Rosemary Rivas

Rosemary Rivas

Partner

rmr@classlawgroup.com
510-350-9720
vCard

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, 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 currently a Lawyer Representative for the Northern District of California and to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference.

Rosemary is a fluent Spanish-speaker and previously 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
  • California
awards+

Top Women Lawyers in California, Daily Journal, 2024

Super Lawyer, Northern California Super Lawyers, 2019-2023

California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award, Daily Journal and California Lawyer Magazine, 2018

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 for the Northern District of California and to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference
  • 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 granted final 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 granted final 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.