11, 2020: Dinner Program – Opening Statement Techniques from the Masters [12 Rules for Openings in Jury Trials]
  • April 16, 2020 – COVID-19 Update with Orange County Superior Court Leadership (Webinar)
  • June 3, 2020 -In-House, Sheltering from the Storm (Webinar)
  • September 9, 2020 – Tales from the Benches: Judges’ Take on Litigation in the COVID-19 Era (Webinar) [Simple Rules for Video and Telephonic Hearings]
  • September 15, 2020 – The Medium is the Message? Trying Your Case During the Pandemic (Webinar)
  • November 4, 2020 – The Supreme Court: Its Composition and Direction, Upcoming Cases, and Comments About Election-Related Litigation (Webinar)

2019 Programs

  • January 16, 2019 Dinner Program
    Ready for Trial, Your Honor – What Judges Expect of Trial Attorneys Prior to Calling their First Witness
  • March 13, 2019 Dinner Program
    Business Crimes: How Government Investigates and Remediates Fraud and Illegal Activity Affecting the Business Community
  • May 22, 2019 PLC Wine Tasting Fundraiser Program
    A Discussion with Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye and Associate Justice Carol Corrigan of the California Supreme Court
  • September 11, 2019 Dinner Program
    AI and the Legal Profession: Threat or Savior?
  • November 6, 2019 Dinner Program & Holiday Gift Giving Opportunity
    Sleepless GCs — Top In-House Counsel Discuss What Keeps Them Awake at Night
  • December 10, 2019
    ABTL/OC and FBA/OC Swearing-In Ceremony and Champagne Reception

Mission Statement

The mission of the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers is to promote competence, ethics, professionalism, and civility in the legal profession and to encourage and facilitate communication between members of the Orange County bar and the County’s federal and state judges on matters affecting business litigation and the civil justice system.