Deborah R. Gerstel

Deborah Gerstel is a partner in the Orange County office of Messner Reeves LLP, where her practice focuses on class action litigation, labor and employment, real estate, corporate governance, and nonprofit and charitable institutions.

Deborah has extensive experience handling complex civil litigation in both state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration, mediation, and appeals. Her background includes representing Fortune 500 companies, government entities, and businesses in high-stakes matters involving technology-driven disputes, intellectual property protection, class actions, mass arbitrations, and complex business litigation. She is experienced in all phases of litigation, from factual investigation and discovery through motion practice, settlement negotiations, trial preparation, and appeals.

Known for her pragmatic, strategic advocacy, Deborah develops creative, business-focused solutions for matters involving significant complexity, compressed timelines, and meaningful business risk. Her practice includes extensive experience in mediation, arbitration, and settlement negotiations, supported by certifications in arbitration and mediation and advanced training in appellate matters.

Prior to joining Messner Reeves, Deborah represented companies in complex commercial, employment, and consumer protection litigation and served as a solo practitioner and of counsel attorney, arbitrator, and mediator. Earlier in her career, she practiced with leading law firms in California and Washington, D.C., where she advised clients on litigation, government affairs, and regulatory matters. She is admitted to practice in California and New York and before the U.S. District Court in the Central District of California.

Deborah earned her Juris Doctor from American University Washington College of Law. She also holds a Master of Arts from American University’s School of International Service and a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania.