Rachel S. Black

Based in Seattle, Susman Godfrey partner, Rachel Black, focuses her practice on high-stakes commercial litigation for plaintiffs and defendants, both at the trial and appellate levels. Ms. Black has tried and managed high profile, high stakes, and widely covered matters in state and federal courts across the country involving a variety of claims, including patent infringement, audit malpractice, financial fraud, unfair business practices, environmental remediation, breach of contract, and antitrust. She provides efficient, dedicated representation for high-profile clients such as General Electric, the world’s leading commercial satellite manufacturer, SSL, and hedge-fund manager, Louis Bacon.

Ms. Black served as legal counsel to former members of the legendary rock group The Turtles in Flo & Eddie, Inc. v. Sirius XM Radio, Inc. in a certified class action lawsuit against Sirius XM that settled less than 48 hours before the jury trial was scheduled to begin. Sirius XM agreed to pay at least $25.5 million (over $16 million after fees and expenses) and royalties under a 10-year license that is valued up to $62 million (over $41 million after fees and expenses) as compensation for publicly performing without a license Pre-1972 sound recordings. The settlement was approved by the Court in 2017, and has received widespread media coverage from publications such as The New York Times, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter,Law360, Rolling Stone, Variety, Reuters and Managing IP.

Ms. Black is not deterred by any opponent, no matter how formidable. In In re: Queen’s University at Kingston et al, Black and a team of Susman Godfrey attorneys represent Queens University in a patent battle against multinational conglomerate Samsung, where the team won a first of its kind recognition of patent agent privilege from the Federal Circuit. In March 2017, Ms. Black and her team from this case won an Editor’s Choice Award from Managing IP for their efforts on this case.

It is not surprising that the legal community has taken note of Ms. Black. Ms. Black was named a 2020 Elite Woman of the Plaintiffs Bar by National Law Journal (ALM). Since 2015, Black has been recognized as one of the “Top 50 Washington Women Super Lawyers.” Ms. Black has also been named a “Top 100 Washington Super Lawyer” from 2017 to 2020 and a “Washington Super Lawyer” every year from 2012 through 2020 by Washington Law & Politics Magazine (Thomson Reuters). For its 2018 – 2021 research cycles, Ms. Black was recognized by U.S. News – The Best Lawyers in America® as a top litigator in Seattle for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property, and Litigation – Patent (Woodward White Inc.).

In January 2012, Ms. Black was elected to The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation. The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation is an honorary organization of lawyers, judges and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities and to the highest principles of the legal profession.

Ms. Black is also a powerful advocate for women and diversity in the legal profession. In 2006, Ms. Black founded the Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Seattle, a specialty bar organization recognized by the Washington State Bar Association. This organization has paved the way for several related groups around the country.