Rebecca Baden Chaney

Partner

Partner

Washington, D.C.
- D
  +1.202.624.2772

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Areas of Focus

Overview
Representative Matters
Insights
Related Practices/Industries

Overview

As co-chair of Crowell’s Transportation Group and a core partner in the firm’s Mass Tort, Product, and Consumer Litigation Practice, transportation, micromobility, consumer, and other product manufacturers lean on Rebecca Chaney’s keen understanding of the transportation and consumer product industries and the legal landscape to advance their businesses. Rebecca applies her commercial-focused product risk lens to represent product manufacturers facing litigation, commercial, and regulatory challenges.

Rebecca is an industry-recognized force in litigating complex product-related warranty, defect, indemnity and contractual commercial disputes, and consumer litigation, including in class actions and mass tort proceedings. She counsels her commercial clients on product disputes, risk mitigation, and crisis management matters.

Rebecca advises clients on compliance with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulatory requirements, in conducting recalls and defending them against agency enforcement actions.

Rebecca’s approach embraces product liability risk management across the life cycle of product commercialization, from pre- to post-launch to aftermarket.

Clients appreciate Rebecca’s close coordination with them, her proactive approach, and her critical and creative thinking about each stage in a litigation or matter.

Career & Education

Syracuse University, B.A., magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 2006
University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., Order of the Coif, magna cum laude, 2009
- Syracuse University, B.A., magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 2006
- University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., Order of the Coif, magna cum laude, 2009
District of Columbia
Maryland
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Professional Activities and Memberships

Member, American Bar Association, Litigation and Young Lawyers Sections, Products Liability and Women in Products Liability Subsections

Member, DRI, Product Liability Section
Professional Activities and Memberships
- Member, American Bar Association, Litigation and Young Lawyers Sections, Products Liability and Women in Products Liability Subsections
- Member, DRI, Product Liability Section

Described by clients as a ‘proven litigator and regulatory adviser.’

— Law360, 2021

Rebecca's Insights

Blog Post | 10.13.25

Supreme Court Puts the Brakes on Preemption Uncertainty

Press Coverage | 10.03.25
High Court Broker Negligence Case 'Pivotal' For Trucking
Blog Post | 09.25.25
Senate Confirms DOT Leadership Positions, Including NHTSA Administrator
Blog Post | 09.19.25
CPSC Takes Another Step to Advance Draft Rule on Lithium-Ion Batteries Used in Micromobility Products

View All Insights

Representative Matters

Serving as the Deputy Independent Third Party under a Consent Order with NHTSA to monitor a major vehicle manufacturer’s compliance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) and the Consent Order’s terms.
Representing leading Tier 1 automotive parts supplier in multiple disputes and litigation concerning defect and indemnity claims; representation includes favorable resolution of a dispute with claims valued over $1 billion.
Representing multiple product manufacturers or sellers to recover downstream supply contracting losses, including by achieving a more than $20 million judgment for a Tier 1 automotive component part supplier resulting from the purchase of defective pinion seals.
Managing and litigating a nationwide docket of product liability claims for a micromobility product provider.
Representing multiple motor vehicle and motor vehicle equipment manufacturers in the full suite of NHTSA compliance needs, such as by developing NHTSA compliance programs, evaluating and satisfying NHTSA reporting obligations, and liaising with NHTSA and defending against NHTSA enforcement actions.
Advising multiple micromobility and other transportation companies on their NHTSA and CPSC regulatory obligations.
Advising autonomous vehicle technology developers on regulatory requirements and litigation risk mitigation strategies.
Representing companies to conduct regulatory and product liability diligence on target companies and their product portfolios.
Achieved and defended on appeal dismissal on the pleadings for a hotel door lock manufacturer in four consolidated putative class action lawsuits filed by hotels alleging that plaintiffs’ locks were “hackable.”
Achieved and defended on appeal dismissal on the pleadings for an automotive manufacturer in a putative class action lawsuit alleging warranty, consumer protection, and invasion of privacy claims on the grounds that plaintiffs’ vehicles were “hackable.”
Achieved and defended on appeal dismissal the pleadings for a smoke alarm manufacturer in a putative class action lawsuit alleging that the products were defective and deceptively advertised.
Achieved dismissal on the pleadings for a home appliance manufacturer in a putative class action lawsuit alleging that its gas cooking appliances released undisclosed harmful emissions.
Negotiated and supported a limited fund class action settlement to resolve more than 300 lawsuits asserted against a university following its loss of accreditation.
Represented a medical device manufacturer in product liability litigation filed in multiple jurisdictions in the U.S.
Achieved dismissal on forum non conveniens grounds of a U.S. component part manufacturer in multidistrict litigation arising from the crash of Air France Flight 447.
Resolved successfully pre-suit litigation threatened against product manufacturer concerning marketing contract.
Advised offshore wind project in potential litigation of force majeure clause.
Prepared U.S. government contractor to defend breach of contract litigation following its termination of a subcontract.