Matt D’Abusco

Matt D’Abusco is an innovative and highly effective mediator who is committed to helping parties successfully resolve difficult, complex, and emotionally charged disputes. With his diverse background and experience (both on the defense and plaintiff bar), Matt brings a unique approach to mediation, utilizing his ability to understand the positions of all parties to break impasses and find creative and practical solutions to settle disputes.

Matt is a seasoned litigator and subject matter expert in employment law, having spent his entire career handling individual, class, and complex disputes across the State of California including those focused on harassment, discrimination, retaliation, leaves of absence, wrongful termination, executive contracts, and wage and hour matters, including those arising under the California Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”). Matt has also litigated a wide variety of business disputes.

Matt began his career working for large defense firms where he represented businesses of all sizes ranging from small family-owned shops to Fortune 500 international corporations. During that time, in addition to obtaining successful results for clients in all phases of litigation including at trial and on appeal, Matt continuously ensured his clients’ legal objectives (both in the course of business and during litigation) aligned with their business strategies to set them up for continued growth and success.

Matt later founded and ran a boutique plaintiff’s employment firm where he successfully represented hundreds of clients in individual, class, and complex cases. Whether pursuing claims on behalf of single minimum wage workers or Chief Executive Officers, Matt focused on understanding his clients and their objectives and worked tirelessly to get them results.

Matt is devoted to understanding and bridging the gaps between the parties’ distinct perspectives. This fuels his approach to mediation and has proven invaluable in helping parties achieve successful resolution of their disputes.

Matt trained as a mediator at Pepperdine University School of Law’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. He has been recognized as a Legal Visionary by the Los Angeles Times and as both a Rising Star (2015 to 2017) and Super Lawyer (2019 through 2024) by Super Lawyers Magazine.

Firm Experience

Ares Law Group, P.C. (2015-2024)

Jackson Lewis, P.C. (2012-2015)

Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (2007-2012)

Mediation Background

Pepperdine University, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution

United States District Court, Central District of California, Mediation Panel

Los Angeles County Superior Court—Resolve LA Panel

Honors and Recognitions

Los Angeles Times Legal Visionary (2023)

Southern California Super Lawyer (2019 to 2024)

Southern California Rising Star (2015 to 2018)