- California
Rosemary Rivas
Rosemary has dedicated her legal career to representing consumers in complex class action litigation involving a wide variety of claims, from false advertising and defective products to privacy violations. She is committed to obtaining justice for consumers and has recovered billions of dollars for her clients and the classes they represent.
Rosemary serves in leadership positions in a number of large-scale complex class action cases and multi-district litigation. In a highly competitive appointment process, the Honorable Charles R. Breyer appointed Rosemary to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Volkswagen Clean Diesel Litigation, which resulted in a record-breaking settlement totaling more than $14 billion. The Recorder, a San Francisco legal newspaper, named the lawyers selected by Judge Breyer as a class action “dream team.” For her work in the Volkswagen case, Rosemary received the 2018 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award, which is given to outstanding California lawyers “whose extraordinary work and cases had a major impact on the law.”
She has received numerous awards and honors for the quality of her legal work, including the Bay Area Legal Aid Guardian of Justice Award for her achievements in the law and her role in helping direct cy pres (remaining settlement) funds to promote equal access to the legal system. She has been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer since 2019, and was previously named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine.
Rosemary is a fluent Spanish-speaker and previous served on the Board and as Diversity Director of the Barristers Club of the San Francisco Bar Association. She frequently presents at legal and industry-group conferences on developments in consumer protection and class action litigation.
admissions−
awards+
California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award, Daily Journal and California Lawyer Magazine, 2018
Super Lawyer, Northern California Super Lawyers, 2019-2023
Guardian of Justice Award, Bay Area Legal Aid, 2015
Rising Star, Northern California Super Lawyers, 2009-2011
education+
- J.D., University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, 2000
- B.A., San Francisco State University, Political Science, 1997
memberships+
- American Association for Justice- Class Action Litigation Group
- Consumer Attorneys of California
- Law360- Consumer Protection, Editorial Advisory Board Member
- Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Council
- National Civil Justice Institute- Fellow
- Public Justice- Class Action Preservation Project
Practice Emphasis+
Consumer Protection
Presentations & Articles+
Current Trends in Consumer Class Actions
Class of Our Own: Litigating Women’s Summit
May 2023
Consumer Class Actions
Western Alliance Bank Class Action Law Forum
March 2022
Consumer Class Actions
Western Alliance Bank Class Action Law Forum
April 2021
Work Life Balance in the COVID Era
Tea Time with Angeion
March 2021
“Nationwide Settlement Classes: The Impact of the Hyundai/ Kia Litigation”
National Consumer Law Center's Consumer Rights Litigation Conference and Class Action Symposium
2018
“One Class Action or 50? Choice of Law Considerations as Potential Impediment to Nationwide Class Action Settlements”
5th Annual Western CLE Program on Class Actions and Mass Torts
2018
“The Right Approach to Effective Claims”
Beard Group- Class Action Money & Ethics
2018
"False Advertising Class Actions: A Practitioner's Guide to Class Certification, Damages and Trial"
The Bar Association of San Francisco
2017
Litigation Highlights
Porsche Gasoline Litigation
As part of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee and as Class Counsel, Rosemary represented consumers alleging that Porsche engaged in practices that skewed emissions and fuel economy test results for certain Porsche vehicles. The Honorable Charles R. Breyer recently granted preliminary approval of a proposed nationwide class action settlement providing a non-reversionary common fund of $80 million.
Lash Boost Cases
As Class Counsel, Rosemary Rivas represented consumers who alleged that Rodan + Fields failed to disclose material information relating to its Lash Boost product, namely, the potential side effects and risks of adverse reactions presented by the ingredient Isopropyl Cloprostenate. The Honorable Ethan Schulman recently granted preliminary approval of a proposed nationwide class action settlement providing a non-reversion common fund of $30 million in cash and $8 million in credits.
In re: Apple Inc. Device Performance Litigation
The Honorable Edward J. Davila appointed Rosemary to the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in this nationwide class action alleging that Apple intentionally slowed down consumers’ iPhones. The case settled for $310 million.
In re: Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., Dog Food Products Liability Litigation
Rosemary represented consumers alleging that Hill’s sold dog food with excessive Vitamin D that was harmful to pets. Chief Judge Julie A. Robinson granted final approval of a nationwide class action settlement providing for a common fund of $12.5 million.