Our people

Rachel is a member of the Intellectual Property and the Commercial Litigation Group. Her practice focuses on trademark, copyright, privacy, First Amendment, Internet, advertising, antitrust, and unfair trade practices law. Rachel routinely counsels clients in the law and policy arising at the intersection of advertising, technology and media, including online advertising, social media, entertainment, direct-to-consumer marketing, information security and digital rights, sweepstakes, promotions, privacy, and risk management. She also practices in the area of consumer products liability.

She advises clients across a broad spectrum of industries, from national fashion retailers to major entertainment studios to universities to international software and technology companies, on using, acquiring, protecting, and maintaining trademarks, service marks, trade names, and trade dress. She also handles trademark and copyright enforcement proceedings and advises companies on how to protect and promote their intellectual property online.  In the area of social media, Rachel counsels clients on a wide variety of issues and risks related to social media, user generated content, and viral and guerilla marketing.  She drafts internal social media policies and guidelines, and helps companies develop and maintain a corporate social media presence that is engaging and successful while minimizing risk.

Rachel has represented clients in both state and federal court. She routinely handles arbitrations and enforcement proceedings, including complex proceedings before the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau, Inc.  She has lectured and written on recent developments in trademark, advertising, Internet privacy, social media, and consumer protection law, and has served as a speaker before the American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law, Consumer Protection Committee. 

Rachel is an active member of the American Bar Association (Litigation Section and Intellectual Property Section), the International Trademark Association; the Association of National Advertisers (Agency Relations Committee); the State Bar of California (Intellectual Property Section) and the Los Angeles County Bar Association (Intellectual Property Section). Rachel is a member of the State Bar of California.

Publications

• Christoff v. Nestle U.S.A., A Lesson in California’s Single Publication Rule, AdLaw by Request, (Aug. 31, 2009).
• FTC Regulators Take a New Approach to Online Advertising and Consumer Protection, AdLaw by Request, (Aug. 12, 2009).
• Recent Successes from the West, Sidebar, Vol. V, No. 1 (Spring 2009).
• California’s New Patient Health Privacy laws Heighten Need for HIPAA Compliance (Effective January 2009), Reed Smith Life Sciences Health Industry Client Alert, Nov. 2008.
• Taking the Courts: A Brief History of Takings Jurisprudence in State and Federal Court, 35 Hastings Const. L.Q. ___ (2008).

Experience

Legal Education

Undergraduate Education

Professional Admissions / Qualifications

• California