Bert Rasmussen headshot

Halbert Rasmussen

Shareholder

Halbert (Bert) Rasmussen, shareholder at ScaliRasmussen, is a skilled litigator and business lawyer. His practice areas include business & complex litigation, corporate & real estate, privacy, cybersecurity & trade secrets, regulatory & licensing and retail auto dealership law.

Bert has delivered wins for his clients for such matters as franchise disputes including terminations instituted by manufacturers, complex multi-party claims arising out of dealership buy-sell agreements, and breach of contract matters, among others. He uses his franchise and distribution law skills to help clients meet their goals, avoid litigation, and maintain harmonious relations with their franchisors. Bert’s experience also extends to negotiating dealer agreements with manufacturers, realty owners and lenders, mergers and acquisitions, and consumer and business litigation.

He is certified as a specialist in franchise and distribution law by the State Bar of California and has received the AV® Peer-Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. He is also the author of several industry compliance books and publications, including “A Dealer Guide to the FTC Red Flags and Address Discrepancy Rule,” published by the National Automobile Dealer Association (NADA) as part of the NADA Management Series and the Franchise Law Manual published by the California New Car Dealers Association.

Representative matters
  • Drafting of various commercial agreements such as: invoices, vehicle customization agreements, and warranty to ensure regulatory compliance with California governmental agencies.
  • Oversaw and steered homologation process with the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration for sale to general public.
  • Concurrent sale of real estate under the Ferrari dealership.
  • Sale of a Ferrari dealership for $26 million.
  • Sale of the Chevy, Ford, and Hyundai real estate parcels for $31 million.
  • Stock sale of Hyundai dealership.
  • Bundled asset sale of a Chevrolet and Ford dealership in the amount of $20 million.
  • Lease of real estate for the Ford dealership with a monthly base rental value of $130 thousand.
  • Asset sale of a Ford dealership.
  • Asset sale of a Toyota dealership in the amount of $49 million.
  • Concurrent sale of real estate under the Ford dealership.
  • Asset sale of a Ford dealership.
Professional Activities

Bert is certified as a specialist in franchise and distribution law by the State Bar of California, and has received the AV® Peer-Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell.

Bert is also the author of several industry compliance books and publications, including “A Dealer Guide to the FTC Red Flags and Address Discrepancy Rule,” published by the National Automobile Dealer Association (NADA) as part of the NADA Management Series and the Franchise Law Manual published by the California New Car Dealers Association.

Bert has written extensively in dealer and professional periodicals, including the “Defender,” published by the NADC.

Bert is a frequent speaker at industry events. For example, he presented “Who Wants to Drive? Is the FTC Grabbing for the Wheel of the Vehicle Franchise System?” at the California New Motor Vehicle Board Industry Round Table.

Education

Juris Doctor (cum laude), Loyola Law School, 1982

B.A., Biology, UCLA, 1980

Bar Admissions

State Bar of California, 1983

U.S. District Courts, Central, Eastern, Southern and Northern Districts, 1984

U.S. Claims Court, 1985

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (1986)