Rebecca S. Bjork

Special Counsel

  • Rebecca S. Bjork
  • Phone: +1 202 776 5262

    Import to Address Book

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

Rebecca S. Bjork practices in the area of employment litigation. She assists clients in navigating all stages of the litigation process, from initial investigation to discovery, motion practice, appeals and ultimate resolution. Dr. Bjork has years of experience applying her skills and talents to defending clients in complex litigation matters in labor and employment, products liability, and consumer fraud law. As a result, she is well-versed in advanced litigation strategies and tactics, particularly in defending against class actions.

Clients facing class action, government-initiated or other systemic lawsuits recognize the huge potential risks and costs involved in defending against them. Such lawsuits are often referred to as "bet the company" cases—for good reason. Dr. Bjork has experience in drafting early pretrial motions, writing persuasive trial court and appellate briefs, assembling evidence to support them and creating successful litigation strategies. She helps her clients navigate the risks associated with complex civil litigation. With experience in many different areas of substantive law in which class action and systemic litigation problems tend to arise, Dr. Bjork has become well-versed in the intricacies of class action defense.

Dr. Bjork is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center. She also holds a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California, an M.A. from the University of North Texas and a B.A. from the University of Minnesota.

Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Maryland
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • Supreme Court of the United States

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D.

Professional Activities

  • Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia

  • American Forensic Association
    - Lifetime Member

Honors and Awards

  • Recipient of the American Forensic Association's Distinguished Service Award, 1997

Selected Publications

  • “Recent Developments in Issue Certification Under Rule 23 (c) (4) Require Courts to Focus on Manageability of Complex Class Actions,” Bloomberg BNA Class Action Litigation Report, August 21, 2013

  • Co-Author, “SCOTUS Argument On The CAFA,” The Workplace Class Action Blog, January 8, 2013

  • Co-Author, “The EEOC Wins a Round in Its Discovery Tug-Of-War in EEOC v. Freeman,” The Workplace Class Action Blog, December 24, 2012

  • Co-Author, “How Rigorous Is the 'Rigorous Analysis' Requirement?” Law 360, November 27, 2012

  • Co-Author, “Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument in Comcast v. Behrend,” One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, November 5, 2012

  • Co-Author, "Second Circuit Rejects The EEOC's Broad Injunction Requests," The Workplace Class Action Blog, October 21, 2012

  • Co-Author, “The Next Big SCOTUS Rule 23 Ruling?,” The Workplace Class Action Blog, August 30, 2012

  • Co-Author, “The EEOC Gets Knocked Out of the Ring,” The Workplace Class Action Blog, August 14, 2012

  • Co-Author, “EEOC Holds Meeting On Its Strategic Enforcement Plan - But Did It Listen?,” The Workplace Class Action Blog, July 18, 2012

  • Co-Author, "What Happens In New Jersey Stays In New Jersey: Court Rejects Nationwide Class Claims Brought Under New Jersey law," The Workplace Class Action Blog, April 3, 2012

  • Co-Author, “Use of Expert-Driven Formulas in Doling Out Over $128 Million in Class Action Remedies,” The Workplace Class Action Blog, March 18, 2012

  • Co-Author, “Disparate Impact Case Turns On Battle of the Experts,” The Workplace Class Action Blog, December 14, 2011

  • Co-Author, “Second Circuit Finds Release Limit Application of Fair Pay Act’s Retroactivity Provisions,” The Workplace Class Action Blog, December 6, 2011

  • Co-Author, “Another Post-Dukes Decision Spells Doom For the “Subjective Discretion” Theory of Classwide Discrimination,” The Workplace Class Action Blog, October 15, 2011

  • Co-Author, “Fifth Circuit Opines On Class Action Fee Awards,” The Workplace Class Action Blog, August 15, 2011

  • Co-Author, “Reading Tea Leaves From the SCOTUS Ruling in Haliburton,” The Workplace Class Action Blog, June 8, 2011

  • Co-Author, “How Rolls-Royce Relates To Wal-Mart,” Law 360, April 22, 2011

  • Co-Author, “Seventh Circuit’s Ruling on Class Certification in Sex Discrimination Case Could Impact Supreme Court’s Upcoming Decision in Dukes v. Wal-Mart,” The Workplace Class Action Blog, April 7, 2011

  • Co-Author, “Eleventh Circuit Instructs District Courts to Make Tough Decisions on Experts in Rule 23 Certification Rulings,” The Workplace Class Action Blog, March 24, 2011

  • Co-Author, “The Federal Judicial Center’s New Forms For Class Action Notices,” The Workplace Class Action Blog, December 13, 2010

  • Co-Author, “Responder Worker September 11 Class Action Settlement Becomes Effective,” The Workplace Class Action Blog, November 21, 2010

  • Author, “The Strategic Defense Initiative: Symbolic Containment of the Nuclear Threat,” 1992