Jay-Allen Eisen

Outside Counsel

Jay-Allen Eisen is regarded as one of California's top appellate attorneys. He has been counsel in more than 300 appeals and appellate writs, over 120 of which have resulted in published, precedent decisions.

Jay-Allen was one of the first Appellate Law Specialists certified by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. He has prosecuted and defended civil appeals, writs, and motions in a wide range of civic appeals including business litigation, professional licensing, probate, environmental law, constitutional law, administrative law, real property, and family law.

Jay-Allen is a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and a Past President of the California Academy of Appellate Attorneys. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America©, U.S. News Best Lawyers® and Northern California Super Lawyers every year since each publication began listing appellate attorneys. He has the highest rating, AV® Preeminent™, from Martindale-Hubbell. In 2010, he was awarded the Jim Pfeiffer Award for outstanding service to the legal profession from the Conference of California Bar Associations.


Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

  • American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, Fellow
  • California Academy of Appellate Lawyers, President, 1998-1999
  • American Bar Association, Judicial Division, Council of Appellate Lawyers, Executive Committee, 2001-2004
  • California Lawyers Association, Standing Committee on Appellate Courts, 2001-2006; Chair, 2005-2006
  • California Lawyers Association, Appellate Law Advisory Commission, Board of Legal Specialization, 1994-1998
  • California Lawyers Association, Conference of Delegates, Chair, 1991; Executive Committee, 1987-1991; Resolutions Committee, 1984-1987
  • Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court, Master of the Bench Emeritus, 1992-present
  • Sacramento County Bar Association, Appellate Law, Civil Litigation Law & Family Law Sections
  • Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association
  • Women Lawyers of Sacramento
  • Asian Bar Association of Sacramento
  • Leonard M. Friedman Bar Association
  • California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, Mediator
  • Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, Pro Tem Settlement Judge
  • Central California Appellate Program, Board of Directors, 1995-present
  • Legal Services Corporation of Northern California, President, 1985-1988; Board of Directors, 1982-1988
  • Voluntary Legal Services Program of Sacramento, President, 1986-1988
  • Sacramento County Bar Association Bar Council, Governing Board, 1986-1989
  • University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, Advanced Appellate Advocacy and International Law Workshop, Leader, 2006-2007
  • University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, Advanced Appellate Practice Practitioner Adviser, 1992-2005
  • University of California at Davis School of Law, Appellate Practice, Visiting Instructor, 1999

Honors & Rankings

  • Individual recognition for Litigation: Appellate – California, Chambers USA, 2019-2023
  • AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Best Lawyers® 2025 Appellate Practice “Lawyer of the Year” in Sacramento
  • Best Lawyers® 2023 Appellate Practice “Lawyer of the Year” in Sacramento
  • Best Lawyers® 2020 Bet-the-company Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” in Sacramento
  • Best Lawyers in America©, Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2009-2025
  • Super Lawyers, Northern California Super Lawyers, 1994-2018, 2023-2024
  • Jim Pfeiffer Award for outstanding service to the legal profession, Conference of California Bar Associations, 2010
  • Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Appellate, Mediation, 2018-2023
  • Sacramento Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2019

Selected Published Opinions

  • S.Y. v. S.B. 201 Cal.App.4th 1023 (2011)
  • Collins v. Sutter Memorial Hosp., 196 Cal.App.4th 1 (2011)
  • Doe v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Sacramento, 189 Cal.App.4th 1423 (2010)
  • Reid v. Google, Inc., 50 Cal.4th 512 (2010)
  • McAdams v. Monier, Inc., 182 Cal.App.4th 174 (2010)
  • Brown, Winfield & Canzoneri, Inc. v. Superior Court, 47 Cal.4th 1233 (2010)
  • Silverbrand v. County of Los Angeles, 46 Cal.4th 106 (2009)
  • LEG Investments v. Boxler, ___ Cal.App.4th ___ (2010).
  • Bowen v. Ryan, 163 Cal.App.4th 916 (2008).
  • 300 DeHaro Street Investors v. Department of Housing and Community Development, 161 Cal.App.4th 1240 (2008).
  • Katiuzhinsky v. Perry, 152 Cal.App.4th 1288 (2007).
  • Jones v. Catholic Healthcare West, 147 Cal.App.4th 300 (2007)
  • Slayton v. Superior Court, 146 Cal.App.4th 55 (2006).
  • Marriage of Klug, 130 Cal.App.4th 1389 (2005).
  • Stockett v. Association of California Water Agencies Joint Powers Ins. Authority, 34 Cal.4th 441 (2004)
  • Tesco Controls, Inc. v. Monterey Mechanical Co., 124 Cal.App.4th 780 (2004)
  • In re Estate of Goyette, 123 Cal.App.4th 67 (2004)
  • Collins v. State of California, 121 Cal.App.4th 1112 (2004)
  • Auburn Woods I Homeowners Ass’n v. Fair Employment & Housing Comm’n, 121 Cal.App.4th 1578 (2004)
  • Banning v. Newdow, 119 Cal.App.4th 438 (2004)
  • Thompson v. Sacramento City Unified School District, 107 Cal.App.4th 1352 (2003)
  • Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Ass’n v. City of Roseville, 106 Cal.App.4th 1178 (2003)
  • In re Marriage of Abrams, 105 Cal.App.4th 979 (2003)
  • Teresa J. v. Superior Court, 102 Cal.App.4th 366 (2002)
  • In re Marriage of Wolfe, 91 Cal.App.4th 962 (2001)
  • Adams v. Aerojet-General Corp., 86 Cal.App.4th 1324 (2001)
  • Lester v. Lennane, 84 Cal.App.4th 536 (2000)
  • In re Conservatorship of Gregory, 80 Cal.App.4th 514 (2000)
  • Vandenberg v. Superior Court, 21 Cal.4th 815 (1999)
  • Carrillo v. ACF Industries, Inc., 20 Cal.4th 1158 (1999)
  • Mathew Zaheri Corp. v. New Motor Vehicle Board, 55 Cal.App.4th 1305 (1997)
  • In re Marriage of Dunmore, 45 Cal.App.4th 1372 (1996)
  • Smith v. Fair Employment & Housing Comm’n, 12 Cal.4th 1143 (1996)
  • Honey Baked Hams, Inc. v. Dickens, 37 Cal.App.4th 421 (1995)
  • Graham v. State Board of Control, 33 Cal.App.4th 253 (1995)
  • KOVR-TV, Inc. v. Superior Court, 31 Cal.App.4th 1023 (1995)
  • Walton v. Walton, 31 Cal.App.4th 277 (1995)
  • Ostling v. Loring, 27 Cal.App.4th 1731 (1994)
  • Lee v. Placer Title Co., 28 Cal.App.4th 503 (1994)
  • In re Marriage of Nichols, 27 Cal.App.4th 661 (1994)
  • R.J. Kuhl Corp. v. Sullivan, 13 Cal.App.4th 1589 (1993)
  • Mid-Century Ins. Co. v. Gardner, 9 Cal.App.4th 1205 (1992)
  • Engelmann v. State Board of Education, 2 Cal.App.4th 47 (1991)
  • Vukovich v. Radulovich, 235 Cal.App.3d 281 (1991)
  • Nielsen v. Stumbos, 226 Cal.App.3d 301 (1990)
  • In re Marriage of Colombo, 197 Cal.App.3d 572 (1987)
  • Planned Parenthood Affiliates v. Swoap, 173 Cal.App.3d 1187 (1985)
  • Association for Retarded Citizens v. Department of Developmental Services, 38 Cal.3d 384 (1985)
  • California Welfare Rights Organization v. Brian, 11 Cal.3d 237 (1974)
  • Mooney v. Pickett, 4 Cal.3d 669 (1971)

Announcements

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In the News

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When not at work (which is rarely), Jay and his wife, the artist Julia Couzens, enjoy traveling off-the-beaten-path, which has included treks in Bhutan, the Kackar Mountains in northeast Turkey, and the Inca Trail to Machu Piccchu; camping and hiking in the Amazon rainforest of Peru; and exploring sites of ancient cultures. Jay is an avid reader and movie fan and enjoys live performances. He loves music of all kinds, especially jazz of the 1930s-1950s, but his large collection of recordings include music of virtually all genres from the middle ages through today and from around the world. Jay also keeps bees and enjoys vegetable gardening.


Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

  • American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, Fellow
  • California Academy of Appellate Lawyers, President, 1998-1999
  • American Bar Association, Judicial Division, Council of Appellate Lawyers, Executive Committee, 2001-2004
  • California Lawyers Association, Standing Committee on Appellate Courts, 2001-2006; Chair, 2005-2006
  • California Lawyers Association, Appellate Law Advisory Commission, Board of Legal Specialization, 1994-1998
  • California Lawyers Association, Conference of Delegates, Chair, 1991; Executive Committee, 1987-1991; Resolutions Committee, 1984-1987
  • Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court, Master of the Bench Emeritus, 1992-present
  • Sacramento County Bar Association, Appellate Law, Civil Litigation Law & Family Law Sections
  • Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association
  • Women Lawyers of Sacramento
  • Asian Bar Association of Sacramento
  • Leonard M. Friedman Bar Association
  • California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, Mediator
  • Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, Pro Tem Settlement Judge
  • Central California Appellate Program, Board of Directors, 1995-present
  • Legal Services Corporation of Northern California, President, 1985-1988; Board of Directors, 1982-1988
  • Voluntary Legal Services Program of Sacramento, President, 1986-1988
  • Sacramento County Bar Association Bar Council, Governing Board, 1986-1989
  • University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, Advanced Appellate Advocacy and International Law Workshop, Leader, 2006-2007
  • University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, Advanced Appellate Practice Practitioner Adviser, 1992-2005
  • University of California at Davis School of Law, Appellate Practice, Visiting Instructor, 1999

Honors & Rankings

  • Individual recognition for Litigation: Appellate – California, Chambers USA, 2019-2023
  • AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Best Lawyers® 2025 Appellate Practice “Lawyer of the Year” in Sacramento
  • Best Lawyers® 2023 Appellate Practice “Lawyer of the Year” in Sacramento
  • Best Lawyers® 2020 Bet-the-company Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” in Sacramento
  • Best Lawyers in America©, Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2009-2025
  • Super Lawyers, Northern California Super Lawyers, 1994-2018, 2023-2024
  • Jim Pfeiffer Award for outstanding service to the legal profession, Conference of California Bar Associations, 2010
  • Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Appellate, Mediation, 2018-2023
  • Sacramento Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2019