Abelardo S. Mea-Rodriguez
Associate Attorney
Meet Abelardo S. Mea-Rodriguez, Phoenix Area Attorney
Abelardo's Background
Abelardo “Abe” Mea-Rodriguez grew up all over the United States and Europe because of his father’s military service, but Arizona was always the place he and his family called “home.” In 2004, Abe made the permanent move to Arizona to attend college and he’s been here ever since. Abe has always enjoyed learning new things, and has two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Art History and English from Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona, respectively.
Abe attended law school at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. During law school, Abe worked part-time as a barista and volunteered at a variety of organizations that provided free legal aid to those in need. While volunteering, Abe gained valuable insight as to how lawyers could give back to their communities with their legal skills, and saw the positive, real-world impact that it had on people’s lives. When Abe graduated law school in 2018, he received the highest pro bono distinction as a result of his volunteering.
After graduation, Abe wanted to continue serving the community, so he accepted a position as an attorney at the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office. In that role, Abe represented low-income clients, ensured that the government honored his clients’ constitutional rights, and fought hard to get the outcomes his clients desired. As a result, Abe spent his first two years of law practice in a courtroom almost every day, which has made him feel comfortable and confident while advocating for his clients in front of judges and opposing counsel.
Among Abe’s clients, he is known for his ability to communicate complex, legal concepts into easy-to-understand terms, so that his clients understand everything that is going on in their cases. Among Abe’s colleagues, judges, and opposing counsel, he is known to be smart, credible, and a good litigator. Abe also has a reputation for finding solutions that result in settlement.
Outside of work, Abe enjoys gardening and spending quality time with his husband and two dogs. Abe also enjoys reading and doing creative things such as painting and sculpting.
Education
B.A., Northern Arizona University, 2009
B.A., University of Arizona, 2015, Magna Cum Laude
J.D., Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, 2018
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
State Bar of Arizona, 2019
Peggy Hecht
03:52 20 Apr 26
I highly recommend the law firm of Platt & Westby, P.C., located on N. 7th Ave., Phoenix, AZ and their trustworthy, professional, and skilled attorneys. The excellent collaborative communication skills of Attorney Peter H. Westby and Attorney Andrew Rahtz seamlessly create a heightened trust with a client. Their reliability as well as skilled abilities and dependable willingness to effectively achieve and finalize a client's desired outcome is Admirable and Truly Appreciated!read more
Aggie Mesa
18:52 19 Dec 25
I am so grateful for the very capable team at Platt and Westby that assisted me recently. My original call was with Andy and he was wonderful. I then had the pleasure of having Abe litigate my arbitration which went very well and ended in my favor. I also had lovely contact with Allie and Patrick. A class act all around and I highly recommend them. I cannot thank them enough!read more
John Brennard
11:56 18 Jun 25
I was referred to Andy Rahtz by an Attorney/Friend that was retiring. Andy and his team were able to handle my case and get results. Friendly, Professional and Informative....my first choice when in need ! Thanks Platt & Westby !!read more
Michael Espinoza
04:31 04 Apr 25
I can’t say enough good things about the attorneys at Platt & Westby. I first retained the firm to assist with a Partition Action. This case was also complicated by a separate family case, which I had a different firm representing me. Abe, Andy, and Amber all helped simplify my case for me. They were very knowledgeable and strategic with their approach. Everything was well explained.After the partition action case was complete, I retained P&W for a collections case. My family case ended up back in court so I retained them a third time, for my family case, (the case that a previous firm represented me for). P&W has made an impact on me and I’m grateful for that. That’s why they have my business.Throughout all of this, I’ve never felt like just another number, or another client. I truly feel my attorneys have vested themselves with each of my cases and there is no feeling like knowing you’re in good hands. I know I have a great advocate with P&W. I feel they have went above and beyond for me. There is no doubt in my mind that if I ever need another attorney to represent me, I will be calling P&W.I would highly recommend P&W to anyone that needs representation.read more
Bryan Lark
03:51 22 Jan 25
As a real estate investor, there are always issues that come up that can create a lot of stress but getting solid legal advice has proven to be incredibly helpful. After talking with Mr. Westby, I have a lot more confidence in my situation. He knew the law very well, presented viable options for how I could move forward, listened so well and attentively, and responded with empathy and kindness. If you are a real estate investor looking for good legal counsel, I would highly recommend giving Platt & Westby a call to discuss your situation with them. Thank you Mr. Westby! I am grateful for the time you spent with me.read more
Pamela R
21:52 29 Dec 24
Professional, thorough and friendly. Rates are reasonable. They did work for mymother's estate several years back and I would go back to them without question.read more
Marlene Fugatt
09:19 26 Nov 24
They go out of their way to help you. Morgan was a great help and I thank him for his info and kindness.
Jenna Szarek
19:40 19 Nov 24
I can’t express enough gratitude for the incredible work attorney Matthew Hayes did on my case. From the very beginning, he demonstrated unparalleled professionalism, compassion, and determination. Despite my prior felony, he managed to achieve what I thought was impossible—getting me into a diversion program. I know how slim the chances were, but Mr. Hayes believed in my case and fought tirelessly to make it happen.What truly stood out was how seamless he made the entire process. I didn’t have to step foot in court even once—he handled every appearance for me. He kept me informed every step of the way, and I always felt like I was in capable, trustworthy hands.As we approached trial, his strategic expertise and negotiation skills were evident. He managed to settle the case out of court right before trial, sparing me a long, stressful ordeal. His efforts not only gave me a second chance but also restored my hope in the legal system.If you’re looking for an attorney who is knowledgeable, dedicated, and truly invested in getting the best outcome for his clients, look no further than Matthew Hayes. He goes above and beyond, and I couldn’t recommend him more highly! Thank you, Matt!read more
John.Tauni Koch
23:38 30 May 24
Andy Rahtz gave me a thorough and free first consultation regarding family law.His team including Lisa La Bianca and associate attorney Abelardo Rodriguez took great care with my case.I am out of state but their thorough communication and quick response times made this a non-issue.I felt somewhat intimidated before consulting with them but they gave me the courage to move forward and handle a delicate family matter.read more
Asia Gonzalez
21:33 15 May 24
Mr. Westby was an excellent attorney. He was always helpful, responding on time, he has an extensive knowledge about the landlord tenant law. He helped me positively resolve my case. I highly recommend himread more
Daniel T
05:29 09 Sep 23
Mr Rahtz is a compassionate, knowledgeable and strong lawyer. He set reasonable expectations for my case and delivered results exceeding my goals! Mr Firas, another associate in the firm, is also great! Thank you!read more
Rhonda Rolf
23:56 08 Jun 23
Mr. Rahtz was attentive, extremely knowledgeable and confident with the available options he presented to address my situation. He did not make me feel rushed or insignificant. I very much appreciate the time he devoted to my consultation.read more
J.D. Purves
20:37 24 May 23
I've worked with both Pete Westby on a real estate contract and Andy Rahtz related to family law. In both situations they provided excellent service, I am both happy and confident in the work they performed as well as felt the prices are very fair. They offered free initial consultations and their were no surprises outside the initial prices quoted.read more
Cindy Morris
22:43 09 May 23
The people in this office are the nicest people I hired them and they got my case done in less than a week. They worked with me every step, answered all questions I would recommend them to everyone. Thank youread more
Zanzibar Vermiglio
17:51 01 Feb 23
I have gone to these guys for years now. I'm so happy to my friend Allison for turning me on to them. From Real Estate Contract to business formation, they always know exactly how to engineer the right result. Beyond that, they just seem to care. Thanks guys.read more
Kimberly Just Kimberly
00:24 15 Jul 22
EXCEPTIONAL - EXCEPTIONAL - EXCEPTIONAL!SO glad I did the free consultation!I have a dear 83 year old friend, I'm his POA, and a Trustee on his Revocable Living Trust.My friend wanted to make changes to his Trust, some which were just complicated enough to cause me concern about whether his original Trust could be amended to accommodate those changes, and whether I'd legally be able to enforce those changes -- to make sure his last wishes are honored -- when he passes.Our free consultation with Andy Rahtz, was invaluable in helping sort out our concerns! I am SO grateful, for my friend's sake!Andy went through our long list of "what if" questions, and gave SUCH great advice, taking the time to walk through the pros and cons of several ways we'd considered moving forward to accomplish what my friend wants to do.I appreciated SO much Andy's direct, frank, objective legal views, and because of this call, understand the best course of action, going forward, so *I* am able to best help my friend have his last wishes honored.I can't possibly give Andy a high enough endorsement for the peace of mind and GREAT legal advice he gave. Wow. Just wow.read more
Katie Filous Malka
00:23 25 Mar 22
I had a consult with Andy today, and as an attorney myself, I really appreciated his candor, honesty on Platt & Westby's expertise, and overall assistance. While it turns out they do not handle the type of case that I have, if you are looking for lawyers with integrity, these are your people. Their consult scheduling process was also very organized and easy. Thank you all!read more
MOhamed kone
01:23 24 Jan 22
I recommended this law farm to anybody need help need a classic Mind set you should got to them if you need fight for your case or not they will not waste your time or waste your money very straightforward honest great people great customer service tell you truth is not about money it’s about trustread more
Arteemaker
14:13 04 Jan 22
The team at Platt & Westby is very professional and competent. They take the time to talk to you and come up with smart solutions. They are very hard working.read more
Steven Levy
17:04 24 Dec 21
Got a free consultation and the attorney was very helpful. Highly recommended.
Ken K
11:54 11 Oct 21
It's ok if you already know you'll win otherwise you're just suing yourself trying to communicate with them. I guess it's the same everywhere now days. Not like the old days when you were not a victim on both ends 😆read more
Ben Cook
17:05 18 Oct 19
Andrew Rahtz is the most knowledgeable and professional attorney I’ve ever met. He handled my case with care and helped me navigate the complications of my case. With him, I was able to get near 100% custody, legal decision making and child support. I cannot recommend the the legal team at Platt and Westby highly enough. Thank you Andy!read more
Dani Buskohl Cook
16:57 18 Oct 19
Thank you Andy Rahtz (and rest of the P&W team) for taking such great care of us! I highly recommend this firm, especially Andy. He helped me with both personal and business cases. He is knowledgeable and helpful and I couldn't have accomplished what I did without him.read more
Courtney Laabs
07:27 28 Aug 19
Elizabeth Westby has been my ally in a long running family law issue. She has been accessible, responsive, kind and supportive. I’m incredibly thankful I found her.read more
Ramsey Bergeron
10:37 08 Aug 18
I was referred to Andy Rahtz by a mutual friend to review a situation that I was told by other firms would be fruitless. Right from the start, Andy gave me incredibly helpful advice. He explained things in a way that was easy to understand and gave me hope. Extremely knowledgeable in all the different facets of law surrounding my business case, he answered any questions I had quickly, courteously, and (just as important 😉) accurately. I always felt he always had my best interest in mind and made it a priority to keep me in the loop with the progress being made on my case. I highly recommend Andy and the team at Platt & Westby! Thank you for helping me get justice!read more
Paulo Soares
01:38 11 Jul 18
Mr. Westby really knows his stuff, and gave me some excellent advice. I will be back to move forward on my situation.
Kenneth Crayton
07:30 22 May 18
RahtzHe gave me his undivided attention and seemed to genuinely care. In my experience, it has been very tedious and daunting to begin a conversation with an attorney, especially one at a law firm with other partners, etc. That is, usually law firms won't lend an ear, it seems, unless you pay $100-300 initial consulting fee, which is basically a $15 overview of your case and whether they think it's worthwhile$$$.However, not only was I surprised to see Attorney Rhatz offer a no-cost consultation, but he also kept it "real." He advised me with information that even seemed to work against his assumed interest in profit (i.e., he didn't try to exploit me for money), such as by providing me with self-help research suggestions, and even helped me put together an outline for my case.He didn't want me to lose more money winning with him (he didn't want me to spend so much money to retain him, that even if winning the case, I'd still be at a net negative dollar-loss).He gave me his undivided attention, asked questions that showed he actually paid attention, and was very resourceful with directing me towards credible sources of jurisprudence.What's more, is that he didn't throw me out after 15 minutes, but rather stayed with me until he felt I was sufficiently informed with the material and answers to questions to send me along my way.This man even read through all my notes and connected with me as a person.I also appreciated his aggressive, but civil, nature towards vanquishing the countering party. He is strategic, he is prepared to preempt the countering party's legal arguments by first calling them out himself, and sparks reassurance that he is sedulously and astutely on the case.Obviously, I would recommend attorney R Andrew Rahtz for the aforementioned reasons, despite only meeting with him one time on an preliminary consultation.read more
Melissa Keiper
00:40 22 Feb 18
I wrote in to a law message board asking about a step in my case and Mr. Peter Westby replied with some sound advice. I emailed him to thank him for his advice and shared with him I was not being represented. He offered to meet with me to go over my case and possibly about representing me. In our meeting he allowed me to give him all the details of my case and he spent a good amount of time offering advise and insight to the law pertaining to my situation. Mr. Westby was very patient and allowed me to ask multiple questions and was thorough in his answers. Because I live 2 hours away and in a different county (Tucson), and because my case will most likely go to trial and the cost of travel for him to represent me I am unable to retain Mr. Westby as my attorney. However, if this were to be taking place in Phoenix I would hire him in a heartbeat. I appreciate his willingness to talk with me and spend his time assuring me about the steps i'll need to take in my case. He was very prompt in his reply to my question and then for scheduling a phone conference to go over a case he prob knew he wouldn't be able to take given the distance.read more
Lance Wallace
16:44 04 Jan 18
I've worked with Pete Westby on a few matters over the years and I do recommend him and his firm. It is nice to talk and work directly with a principal of the firm who has both integrity and tons of experience.read more
David Hughes
17:08 08 Nov 17
Mr. Westby was great and very knowledgeable and the staff was friendly and very responsive and kept me informed every step of the way... I would and will definitely recommend Platt & Westby P.C. to friends and family.read more
John Rukavena
23:25 12 Oct 17
Meet with Peter today and was very impressed. I had a large tile job that was done improperly and was not sure if a lawsuit made economic sense. Peter was straightforward and told me that if the contractor did not have sufficent assets, a lawsuit would be risky because a favorable court decision might not result in a payout. I now know what I need to do thanks to Peter.read more
Jordan P
19:07 04 Sep 17
We went in for our free consultation regarding our legal concerns and we were very happy with our experience and outcome of our situation. Mr. Rahtz was professional, informative, and helpful. I would recommend him for anyone seeking legal counselling. Thank you to Mr. Rahtz and the rest of the team at Platt & Westby.read more
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