About Abigail
For two decades, Abigail Tapang Zelenski has focused extensively on employment matters. She has successfully represented clients in matters involving a wide variety of causes of action and provides effective representation to her clients. Abigail is well-versed in wage-and-hour matters, such as claims for unpaid wages, unpaid overtime, missed meal and rest breaks, improper pay stubs, and misclassification issues, and matters involving harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination.
Throughout her career, Abigail has been appointed as class counsel in over forty class actions involving various industries, including those in the motion-picture, security, healthcare, food, retail, and banking industries.
Abigail provides advice and counsel with respect to employment-law issues, including preparing and updating employment handbooks, policies, procedures, and separation documents.
Abigail has been selected as a Super Lawyer for twelve years in a row. From 2019 through 2024, she was selected as a Southern California Super Lawyer, an honor given to only 5% of attorneys in California. For the six previous years—2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018—she was recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Star, a distinction given to no more than 2.5% of the lawyers in California. Abigail was also recognized as a Top Attorney by Pasadena Magazine in 2014, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2022.
Since 2019, Abigail has served as a Commissioner on the Los Angeles Civil Rights Commission. In June 2023, Abigail was elected to serve as Chair of the Commission. The Civil Rights Commission is tasked with investigating complaints of discrimination in Los Angeles, and works in close partnership with the Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department to hold businesses and individuals accountable for discriminatory practices that deny equal treatment to any individual in private employment, housing, education, or commerce.
Believing the importance of community involvement, Abigail was the past Vice President of the Board and a Board Member of the Filipino American Library and Filipino American Heritage Institute. She previously served on the Governing Board of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council. Currently, she sits on the Board of Directors of the non-profit organization, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), which provides various services to youths, seniors, and small-business owners in the Greater Los Angeles community.
Abigail sits on the Board of Governors of the Philippine American Bar Association, where she served as President in 2021 and as Chair in 2022. She also sits as a Board Member of the UCLA School of Law Alumni Association.
Abigail earned her J.D. at the UCLA School of Law. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Political Science and academic minors in Business Administration and Law & Society.
Abigail Zelenski
abigail@zelenskilaw.com
(323) 409-0361
Areas of Practice
Employment Law
Civil Litigation
Class Actions
Private Attorneys General Act
Recognitions
Super Lawyers, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024
Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018
Pasadena Magazine Top Attorney, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2022
Community Involvement
Los Angeles Civil Rights Commission, Chair (June 2023 to current), Vice Chair (February 2023 to June 2023), Commissioner (2019 to current)
Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, Governing Board Member, 2012 to 2014
Philippine American Bar Association, Chair (2022), President (2021), President-Elect (2020), Secretary (2019), Board Member (2016 to current)
UCLA School of Law Alumni Association, Board Member (2023 to current)
Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Board Member (2020)
Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, Vice President (2022 to 2023), Board Member (2018 to 2019; 2022 to current)
Filipino American Library, Vice President of the Board (2007 to 2008), Board Member (2001 to 2008)
Filipino American Heritage Institute, Past Vice President of the Board (2007 to 2008), Board Member (2001 to 2008)
Bar Admissions
California
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
Sampling of Representative Cases
Hansen v. Advanced Tech Security Servs., Inc., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No BC 367175
Deckard v. Banco Popular North America related to Silva v. Banco Popular North America, Central District of California Case No. CV 08-6709 JFW (RZx)
Harrington v. Manpay, LLC, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC 312171
Peralta v. Macerich Management Company, Marin County Superior Court Case No. CIV 1004656
Dizon v. Ito, Incorporated, Northern District of California, CV-10-00239-JSW
Jacobs v. Institute of Reading Development, Inc., Northern District of California, Case No. 10-CV-00574-JCS
Lipps v. International International Coffee & Tea, LLC, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC 405858
Greenberg v. EP Mgmt. Servs., LP, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC 237787
Rodriguez v. Hawk II Environmental Corp., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC625121
Story v. Mammoth, Mountain Ski area, LLC, United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Case No. 2:14-CV-02422-JAM-DB
Professional Presentations
Speaker, "LA Civil Rights CLE" discussing the Civil Rights Ordinance and Discrimination Enforcement Unit, Los Angeles, May 24, 2023.
Panelist, "Annual Career Night," Philippine American Bar Association, Los Angeles, November 9, 2022.
Speaker, "Employment Law Workshop for Startups," Grid110 Talent Management, virtually, October 25, 2022.
Speaker, "Workers' Rights: Employment and Immigration Law Cross-Over Issues," the Philippine Consulate General and PABA, virtually, June 7, 2022.
Panelist, "Salary Negotiation Panel," Loyola Law School's Women's Law Association and Career Development Office, virtually, November 15, 2021.
Moderator, "Annual Career Night," Philippine American Bar Association, virtually, November 9, 2021.
Panelist, “Culinary Roundtable” discussing employment-law issues affecting the restaurant industry, SIPA Small Business Program, Hollywood, California, October 12, 2021.
Panelist, “Gimme a Break! And Other Common Wage-and-Hour Pitfalls,” The Workers’ Compensation & Risk Conference, Dana Point, California, September 8, 2021.
Panelist, “Know Your Rights & Bystander Intervention Trainings,” City of Los Angeles, Civil and Human Rights Commission, and the Philippine American Bar Association, virtually, September 28, 2021, August 31, 2021, July 27, 2021, and June 29, 2021.
Panelist, “Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month” discussing workplace anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, virtually, May 18, 2021.
Panelist, “Standing Up to Hate,” City of Los Angeles, Civil and Human Rights Commission, and the Philippine American Bar Association, virtually, April 15, 2021
Panelist, “Employment Laws & Business Insurance,” SIPA Entrepreneur Training Program, virtually, March 12, 2021.
Panelist, “Flying Solo: Tips for New and Aspiring Solo/Small Firm Attorneys from a Virtual Panel of Experienced Practitioners,” Asian Pacific American Bar Association, virtually, March 3, 2021.
Moderator, "Getting to Know Our Fil-Am Judges with The Honorable Patrick Bumatay and The Honorable Rohanee Zapanta," National Filipino American Lawyers Association, virtually, October 29, 2020.
Moderator, “Cybersecurity and Tips to Avoid Legal Malpractice,” National Filipino American Lawyers Association, virtually, July 8, 2020.
Introductions, "APA Lawyers: Perspectives on Allyship Series," Cal-APABA, virtually, June 25, 2020.
Panelist, “Employee Rights and Considerations in a Covid-19 World,” Philippine American Bar Association, virtually, May 14, 2020.
Panelist, “Navigating Legal Issues in the Wake of Coronavirus,” Second Home, virtually, April 16, 2020.
Panelist, “Small Business Survival & Success: Everything Employment,” SIPA Small Business and Entrepreneur Program, virtually, April 8, 2020.
Speaker, “Sexual Harassment and Abusive Work Environment,” Search to Involve Pilipino Americans Board, Pasadena, California, October 27, 2019.
Speaker, “Employment Law Considerations for Start-Ups When Hiring Employees,” Oh Joy, Los Angeles, California, January 7, 2019.
Panelist, “Labor and Employment Risks and Ways to Mitigate in the Gig Economy,” Trinet, Santa Monica, California, November 7, 2018.
Moderator, “Leadership and Civic Engagement Panel,” Pinay Powerhouse and Philippine American Bar Association Los Angeles, California, April 7, 2018.
Community Engagements
Co-Emcee, "UCLA School of Law APILSA Alumni Banquet," Japanese American Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California, April 11, 2024.
Speaker, "Introduction to Law," workshop with high school students on law school admissions and the practice of law, Junior State of America, Woodland Hills, California, April 6, 2024.
Panelist, "Legal Professional Panel," a discussion with college students, UCLA Pilipinx Pre-Law Pipeline, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, April 4, 2024.
Speaker, "Find Your Voice Workshop," a program for high school students to improve public speaking and debate skills, Junior State of America, virtually, March 7, 2024.
Panelist, "LA Law Day" an upward mobility event for prospective law students, LA Civil and Human Rights and Equity Department, virtually, October 28, 2023.
Planning Committee, "LA City Hall Lighting Ceremony in Celebration of FAHM," LA City Hall, October 20, 2023
Presenter, "36th Annual Installation and Awards Gala," Philippine American Bar Association, Millennium Biltmore Los Angeles, June 19, 2023
Awardee, "Leadership Excellence in the Law," Women of Worth (WOW) Awards, Whittier, California, May 21, 2023
Organizer and Speaker, "Community Day of Service in Honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month," Los Angeles Civil Rights Commission, Historic Filipinotown, May 20, 2023
Awardee, "Top 50 Influential Filipinas," Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles, March 25, 2023.
Speaker, "Filipino American History Month Celebration," Los Angeles Filipino American City Employees, Los Angeles City Hall, October 7, 2022.
Speaker, "Los Angeles City Hall FAHM Celebration and Lighting Ceremony," Los Angeles Civil Rights Commission and Mayor's Office, Los Angeles City Hall, October 6, 2022.
Speaker, "35th Annual Installation and Awards Gala," Philippine American Bar Association, California Yacht Club, May 31, 2022.
Moderator, "Pinay Empowerment 2022," Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, Kumu USA Studios, Los Angeles, California, March 25, 2022.
Speaker, “Community Day of Service in Honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month,” Los Angeles Civil and Human Rights Commission, Historic Filipinotown, California, May 22, 2021.
Speaker, “Rally to Fight for Asian American Studies in Schools,” Los Angeles Civil and Human Rights Commission, Los Angeles, California, April 10, 2021.
Speaker, “34th Annual Installation and Awards Gala,” Philippine American Bar Association, virtually, April 6, 2021.
Speaker, “Stop Asian Hate Rally,” Filipino Lawyers of Orange County and Philippine American Bar Association, Fountain Valley, California, April 3, 2021.
Presenter, “Take a Stand Against Hate: A Dialogue with Asian Pacific Islander Community,” Los Angeles Civil and Human Rights Commission,” virtually, November 1, 2020.
Presenter, “Asian Pacific Americans Leading Criminal Justice Reform,” California Asian Pacific American Bar Association, virtually, September 23, 2020.
Presenter, “APA Lawyers: Perspectives on Allyship Series–Police Reform,” California Asian Pacific American Bar Association, virtually, June 25, 2020.
Speaker, “Career Day,” Hooper Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, California, June 6, 2019.
Emcee, “33rd Annual Installation Awards and Gala,” Philippine American Bar Association, Los Angeles, California, May 9, 2019.
Panelist, “Pinay Empowerment Brunch,” Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, Los Angeles, California, March 3, 2019.
Speaker, "Career Day," West Covina High School, West Covina, California, March 9, 2018.
