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Ms. Abdo practices in Arizona, California and Nevada in the areas of business litigation and employment law. She represents companies in employment litigation, commercial disputes, contract claims and the defense of tort claims. Ms. Abdo has extensive experience in arbitration, mediation, investigations, administrative proceedings and litigation, including bench and jury trials.

She counsels employers on personnel policies, restrictive covenants, investigations, and related employment issues. She has significant experience, including jury trials, defending employers against allegations of employment discrimination, harassment, breach of contract, wrongful discharge and employment-related torts. She regularly drafts and reviews offer letters, employment agreements, independent contractor agreements, separation agreements, confidentiality agreements, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements.

She serves as the chair of the firm’s e-discovery task force and counsels companies on e-discovery issues including document management, preservation, litigation holds, document analysis and discovery of electronically stored information. Ms. Abdo frequently presents seminars on litigation and employment issues. Prior to joining Fennemore Craig, she served as general counsel for Lisa Frank, Inc. and also practiced with a private law firm in Southern California. Ms. Abdo is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

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Published Opinions: Malcolm v. Farmers New World Life Insurance Company (1992) 4 Cal. App. 4th 296 (life insurance case) and Smith v. Superior Court (1993) 10 Cal. App.4th 1033 (legal malpractice)

Bench trial to enforce restrictive covenants, settled mid-trial, for over $2.5 million in favor of client (U.S. District Court - Nevada)

Two-week jury trial on claims for sexual harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation and interference with contract (U.S. District Court - Tucson) - defense verdict

One-week jury trial on harassment and discrimination claims (U.S. District Court - Nevada) - defense verdict

One-week jury trial on pregnancy discrimination and wrongful termination claims (U.S. District Court - Phoenix) - defense verdict

Non-suit of harassment, discrimination and retaliation claims (U.S. District Court - Nevada)

Secured temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against departing employee and competitor (U.S. District Court - Central District of California, Southern Division)

Secured preliminary and permanent injunction against departing employee and competitor (U.S. District Court - Nevada)

Dissolved temporary restraining order and defeated motion for preliminary injunction sought against departing employee (Maricopa County Superior Court)

Various summary judgments on employment-related and other claims

Numerous restraining orders and injunctions secured to enforce restrictive covenants

Numerous no-cause findings on charges filed with EEOC, ACRD, NERC and NMHRD

Bench trial for plaintiff to enforce commercial contract (U.S. District Court – Central District of California, Southern Division) – judgment for plaintiff in excess of $1,000,000

One-week jury trial for plaintiff in equine litigation against an insurance company and insurance broker (U.S. District Court - Central District of California) - plaintiff's verdict

Secured dismissal of defamation action against dentists and professional organization (District Court - Nevada)

Secured summary judgments for national life insurance companies on disability/ERISA claims (U.S. District Court - Nevada)

Trial-styled arbitration - defense on defamation and slander claims (Ventura County Superior Court)

Summary Judgment on abuse of process and malicious prosecution claims (Pima County Superior Court)

Restrictive Covenants: The Current Legal Landscape (State Bar of Arizona - 2008)

Building Your Civil Trial Skills (National Business Institute - November 2008)

Fennemore Craig Litigation Update: New Amendments To The Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure - What You Can Do To Be Prepared To Efficiently Handle Electronically Stored Information,December 2006

Beware Of The Potential Penalties Associated With Electronic Discovery Litigation Update (Summer 2005)

Co-Editor, selected chapter updates, Arizona Employment Law Handbook, State Bar of Arizona (2001)

Constitutional Showdown: The Employment Protection Act of 1996 Arizona Attorney (Co-author, April 1999)

California Legislature Expands Liability for Sexual Harassment Legal Update (Summer 1996)

Supreme Court Chooses Quality Hospital Care Over Medical Malpractice Plaintiff's Access to Applications for Staff Privileges Legal Update (Spring 1994)

Member, Board of Directors, Christian Family Care Agency

Immediate Past Chair, Labor and Employment Section, State Bar of Arizona

Past Chair-Elect, Treasurer and Secretary, Labor and Employment Section, State Bar of Arizona

Member, Labor and Employment Section, American Bar Association

Member, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel

Past Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee, Labor and Employment Section, State Bar of Arizona

Past Co-Chair, Labor and Employment Section, State Bar of Arizona's Annual Convention

Former Arbitrator, Orange County Bar Association Mandatory Fee Arbitration Committee

Former Barrister, William P. Gray Legion Lex Inn of Court Foundation

Former Judicial Extern, Court of Appeals, Fourth Appellate District, State of California

California, 1990

Arizona, 1996

Nevada, 1999

U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, 1997

U.S. District Court; Southern, Central and Northern Districts of California, 1991

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, 2004

U.S. District Court, District of Nevada, 1999

U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1991

J.D., University of San Diego, 1990

B.S., with distinction, San Diego State University, 1987

bizAZ’s, “Up-And-Coming-Attorneys”, 2005

AV® Preeminent ™ Peer Review Rated (the highest rating available), by Martindale-Hubbell 

E-Discovery and Data Management
Commercial Litigation
Business and Personal Injury Torts
Employment and Labor Relations
Equine Law
Litigation