
Rebecca helps clients by drawing on a broad base of appellate and trial litigation experience.
She has taken the lead on a variety of civil litigation matters through the lifecycle of complex cases, from initial pleadings and dispositive motions, to serving as embedded appellate counsel during trials, through appellate briefing and oral argument. She has served as the principal attorney for numerous appeals, including in breach of contract, personal injury, class action, and business dispute cases. She has experience representing a wide range of clients and issues, including handling products liability and breach of warranty matters for auto manufacturers, and representing media and entertainment clients in commercial suits.
Rebecca has been certified as an appellate specialist by the California State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization and serves on the Executive Committee of the ABA’s Council of Appellate Lawyers. Rebecca maintains an active pro bono practice, including as the co-director of the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s Ninth Circuit Appellate Advocacy Clinic.
Before joining the firm, Rebecca practiced as a commercial litigation and government investigations associate at Covington & Burling LLP in Los Angeles, and as a litigation associate at Durham Jones & Pinegar in Salt Lake City. She also served as a judicial law clerk on the Utah Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Representative Matters
Bent v. Garland (2024)
Ninth Circuit relies on an amicus brief filed by Horvitz & Levy to hold that a criminal conviction vacated by a California statute cannot later trigger federal immigration proceedings.
Read MoreGreisman v. FCA US, LLC (2024)
In partially published opinion, California Court of Appeal affirms order enforcing lemon law settlement that plaintiff’s counsel attempted to disavow.
Read MoreAl Shikha v. Lyft (2024)
In a published opinion, California Court of Appeal holds there is no common-law duty to run criminal background checks on passengers before they can be permitted to use the Lyft rideshare app.
Read MoreLong v. Sugai (2024)
Ninth Circuit issues published opinion in favor of H&L pro bono client in civil rights case.
Read MorePerez v. Oakdale Irrigation District (2023)
California Court of Appeal affirms summary judgment in a published opinion preserving “canal immunity” for public entities in a wrongful death action.
Read MoreLeonard v. Peters (2023)
Ninth Circuit reverses summary judgment order in pro bono civil rights case on behalf of Oregon state prisoner.
Read MoreUrick v. Urick III (2022)
California Court of Appeal holds that the trial court abused its discretion in denying a continuance after a party’s attorney was hospitalized days before trial.
Read MoreMitchell v. Moses (2022)
California Court of Appeal reverses trial court order that dismissed defamation lawsuit brought by Horvitz & Levy’s clients.
Read MoreCarradine v. iDrip Vape LLC (2021)
California Court of Appeal affirms summary judgment, holding the “going-and-coming” rule precludes vicarious liability against a business for a car accident that occurred during the business owner’s commute.
Read MoreJogani v. Jogani (2021)
California Court of Appeal affirms judgment in favor of Horvitz & Levy client in partnership dispute, holding all of plaintiffs’ claims were time-barred
Read MoreLittle Cottage Caregivers v. Meiri (2020)
California Court of Appeal reinstates ownership interest in a medical marijuana collective
Read MoreCarr v. AutoNation (2020)
Ninth Circuit affirms dismissal of trade secrets action against Horvitz & Levy's client
Read MoreCredentials
Education
- Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School
J.D., Lead Articles Editor, BYU Law Review. Graduated summa cum laude, Order of the Coif, 2013 - University of Utah
B.A., 2010
Clerkships
- Hon. Thomas R. Lee, Utah Supreme Court (2013-2014)
Bar Admissions
- California
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court, District of Utah
- U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
- Utah
Professional Associations
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), Fellow (2023)
- American Constitution Society, Los Angeles Chapter Board of Directors, Co-Chair (2023)
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
- California Women Lawyers Association
- Womens Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
Awards
- Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” (2022 – 2024)
- Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” (2023)
Publications
-
Trying to Get It Right: Motions for Reconsideration, New Trial, and Other Do-Overs, ASCDC Verdict 2024 Vol. 2, p. 21
- Of Burdens and Baselines: Hobby Lobby’s Puzzling Footnote 37, The Rise of Corporate Religious Liberty 323-41 (Oxford University Press, Chad Flanders, Zoe Robinson & Micah Schwartzman, eds. 2015) (co-authored with Frederick M. Gedicks as Rebecca Van Tassell)
- RFRA Exemptions from the Contraception Mandate: An Unconstitutional Accommodation of Religion, 49 Harv. CR.-C.L. L. Rev. 1 (2014) (co-authored with Frederick M. Gedicks as Rebecca Van Tassell)
- Walking a Thin Blue Line: Balancing the Citizen’s Right to Record Police Officers Against Officer Privacy, 2013 BYU L. Rev. 183 (2013) (as Rebecca Van Tassell)
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