Becca J. Wahlquist

Becca Wahlquist has a wide-ranging, complex commercial litigation practice, including claims brought under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), nationwide class action cases, appellate litigation, contract and business tort disputes, and commercial and appellate arbitrations. In addition to defending various Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 businesses in TCPA class action litigations in federal and state courts throughout the country, Becca consults with major U.S. companies about compliance with laws pertaining to advertising and communications compliance. Becca is head of Snell & Wilmer's TCPA Practice Group and co-chair of Snell’s Class Action Defense Group. She was invited by the Senate Commerce Committee in May 2016, and by a House Judiciary subcommittee in June 2017, to provide testimony about the TCPA's impact on American businesses, and spoke on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She received a 2008 California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) award for her work in the field of complex commercial arbitration and also devotes significant time to pro bono civil rights matters.

TCPA

Becca Wahlquist has more than a decade of experience defending major companies sued under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), including acting as lead attorney for various Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 corporations facing potential damages in the six to ten figures of liability exposure. Her litigation experience includes several significant matters in the TCPA hotbeds within the Seventh, Ninth, and Eleventh federal circuits. In addition, Becca consults with major American companies about compliance with federal and state laws pertaining to telephone and text communications with consumers and prospective consumers, and has filed TCPA-related comments with the Federal Communications Commission. She was invited by the Senate Commerce Committee in May 2016, and by a House Judiciary subcommittee in June 2017, to provide testimony about the TCPA's impact on American Businesses, and spoke on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Becca is the head of Snell & Wilmer's TCPA Practice Group.

Business Litigation and Appellate

Becca Wahlquist has a wide-ranging, complex commercial litigation practice, including contract and business tort disputes, claims brought under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), nationwide class action cases, appellate litigation, and commercial arbitrations. In addition to defending various businesses in TCPA litigations in federal and state courts throughout the country, Becca consults with major American companies about compliance with laws pertaining to communications with consumers. Becca received a 2008 California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) award for her work in the field of complex commercial arbitration. She also devotes significant time to pro bono civil rights matters.

Pro Bono

Becca Wahlquist has a wide-ranging, complex commercial litigation practice, including contract and business tort disputes, claims brought under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), nationwide class action cases, appellate litigation, and commercial arbitrations. In addition to defending various businesses in TCPA litigations in federal and state courts throughout the country, Becca consults with major American companies about compliance with laws pertaining to communications with consumers. Becca received a 2008 California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) award for her work in the field of complex commercial arbitration. She also devotes significant time to pro bono civil rights matters.

Representative Presentations and Publications

Media

• 7th Circ. Picks Narrow 'Autodialer' Reading In AT&T Text Row, Quoted, Law360 (February 19, 2020)
• Autodialer Ruling Will Reduce TCPA Flood in 11th Circ., Quoted, Law360 (January 29, 2020)
•“What's Next: Cleaning Up Silicon Valley's Toxic Culture + AI Goes to School + A Toothless Robocall Agreement, ” Quoted, Law.com (August 28, 2019)
•“AGs, Carriers' Cooperation Won't Stem Robocall Litigation, ” Quoted, Law360 (August 26, 2019)
• High Court Punt Plunges TCPA Suits Into Greater Uncertainty, Quoted, Law360 (June 21, 2019)
• To Stop Robo Calls, Parties Need to Understand Who Is a Robocaller, Quoted, The Wall Street Journal (June 9, 2019)
• 4th Circ. Ruling Eases Class Cert. Path in Telemarketing Rows, Quoted, Law360 (June 7, 2019)
• TCPA 'Merely A Pawn' In High Court Deference Fight, Quoted, Law360 (March 22, 2019)
• Alabama Supreme Court Orders New Trial for Death Row Inmate, Quoted, U.S. News (January 4, 2019)
• Junk-Fax Case Gives New Justices Shot at Curbing Government Rules, Quoted, Bloomberg Law (December 26, 2018)
• Gourmet Burger Chain Slapped With Class-Action Lawsuit Over Texting, Quoted, Hospitality Technology (November 20, 2018)
• High Court May Upend TCPA Litigation Landscape, Quoted, Law360 (November 14, 2018)
• TCPA Rulings Give Cos. Liability Shield, but No Knockout, Quoted, Law360 (July 6, 2018)
• DC Circ. Delivers Relief, But Not Clarity, With TCPA Ruling, Quoted, Law360 (March 16, 2018)
• 4th Circ. Says Honeywell, UTC Not Liable For Sellers' Calls, Mentioned, Law360 (March 14, 2018)
• Flu Shot Text Row Boosts TCPA Defense as Big Ruling Looms, Quoted, Law360 (January 9, 2018)
• I Don't Want to Talk to You, but Please Call Back! Quoted, The Pennsylvania Record (August 9, 2017)
• 2nd Circ. Ruling Offers Way Out of TCPA Litigation Jungle, Quoted, Law360 (June 23, 2017)
• Phoney Lawsuits: House Subcommittee Hears Testimony on TCPA 'Lawsuit Abuse', Mentioned, Forbes (June 19, 2017)
• $280M Dish TCPA Penalty May Make Settling More Attractive, Quoted, Law360 (June 8, 2017)
• TCPA 'Pick Off Strategy On Thin Ice After High Court Ruling, Quoted, Law360 (April 14, 2017)
• FCC's Loss on Fax Rule Could Curb Explosion of TCPA Suits, Quoted, Law360 (March 31, 2017)
• 3 Factors to Weigh in Deciding to Fight or Fold TCPA Suits, Quoted, Law360 (September 16, 2016)
• Views on the Telephone Consumer Protection Act From Snell & Wilmer LLP Partner Becca Wahlquist, Quoted, Bloomberg BNA - Privacy Law WatchTM (June 27, 2016)
• Senate Explores Recalibrating TCPA, Dems Push Back, Quoted, Law360 (May 18, 2016)
• Reform of Hollings-sponsored Telephone Consumer Protection Act to be considered in U.S. Senate hearing, Quoted, Palmetto Business Daily (May 13, 2016)
• 8th Circ. Boosts TCPA Class Cert. Bids In Medtox Ruling, Quoted, Law360 (May 4, 2016)
• Legal Expert says Hollings-backed Telephone Consumer Protection Act has become a 'destructive force, ' Quoted, Palmetto Business Daily (January 18, 2016)
• TCPA Suits Bolstered By 3rd Circ. 'Called Party' Ruling, Quoted, Law360 (October 15, 2015)
• Future Supreme Court Ruling in TCPA Action May Affect Case Strategies, Not Compliance, Quoted, Bloomberg BNA (July 6, 2015)
• UTC Unit Escapes TCPA Suit Over Resellers' Marketing Calls, Mentioned, Law360 (May 19, 2015)
• TCPA Row Gives Justice Chance to Pare Class Actions, Quoted, Law360 (May 18, 2015)
• Dish TCPA Ruling Puts Bull's-Eye On Big-Name Companies, Quoted, Law360 (December 18, 2014)
• FCC Has Chance to Stem TCPA Reassigned-Number Suits, Quoted, Law360 (September 2, 2014)
• 9th Circ. Eases TCPA Risks For Deep-Pocketed Companies, Quoted, Law360 (July 10, 2014)
•“Calif. TCPA Ruling Cements Prior Consent Defense,” Quoted, Law360 (February 13, 2014)
• Twitter, Path Lend Muscle To Fight Against TCPA Vultures, Quoted, Law360 (November 25, 2013)
• Curbs on Cellphone Calls Pay Off for Lawyers, Quoted, The Wall Street Journal (November 17, 2013)
•“Lawsuits Surge Against Robo-callers,” Quoted, The Hill (November 3, 2013)
•“TCPA Changes to Spell More Class Action Headaches,” Quoted, Law360 (October 11, 2013)
•“TCPA Class Action Surge Shows No Signs of Abating,” Quoted, Law360 (May 24, 2013)
•“Fed Courts May Face TCPA Flood After High Court Ruling,” Quoted, Law360 (January 18, 2012)

Articles and Speaking Engagements

•“AGs, Carriers Cooperation Won’t Stem Robocall Litigation, ” Quoted, Law360 (August 26, 2019)
• Supreme Court PDR Decision Could Upend Regulatory Ground Rules, Author, Today's General Counsel (March 22, 2019)
• Could *7 Be the Answer to Revocation? Is It Too Easy to Revoke Consent and What Does It Really Mean? Interview, The Womble Bond Dickinson Ramble Podcast, Episode 4, TCPAland.com (June 1, 2018)
• TCPA Litigation Sprawl: A Study of the Sources and Targets of Recent TCPA Lawsuits, Author, U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (August 2017)
• Written Testimony of Becca Wahlquist On Behalf of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform Regarding the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, Lawsuit Abuse and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act Hearing (June 13, 2017)
• How to Optimize Your Outbound Contact Strategy and Improve TCPA Compliance, American Banker Web Seminar (November 21, 2016)
• Written Testimony of Becca Wahlquist On Behalf of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Regarding the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation Hearing (May 18, 2016)
• TCPA Litigants Wait Impatiently for the Campbell-Ewald Decision: Can an Offer of Maximum Individual Statutory Damages Impact Putative Class-Wide Claims ? Author, Bloomberg BNA - Privacy and Security Law Report (November 23, 2015)
• Hot Topics in California Legal Ethics: 2015, Snell & Wilmer and Thomson Reuters Harbor Cruise, Newport Beach, CA (October 15, 2015)
• Defending TCPA Claims and Protecting Against Future TCPA Claims, Bloomberg BNA Webinar (October 14, 2015)
• Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Presenter, U.S Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, Prospecting for Lawsuit Gold: New Theories, New Targets, and How Courts are Responding webinar, Chicago, IL (January 13, 2015)
• Telephone Consumer Protection Act Litigation, Co-Author, U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, Lawsuit Ecosystem II: New Targets, Trends and Players, Pgs 86-94 (December 2014)
• Liability Refraction: Digital Technology and Privacy, Panelist, U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, 15th Annual Legal Reform Summit, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington, DC (October 21, 2014)
•Compliance Officers Forum, Speaker, Professional Association for Consumer Engagement (PACE) (November 13, 2013)
• The Juggernaut of TCPA Litigation: The Problems with Uncapped Statutory Damages, Author, U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (October 2013)
• Think Before You Dial, Telemarketers, Author, The Daily Journal (November 5, 2013)
• Diagnosing the Disease: Emerging Litigation Trends, Panelist, U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, 14th Annual Legal Reform Summit, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington, DC (October 23, 2013)
• Federal Court Rulings on TCPA Claims Suggest Companies Should Re-Examine Technologies Used to Contact Customer Mobile Phones, Author, Bloomberg BNA's Daily Report for Executives (October 9, 2013)
•“An Oft-Ignored Aspect of Express Consent Under TCPA ”, Co-Author, Law 360 (August 15, 2013)

Professional Recognition and Awards

•2008 California Lawyer of the Year Award, California Lawyer (March 2009)
•The Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services, State Bar of California (2006)

Community Involvement

•Disability Rights Legal Center, Board Member (2007-2009)
•Public Counsel's Homeless Veterans Clinic (2006-2009)
•A Place Called Home, South Central Los Angeles, Volunteer SAT Instructor (2010-2011)

Other Professional Experience

•Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, Partner (2010-2014)
•Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Partner (2007-2010), Associate (2001-2007)

Related News & Events

• Jan 16
New Trial for Alabama Death Row Inmate Represented by Snell & Wilmer Lawyer
Years-Long Pro Bono Legal Fight Leads to Rare Outcome Before Alabama Supreme Court

• Jun 19
Snell & Wilmer Partner Becca Wahlquist Testifies Before the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee

• Jun 13
Becca Wahlquist Testifies on TCPA to U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee - Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice

• Jan 17
Snell & Wilmer Renews Commitment to Los Angeles
Moves to 31st Floor of Two California Plaza

• Jun 28
Views on the Telephone Consumer Protection Act From Snell & Wilmer LLP Partner Becca Wahlquist
Bloomberg BNA - Privacy Law Watch

• May 18
Snell & Wilmer Partner Becca Wahlquist Testifies Before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation

• Nov 23
TCPA Litigants Wait Impatiently for the Campbell-Ewald Decision: Can an Offer of Maximum Individual Statutory Damages Impact Putative Class-Wide Claims?
Bloomberg BNA - Privacy and Security Law Report

• Dec 18
Dish TCPA Ruling Puts Bull's-Eye On Big-Name Companies
Law360

• Aug 28
Becca Wahlquist Joins Los Angeles Office of Snell & Wilmer