Rebecca E. Bazan

Partner

  • Rebecca E. Bazan
  • Phone: +1 202 776 5253

    Import to Address Book

  • Duane Morris LLP
    901 New York Avenue N.W., Suite 700 East
    Washington, DC 20001-4795
    USA

Rebecca E. Bazan practices in the area of complex commercial litigation at both the trial and appellate levels. 

Ms. Bazan has extensive experience in animal law and animal rights litigation and regulatory counseling, including representation of entities in the entertainment, agricultural, fashion and food production spaces whose operations involve animals or animal products or services. She has experience with the Endangered Species Act, Animal Welfare Act, National Environmental Policy Act and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. She also has extensive experience with state consumer protection laws, and their intersection with animal-related industries and litigation. In addition to litigation, she advises and counsels clients on permitting and compliance with state and federal animal laws.

Ms. Bazan also has experience in healthcare litigation, having represented pharmaceutical manufacturers and retailers in cases involving alleged products liability as well as cases regarding pharmaceutical pricing. As part of this work, she has developed expertise with pharmaceutical data relating to sourcing, dispensing, and reimbursement.

Ms. Bazan also serves as a member of Duane Morris’s Professional Standards Committee, which evaluates attorneys for promotion to Special Counsel and Partner, as well as a member of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

Ms. Bazan is a 2009 graduate of Harvard Law School, where she was co-chair of the article selection committee of the Harvard Journal of Law and Gender, and a graduate of Emory University, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Areas of Practice

  • Commercial Litigation

  • Animal Law and Animal Rights Litigation

  • Appellate Law

  • Pharmacy Litigation

  • Class Action Litigation

  • Products Liability

  • Consumer Litigation

  • Regulatory Law

  • Employment Law

  • Business and Tort Litigation

  • RICO Litigation

Representative Matters

    Animal Law/Consumer Protection Matters

  • Represented operator of marine park in a putative class action brought under consumer protection and false advertising laws alleging that plaintiffs made purchases of tickets and merchandise in reliance on false or misleading statements regarding the company’s animals. The Court entered judgment for the defendant after a bench trial, holding that no plaintiff had standing to bring the case.

  • Advised cold-weather clothing manufacturer with respect to defamatory statements about animal welfare contained in shareholder proposal advanced by animal activist organization.

  • Handled successful appeal of Administrative Procedure Act case brought by animal rights group challenging sale of trademarks related to agricultural commodity. Drafted appellate briefs and argued before D.C. Circuit, resulting in unanimous ruling that plaintiffs lacked Article III standing, setting important precedent for all commodity check-off programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture.

  • Obtained affirmance of dismissal of putative nationwide class action under consumer protection statutes of three states brought against operator of marine mammal park. Drafted the successful motions to dismiss at the trial level and the successful appellate brief, resulting in final dismissal of the case prior to client having to undertake any discovery.

  • Obtained successful outcome for coalition of zoos seeking to import wildlife from Africa to the United States. Successfully intervened in case involving animal activist challenge to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s grant of an import and defeated temporary restraining order.

  • Part of trial team in federal court diversity case brought by animal activists involved in alleged violations of California consumer protection and human rights laws. Jury trial resulted in take-nothing verdict in favor of entertainment company client.

  • Drafted motion for entitlement to attorneys’ fees that resulted in unprecedented ruling that successful defendant in Endangered Species Act citizen suit was entitled to recover its legal fees, ultimately resulting in payment of more than $25 million by the adverse parties.

  • Obtained dismissal with prejudice of animal activist challenge to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant of permit allowing entertainment client to travel internationally with endangered species. Successfully intervened on behalf of entertainment client, drafted successful motions to dismiss at trial level, and drafted appellate brief, after which plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their appeal.

  • Obtained summary judgment for client in negligent misrepresentation case regarding certification labeling of meat products.

    • Healthcare/Life Sciences Matters

  • Represented a generic active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturer, finished dose manufacturer, distributor, and retailers in a multidistrict litigation alleging product liability and consumer fraud claims arising out of an alleged impurity in popular blood pressure medication.

  • Representing biotechnology company seeking payment for deferred milestones pursuant to license agreement.

  • Represented a pharmaceutical retailer responding to subpoena seeking pharmaceutical data regarding drug pricing.

  • Represented a veterinary company responding to subpoenas seeking data regarding sales of veterinary pharmaceuticals.

    • Discrimination Matters

  • Represented owner of amusement park in a putative class action brought under federal civil rights law alleging that plaintiffs were denied costumed character interactions on the basis of race. After defeating class certification, the case was tried to a jury, which returned a take-nothing verdict in favor of the client.

  • Obtained dismissal with prejudice for university client in federal court lawsuit alleging age discrimination and retaliation.

  • Obtained dismissal with prejudice for a sports client in state court lawsuit alleging gender discrimination and retaliation.

Admissions

  • Washington, D.C.
  • Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

Education

  • Harvard Law School, J.D., 2009
    ◦ Article Selection Committee Co-Chair, Harvard Journal of Law and Gender
  • Emory University, B.A., 2006
    ◦ Phi Beta Kappa

Experience

  • Duane Morris LLP
    - Partner, 2020-present
    - Special Counsel, 2018-2019

  • Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
    - Senior Associate, 2014-2018
    - Associate, 2010-2013

  • Office of the Federal Public Defender, San Antonio, Texas
    - Legal Intern, Fall 2009

Honors and Awards

  • Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2015-2024

  • Legal Lion, Law 360’s Legal Lions of the Week, September 20, 2024

  • Legal Lion, Law360’s Weekly Verdict: Legal Lions & Lambs, May 15, 2014

Professional Activities

  • American Bar Association

Media Hits

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, "MDL Panel," Western Alliance Bank Class Action Law Forum, March 13, 2024
  • Speaker, "Discovery Hot Topics," at Norton Rose Fulbright Inaugural Business Litigation Summit for In-House Counsel, New York, November 2017

  • Speaker, “Defending Against Animal Activist Litigation: A View from the Trenches,” at Association of Zoos and Aquariums Annual Conference, San Diego, September 2016