Susan E. Abitanta

Susan E. Abitanta has twenty-five years of experience handling federal and state court litigation, as well as mediation and arbitration. Ms. Abitanta has extensive experience litigating employment disputes, general business litigation, unfair competition and intellectual property litigation, and insurance bad faith and coverage issues.

Ms. Abitanta earned her J.D., cum laude, in 1983 from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She graduated Order of the Coif, served as Assistant Editor-In-Chief of the Law Journal, and was a member of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. At SMU, Ms. Abitanta published "Bifurcation of Liability and Damages in Rule 23(b)(3) Class Actions - History, Policy, Problems and a Solution," 36 SOUTHWESTERN LAW JOURNAL 743 (1983). Ms. Abitanta received her undergraduate degree in English and Humanities from the University of Louisville. She also taught high school English, where she coached six varsity sports, played the oboe, acted in Community Theater, and spent summers directing youth camps.

Ms. Abitanta began her legal career as an associate with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in Los Angeles. She is a member of the American, California and Los Angeles County Bar Associations and is admitted to practice before all courts of the State of California, the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Central, Eastern, Southern and Northern Districts of California. Ms. Abitanta is a frequent seminar speaker and has published several seminar handbooks and yearly case updates. She is especially proud of her pro bono work with several charitable organizations, and she serves on the Board of Administration of her church.

Susan E. Abitanta
abitanta@sanchez-amador.com