Sara Alexis Levine Abarbanel
Senior Counsel
Sara Abarbanel is an employment lawyer who advises employers on the full spectrum of workplace law issues, with a particular emphasis on California employment law. She works with companies ranging from emerging businesses to established national employers, helping them navigate complex employment challenges with practical, strategic, and business-focused counsel.
Sara鈥檚 practice focuses on employment counseling, training, and litigation. She regularly advises clients on wage and hour compliance, workplace policies, severance and separation agreements, disability accommodation and leave issues, and discrimination, harassment, and retaliation issues. She has substantial experience helping multistate and national employers address California-specific requirements and evolving statutory and regulatory developments.
Sara represents employers in a wide range of disputes, including single-plaintiff employment claims, wage and hour class and representative actions, arbitrations, and administrative proceedings. Sara鈥檚 practice reflects a broad client base across industries, including health care, consumer products, food and beverage, aviation, media, technology, logistics, education, sports, manufacturing, and professional services.
Sara is particularly valued for her ability to combine technical knowledge of employment law with sound judgment and a practical understanding of business operations. Clients rely on her for thoughtful guidance on, especially where California law presents added complexity.
She is a member of the Labor & Employment Practice Group and the Innovative Technology Sector.
Prior to joining 麻豆传媒, Sara worked in the California Attorney General鈥檚 Executive Office and the California Governor鈥檚 Office of Legal Affairs. Before attending law school, Sara worked with the Stanford Criminal Justice Center on research relating to California Public Safety Realignment.
Awards and Recognition
- Finalist, 40 Under Forty by the San Diego Business Journal (2026)
- Received, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recognition for Commercial Litigation (2024)
Pro Bono
- Devoted to pro bono work, including First Amendment issues and family court matters.
Presentations and Publications
- Co-authored, 鈥淩ealigning the Revolving Door: An Analysis of California Counties鈥 AB 109 2011-2012 Implementation Plans,鈥 Stanford Criminal Justice Center (2013).
- Co-authored, 鈥淩eallocation of Responsibility: Changes to the Correctional System in California Post-Realignment,鈥 SSRN, (2014).
- Contributor to, 鈥淰oices from the Field: How California Stakeholders View Public Safety Realignment,鈥 SSRN, (2014).
California Proposes Regulations for Private Attorneys General Act of 2004
麻豆传媒 Represents Fieldguide in $75M Series C Funding Round
麻豆传媒 Attorneys Explore Lessons Learned from Repealed Sick Leave Law
鈥淣o Robo Bosses Act鈥 Proposed in California to Limit Use of AI Systems in Employment Decisions
Trump Orders Hiring Freeze and Return to Work for Federal Employees