Michelle Reinglass - Lawyer in Aliso Viejo, CA

Michelle A. Reinglass

Mediation Attorney at Aliso Viejo, CA

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Mediator of Choice

Anyone who has mediated with Michelle knows her sincere desire to resolve disputes among the parties. Michelle is experienced as a trial attorney which adds value to the experience. Michelle comes from a place of educated understanding. She always strives to resolve the most complex, emotionally charged, and what seem to be impossible of cases with grace and determination. I credit Michelle's effective and amazing successes to her relentless passion for reaching a resolve. Michelle will not compromise neutrality and is not shy to remind you of your weaknesses. She simply finds creative solutions to any situation. When asked who I recommend as an effective mediator, Michelle is at the top of my list. Without reservation, I always recommend Michelle to get the job done.

Michelle Reinglass as a mediator

I have had the opportunity to use Ms. Reinglass on a number of occasions with respect to mediating Plaintiff's employment law cases. All of the cases were wither six-figure or seven-figure type cases. Her knowledge of employment law is unparalleled. Although Ms. Reinglass had previously represented Plaintiffs in employment law litigation in years past, I have found defense lawyers agreeable to using her as a neutral based upon reputation for honesty and professionalism. The last case I used her on had 3 Plaintiffs. In the initial mediation we settled the case of one of the Plaintiffs. However Ms. Reinglass continued to work persistently over 3 more months constantly communicating with both myself and defense counsel and actually settled the other two Plaintiff's cases. Her commitment and professionalism was most apparent.

About Michelle

Learn Michelle’s areas of practice.

Practice area

Mediation

100%

Beginning January 2010, I transitioned my practice to full time neutral work, handling mediations and arbitrations, and am affilated with Judicate West

21 years

Full time Mediator and Arbitrator since January 2010, having started neutral work in approximately 2001/2002. Previous litigation practice included all forms of employment law including sexual harassment, discrimination (race, age, disability, ethnicity, cultural, gender, sex, sexual orientation, etc.), retaliation, termination, wage & hour, and other employment related claims. Handled single plaintiff, multi-party and class action matters. Serves as neutral mediator and arbitrator in employment, personal injury and commercial matters. For more biographical information see website

Licensed for 43 years

State CA

Status Active

Acquired 1979

Updated 12/06/2022

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Contact Michelle

Michelle A. Reinglass

120 Vantis Drive, Suite 300

Aliso Viejo, CA, 92656

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Judicate West

1851 E. First St., Ste. 1600

Santa Ana, CA, 92705-4058

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Reviews

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4.4 / 5.0

5 customer reviews

5 Star

80%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

20%

1 Star

Posted by Rose | June 16, 2015

Mediator of Choice

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Posted by Gary | June 14, 2015

Michelle Reinglass as a mediator

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Posted by Carol | June 13, 2015

Michelle rocks as a mediator!

Michelle Reinglass has settled some of my most challenging cases. She never gives up. Even when the other side doesn't bring it to the table, she follows up and creatively figures out a way to get deals done. You're not left wondering -- she is hypervigilant about following up. Plus her winning personality puts all kinds of people at ease in tense situations.

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Posted by Joseph | June 13, 2015

One of top mediators in California

I have used ms Reinglass as a mediator many times. She is an expert in employment law and I feel she is a unbiased neutral who will fairly evaluate my case. She is also a compassionate person who always gains the trust of my client. I have used her in complex matters and always found her to be fair and knowledgeable.

Posted by anonymous | May 18, 2015

I have never experienced such an unproductive mediation

We hired Ms. Reinglass to mediate an employment dispute. While she was upbeat and cheerful, she did not handle the mediation well. My client and I, after nearly six hours of "mediation," left because the other side had not made any settlement offers at all, and Ms. Reinglass had no satisfactory explanation for why they would not even present us an offer. Following the mediation, despite my having made it clear that we would not mediate further, and regarded the day as a waste of time and money, she contacted me, seeking to perform further "services" and became self-righteously offended when I told her we would not pay her any more, and regarded what we had paid as wasted money.

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Cost

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

Owner
ADR Office of Michelle A. Reinglass
2010 - Present

Mediator, Arbitrator
Judicate West
2002 - Present

Partner
Stone & Rohatiner
1983 - 1984

Owner
Law Office of Michelle A. Reinglass
1979 - 2010

View all work experience

Education

Western State College of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1978

Western State University, Fullerton
BS - Bachelor of Science
1977

University of California - Irvine
N/A

Legal Cases

(Case name confidential)
Plaintiffs prevailed at trial, and were awarded pension benefits back to the start of their employment with the first company. US District Court published decision which was withdrawn pursuant to a confidential settlement.

Haluck & Litton v Ricoh Electronics 4th DCA G035681(151 Cal.App.4th 994, 60 Cal.Rptr.3d 542 )
Court of Appeals reversed and remanded for new trial, based on judicial misconduct

Pomona College v Sup Ct (Corin RPI)(1996)45 CA.4th 1716, 53 CR 2d 662
Pomona's writ was granted by the Court of Appeal, holding that mandamus was Dr. Corin's exclusive remedy.

View all legal cases

Associations

College of Labor & Employment Lawyers
Fellow
2006 - Present

Southern California Mediation Association
Member
2004 - Present

Orange County Bar Association
Member
1979 - Present

State Bar of California
Member
1979 - Present

Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
Member
N/A

ABOTA
Member
N/A

California Employment Lawyers Association
Chairperson
2005 - 2007

Association of Business Trial Lawyers
Board member
2004 - 2006

California Employment Lawyers Association
Board Member
1999 - 2009

Orange County Bar Association
President
1993 - 1994

Orange County Bar Association
President-Elect
1992 - 1993

Orange County Bar Association
Treasurer
1991 - 1992

Orange County Bar Association
Secretary
1990 - 1991

Orange County Bar Association Business Litigation Section
Chairman
1989 - 1990

Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
Board of Directors
1987 - 1989

Orange County Bar Association
Board of Directors
1984 - 1989

View all associations

Languages Spoken

Spanish

Awards

Super Lawyers
Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine
2015

Super Lawyers
Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine
2014

Top 50 Mediators
The Daily Journal
2013

Distinguished Fellow
International Academy of Mediators
2013

Super Lawyers
Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine
2013

Super Lawyers (incl top 50 Women, top 50 OC
Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine
2012

AVPreeminent Status in Alternative Dispute Resolution
Martindale Hubbell
2012

Top 50 Mediators
Daily Journal
2012

Super Lawyers-top 50 O.C.,top 50 Women
Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine
2011

Top Labor and Employment Lawyers
Daily Journal (California)
2010

Super Lawyer-top 100 So Cal, top 50 OC, top 50 women
Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine
2010

Super Lawyer-top 100 So Cal, top 50 OC, top 50 Women
Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine
2009

Top Women Litigators
Los Angeles Daily Journal
2009

Top 25 Labor & Employment Lawyers in California
Daily Journal (California)
2009

Super Lawyer-top 100 So Cal, top 50 OC, top 50 Women
Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine
2008

Super Lawyer-top 100 So Cal, top 50 OC, top 50 Women
Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine
2007

Super Lawyer-top 50 OC, top 50 Women
Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine
2006

Inducted as Fellow
College of Labor & Employment Lawyers
2006

Top Female Litigators
LA Daily Journal
2005

Super Lawyers-top 50 OC, top 50 Women
Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine
2005

Women of Achievement Award
American Association of University Women
2005

Super Lawyer-top 50 OC, top 50 Women
Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine
2004

Employment Trial Lawyer of the Year
Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
2004

Top Female Litigators
LA Daily Journal
2004

Top Female Litigators
LA Daily Journal
2003

Top Female Litigators
LA Daily Journal
2002

Best Lawyers in America
2001

Top 100 Most Influential Lawyers in California
LA Daily Journal
2001

ADL Jurisprudence Award
Anti Defamation League
1997

Lawyer of the Year
Orange County Women Lawyers Association
1996

Top 10 Women In Orange County Who Make A Difference
Orange County Metropolitan Magazine
1994

Inducted into Hall of Fame
Western State University College of Law
1993

AV Rating
Martindale Hubbell
N/A

Listed in the Prestigious Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
Martinale Hubbell
N/A

View all awards

Publications

Los Angeles Daily Journal
A Lesson About Settlements 6/9/11
2011

American Bar Association publication
Litigating The Workplace Harassment Case-Chapter 4
2010

CAALA Advocate
Mediating Your Employment Case-Sooner or Later? (co-authored w/Andrew Albert)
2010

Los Angeles County Bar Assn, Sr. Lawyer Guide
Mandatory Retirement: Greener Pastures?
2008

CAOC Forum
Presenting Your Client at Trial in an Employment Case
2008

CAALA
Mediation Confidentiality
2007

CAALA Advocate
Navigating Arbitration in Employment Cases
2007

Matthew Bender, Labor & Employment Bulletin
Employers' Duty to Take All Reasonable Steps To Prevent Harassment, Including Proper Conducting of Workplace Investigations
2007

Association of Business Trial Lawyers Report
Removal & Remand: Real or Sham Defendants?
2006

Matthew Bender, Labor & Employment Bulletin
DISABILITIES: A YEAR IN REVIEW
2006

Los Angeles Daily Journal
Perceived Disabilities, Gelfo Analysis
2006

Los Angeles Daily Journal
‘Patten’ Warns Employers About Reach of Whistle-Blower Retaliation
2006

Los Angeles Daily Journal
HOW ACCOMMODATING DOES AN EMPLOYER HAVE TO BE?
2005

Matthew Bender, Labor & Employment Bulletin
CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT RESOLVES DEBATE OVER
2004

Los Angeles Daily Journal
Employment Law Year in Review
2004

Los Angeles Daily Journal
Ministerial Exception eliminates liability for certain Church Actions
2004

Orange County Women Lawyers Assn.
TOP 10 TIPS FOR SURVIVAL IN THE LITIGATION JUNGLE
2003

Los Angeles Daily Journal
VerdictReview: How Well do Employment Lawyers Evaluate Cases?
2003

Los Angeles Daily Journal
RESPONDEAT SUPERIOR SAVED THE DAY FOR DEFAMATION CLAIM (Rivera v. National Railroad Passenger Corporation)
2003

CAALA Advocate
Depositions and Discovery Quicksand
2002

CAOC
Arbitrations
2001

OCBA Labor and Employment Section
Arbitration after Circuit City and Armendariz
2001

CAALA
To Arbitrate or Litigate
2001

CAOC
Attorneys Fees
1999

N/A
Sexual Harassment - The Evolution & The Revolution
N/A

Co-Author: Rutter Group, California Practice Guide, Employment Litigation
Chapter on Sexual Harassment(Co-author)
N/A

View all publications

Speaking Engagements

Labor & Employment Section & ADR Section (Joint Meeting)
Video Vignettes Illustrating Practical Issues in Mediation With Commentary and Analysis by Prominent OC Mediators
2012

EMPLOYMENT LAW PRACTITIONER’S TOOLKIT
ELIMINATION OF BIAS: Interviews and Investigations from Hell!
2012

Webinar
How to Handle Being Bitten by Bias in the Trenches
2011

Orange County Bar Association ADR Section
Successfully Mediating the Early or Pre-litigation Case
2011

OCBA Labor & Employment Conference
Resolving the Employment Case at Mediation
2011

OC Labor Employment Relations Conference
Social media in the workplace
2011

Labor & Employment Seminar
Sex Lies & Facebook (Social Media)
2011

ABOTA Masters Series
Masters In Opening Statements & Closing Arguments
2011

Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles Las Vegas Conference
Workplace Privacy including Social Media
2010

American Association of University Women-Tustin chapter
Women -where we have been, where we are going
2010

AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund Annual Luncheon
Discrimination in the workplace
2010

Webinar
Mediation Strategies
2009

State Bar Labor & Employment Conference
EPLI
2009

SCMA Annual Labor and Employment Conf
Ethics in Mediations
2009

NELA Annual Conference
Dirty Tricks in Litigation
2009

National Association of College and University Attorneys MidYear Conference
The Anatomy of a Successful Mediation
2009

LACBA Labor & Employment Symposium
Federal Court Practice-Top 20 Tips
2009

Labor & Employment Section
Why Cases Settle
2009

AAA/ICR International Conference
Arbitrating FLSA Collective Actions
2009

Solo and Small Firm Practice
Solo and Small Practice Tips
2008

SCMA Annual Labor & Employment Conference
Cross Cultural Mediations
2008

OCBA International Conference-Prague
Legal Ethics
2008

League of Women Voters Forum
Independence of the Judiciary
2008

CAOC Inaugural So. Cal. Women's Caucus
Elimination of Bias, Anatomy of a trial gone bad
2008

CAOC Annual Conference
Gender Bias
2008

Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles Annual Las Vegas Conference
Navigating Arbitrations
2007

View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (35)

Given (53)

Endorse Michelle

Stephen Jaffe

Employment and labor Attorney | Dec 02
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I strongly endorse Michelle. She is smart, hard working and a great person."

Douglas Borthwick

Arbitration Attorney | Nov 25
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Natasha Chesler

Mediation Attorney | Sep 09
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer."

Jonathan Weinman

Unknown Attorney | Nov 30
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Christopher Leroi

Mediation Attorney | Sep 11
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Ms. Reinglass is one of the most exemplary and extraordinary attorneys that I have encountered in 24 years of practice. Despite being a judge, magistrate, prosecutor, and private attorney for nearly two and a half decades, I continue to learn valuable information from her posts every day. I would highly recommend."

Dennis Wilson

Employment and labor Attorney | Aug 13
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Peter Callahan

Mediation Attorney | Apr 23
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Michelle is an extremely experienced and profoundly competent litigator in the specialty area of employment litigation, possible the best that I have had as an opponent in my 45+ years of practice - but also a charming lady who makes friends with the Judge, the jury and opposing counsel. The bar lost an excellent advocate when she became a full-time mediator. I would have preferred to see her go on the bench, where she would be an ourstanding addition to our local judiciary, but she may do both the court system and the clients on both sides of a case more good as a mediator. She is simply an outstanding lawyer and I have every expectation that she likewise will use those same skills in just as effective a manner as a mediator."

Calvin Chang

Mediation Attorney | Mar 20
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Mary-Alice Coleman

Employment and labor Attorney | Dec 10
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Michelle is a phenomenal lawyer, mediator and person. She unselfishly helps everyone around her to be successful, and she has helped me immensely in my practice as a sounding board and with legal advice and encouragement on my toughest cases. Michelle is a jewel to the employment law community!"

James Guziak

Mediation Attorney | Nov 09
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Michelle is, simply stated, one of the very best! She has a vast store of knowledge and experience in employment law matters, practical knowledge from having tried many cases, and the credibility and people skills that can make the difference in getting a matter resolved at mediation."

Joseph Lovretovich

Unknown Attorney | Nov 06
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer as a top rated mediator. She has great skills and has been able to relate well to my clients which has helped my clients come to terms with the settlement process and has helped bring closure for them on difficult cases"

Barbara DuVan

Mediation Attorney | Oct 12
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Michelle is uniquely talented at getting all parties involved to come together in resolution. I have never known a mediator who is more dedicated, works longer hours, or is more knowledgeable about the value of a case. She is also very compassionate and enthusiastic, an all-around wonderful person."

Roxanne Davis

Employment and labor Attorney | Aug 17
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Marilynn Mika Spencer

Employment and labor Attorney | Jun 30
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Smart, talented, experienced . . . and a great person, too."

Andrea Loveless

Employment and labor Attorney | Mar 29
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Her intelligence and compassion combined with her extensive experience make her one of the most effective attorneys/mediators i have ever worked with."

Daren Lipinsky

Employment and labor Attorney | Dec 01
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I unequivocally endorse this lawyer. Ms. Reinglass's unmatched expertise in the area of employment litigation and her battle-tested experience in the courtroom makes her an outstanding choice for alternative dispute resolution."

Tamara Freeze

Employment and labor Attorney | Oct 19
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Michelle is an extremely knowledgeable and effective mediator. She has ability to resolve the most difficult cases, including multi-party litigation, class actions and single-plaintiff actions. Her relentless persistence, focus, and high analytical ability are of great assistance in mediation. I highly recommend her."

Lewis Rosenblum

Employment and labor Attorney | May 21
Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I worked for Michelle Reinglass when I first came out of law school and have had the pleasure of remaining her friend for many years. Michelle is one in a million. She is bright, charming, dedicated, effective and totally forthright. I would not hesitate referring anyone who has an employment / labor issue to her office as they would get the best legal assistance available anywhere. She is an exceptional lawyer."