Webinar 02.27.25
02.27
DC Disrupted: Defining Illegal DEI: Trump EO Impacts on Employers
12:00PM - 12:30PM EST
Rebecca is smart, responsive and caring. I look forward to our continued work together.
Rebecca Carr Rizzo counsels clients to ensure compliance and avoid litigation and investigates and defends clients against discrimination, harassment, retaliation and whistleblower claims.
Rebecca also counsels clients on and litigates employment contracts, including non-competition agreements, and regularly advises on employment issues arising in the transactional context. Her clients include large corporations, startups, nonprofits, government contractors, restaurants, hotels and universities. Frequent areas of counseling include internal investigations, disability accommodation, protected leave, FLSA compliance, noncompetition agreements, restructurings and reductions in force, difficult terminations, and employment policies and procedures. Frequent areas of litigation include claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wrongful discharge under discrimination and protected leave laws; whistleblower claims in various industries including nuclear and restaurant; wage and hour claims; and employment contracts.
Representative Experience
- Prepared an AI/GenAI Acceptable Use Policy outlining the expectations and guidelines for the responsible and ethical use of AI tools by employees.
- Regularly advises clients with respect to policies and procedures, including drafting and reviewing employee handbooks.
- Regularly provides counseling to clients on difficult employee terminations and other discipline and performance issues.
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- Represents clients with respect to enforcement of its restrictive covenants against its former employees.
- Drafts employment, intellectual property, confidentiality and non-competition agreements for government contractors.
- Multiple engagements by boards of directors to conduct internal investigations into discrimination/harassment complaints against C-suite executives.
- As second chair, awarded a significant fee award by arbitrator (who is a high-profile plaintiff’s employment attorney) on defendant’s motion for sanctions based upon plaintiff’s frivolous claim for wrongful termination. Secured summary judgment on plaintiff’s other age and gender discrimination claims. Obtained a complete dismissal of plaintiff’s remaining retaliation and pay discrimination claims following a full evidentiary hearing.
- Represented LifeSpeak, the leading mental health and total wellbeing platform for employers, health plans and insurance companies, in its acquisition of Wellbeats, a market-leading provider of an on-demand SaaS physical wellbeing platform.
- Represented SecurityScorecard, the global leader in cybersecurity ratings, in its acquisition of LIFARS LLC, a digital forensics, incident response and cyber resiliency services company.
- Represented NTT DATA Inc., a digital business and IT services leader, in a number of acquisitions, including in its definitive agreement to acquire global MuleSoft consulting firm leader, Apisero.
- Represented Spin Master in its acquisitions of Melissa & Doug.
- Represented Joint Research and Development (JRAD), a leading provider of test and evaluation services, total life-cycle acquisition support, medical and public health preparedness, and science and technology research and development to government customers by Broadtree Partners, a middle-market private equity firm with a specific focus on aerospace, defense, intelligence and federal civilian government services.
Professional Highlights
- Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll (2018)
- “A Starter Guide to Doing Business in the United States,” 2016. Co-author.
- Super Lawyers, Rising Stars – Washington, DC, Employment Litigation: Defense (2014 – 2015)
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- Speaking Engagements
- “2023 Employment Law Roundup,” Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Annual MCLE Marathon, Virginia, September 21, 2023.
- “Emerging Issues in Supply Chain Management: Buy America, Section 889, Proposed Climate Initiatives, and Employment Non-Competes,” Pillsbury’s 2023 East Coast Government Contracts Summit, Northern Virginia, May 16, 2023.
- “Virginia Employment Law Round-Up,” Pillsbury Webinar, September 30, 2020.
- “Reopening to a ‘New Normal’: Is Your Business Ready? Practical and Legal Considerations for Deciding Whether Your Business is Ready,” Pillsbury Webinar, May 15, 2020.
- "Modern Work Arrangements: A Gift or a Curse?" Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Annual MCLE Marathon, Virginia, September 26, 2019.
- “Avoiding Potential Pitfalls in Pre-Hire Screening and On-Boarding Employees,” Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Annual MCLE Marathon, Virginia, September 20, 2018.
- “You and #MeToo: Crisis Management for Media Companies Addressing Sexual Harassment Complaints, webinar, March 20, 2018.
- “When Taking Care of Business Requires Working Overtime,” Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Annual MCLE Marathon, Virginia, September 27, 2016.
- “When Taking Care of Business Requires Working Overtime,” National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations webinar, June 22, 2016.
- "Labor and Employment Issues Up and Down the Supply Chain," The Supply Chain Symposium webinar, March 16, 2016.
- “Avoiding a Social Media Sinkhole: The Need for a Social Media Audit,” Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Annual MCLE Marathon, Virginia, September 25, 2013.
Education
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J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2005
A.B., Duke University, 2002
magna cum laude
Admissions
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District of Columbia
Virginia