Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Intellectual Property and Technology Disputes

Partner - Litigation and Investigations

Co-Global Practice Group Leader - Intellectual Property and Technology

Rachel Matteo-Boehm represents clients on matters involving a variety of content-related issues. Her practice includes litigation, counseling, and special projects that require this subject matter expertise.

A former reporter for The Dallas Morning News, Rachel has represented many clients in the media, entertainment, advertising, and arts sectors in a variety of matters involving defamation, privacy, right of publicity, copyright, trademark, and other content-related issues. Clients outside of these industries also regularly seek Rachel's experience in these areas. Because of her focus on content-related issues, Rachel has represented clients in numerous cases involving state anti-SLAPP laws, which are a critical strategic component of U.S. litigation arising from expressive activities.

Rachel’s practice has changed over the years along with the relevant technology, moving from the print and broadcast space to online issues and including, most recently, issues involving artificial intelligence. Rachel frequently collaborates with colleagues from BCLP’s Data Privacy, Sports & Entertainment, Corporate, and Intellectual Property Practices to provide comprehensive representation to clients needing expertise in related subject areas and multiple geographies across the U.S. and internationally.

Rachel particularly enjoys litigating novel legal issues, and she has handled several precedent-setting cases over the course of her career. These include the first California defamation case to apply the law of opinion within the context of a weblog containing multiple hyperlinks; an action brought under the California Public Records Act seeking access to GIS-formatted mapping records that involved several special issues relating to electronic records and government copyrights; and several precedent-setting federal cases challenging, under the First Amendment, delays in access to publicly accessible court records.

In addition to her own practice, Rachel is co-global practice group leader of BCLP's Intellectual Property & Technology Practice Group, which is home to the firm’s Patent, Trademark, Copyright and Trade Secret, and Media & First Amendment Practices. Rachel recently finished a five-year term serving on the Executive Committee of the Media Law Resource Center (President, 2021-22), a New York-based membership association for content providers and distributors and their lawyers.

Rachel began her legal career in Texas and remains licensed in Texas as well as in California.

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT & HONORS James Madison Freedom of Information Award for Legal Counsel, Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California chapter, 2008, 2022 Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal Top Women Lawyers, 2013 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year Award, Public Interest Law, 2010 The Best Lawyers In America, First Amendment Law, 2009-2024 (San Francisco Litigation – First Amendment Law Lawyer of the Year for 2014, 2016 and 2018, 2020 and 2022) Chambers & Partners USA, California Media & Entertainment: First Amendment Litigation, 2008-2023 Northern California Super Lawyers, First Amendment/Media/Advertising, 2010-2021 PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS Media Law Resource Center, Defense Counsel Section, Executive Committee 2019-2023 (President, 2021-22) Media Law Resource Center, Defense Counsel Section, Newsgathering Committee Vice-Chair 2018-2019 Media Law Resource Center, Defense Counsel Section, California Chapter Co-chair, 2011–2013 Media Privacy and Defamation Law Committee, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, ABA, Vice-chair, 2010–2013 Student Press Law Center Legal Advisory Committee, Member, 2009 Freedom of Information Committee of the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Co-chair, 1999–2001