Rachel has significant experience representing a wide range of clients in high stakes consumer, contract, and other commercial litigation in both consumer-facing and business-to-business disputes. Her experience includes representing employers in wrongful termination, discharge, employment discrimination, wage/hour, wrongful discharge, and breach of contract claims, with a focus on California-specific claims. In addition, she has extensive experience in counseling clients on compliance and regulatory issues. She handles litigation and regulatory enforcement matters at all stages, including through jury and bench trials and arbitration, as well as resolving cases informally through mediation and settlement conferences. She also advises clients on prelitigation compliance and litigation risk management.
One of Rachel’s specialty areas is California employment litigation; she has defended companies as varied as small businesses to large, multinational corporations in labor and employment law matters involving individual claims as well as those including class action and representative claims. Rachel is readily familiar with the complexities of California law governing employers, including the intricacies of the Labor Code, PAGA, and the ever-changing landscape of employment arbitration agreements. Her ability to navigate these and other nuances unique to California employment law, combined with her years of experience, allows her to provide sound legal analysis and design litigation defense strategies consistent with her client’s specific business objectives in mind.
Another specialty area is Proposition 65 matters, where she has experience not only representing clients in litigation but also providing solution-oriented advice and counsel on compliance and risk management issues. Rachel also advises clients on retail issues, such as weights and measures, unfair business practices, and false advertising claims.
Rachel has spent most of her 20+ year career in private practice, but prior to joining Benesch, she spent several years in government practice. She worked in the General Counsel’s office at AC Transit and— immediately before joining Benesch——as a Deputy City Attorney in the city of Berkeley, where she was in charge of all third-party tort claims against the city as well as advising various city departments on a wide range of matters. This experience gives her a unique perspective and valuable insight to her clients, particularly when dealing with government agencies and regulatory compliance issues.
Rachel founded and created Benesch’s Black Employee-Led Resource Group (ERG). She is Chair of the committee and focuses on cultivating a culture of diversity and inclusion at all levels of the firm.