C. ATHENA ROUSSOS, ESQ

CERTIFIED SPECIALIST IN APPELLATE LAW

The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

Her practice is focused on civil appeals and writs, and law and motion. She has handled numerous appeals in both state and federal appellate courts, and has obtained several reported decisions in favor of her clients. She has represented individuals, businesses, associations, and public agencies in a variety of civil matters.

ADMISSIONS:

Supreme Court of California (December 1997)

United States Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

All U.S. District Courts in California

EDUCATION:

Syracuse University College of Law, Syracuse, New York

  • J.D., 1997
  • Graduated summa cum laude
  • Highest first-year GPA
  • Associate Editor, Syracuse Law Review
  • Judicial Extern, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
  • Tutored first-year law students in legal research and writing

California State University, Long Beach, California

  • B.A., Political Science, 1994
  • Graduated cum laude

PRIOR LEGAL EXPERIENCE:

University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, Sacramento, California
Full-Time Lecturer in Law, May 2008 to June 2010
Taught courses in Global Lawyering Skills (I and II) and International Appellate Advocacy.  Also coached teams for national and international moot court competitions. Pacific McGeorge was ranked #5 nationally in 2010 for its advocacy programs.

Jay-Allen Eisen Law Corporation, Sacramento, California
Senior Associate, November 2002 to February 2008
Civil appeals, writs, law and motion in state and federal courts.

Downey, Brand, Seymour & Rohwer LLP, Sacramento, California
Environmental Law Associate, January 2001 to November 2002
Environmental law counseling, due diligence, regulatory compliance, and litigation.

Snell & Wilmer LLP, Irvine, California
Litigation Associate, September 1997 to January 2001
Labor and employment law, commercial litigation, and civil appeals.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION:

Certified as a Specialist in Appellate Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

Member, California Academy of Appellate Lawyers, January 2016 to present

Selected as one of the Top Lawyers for Appellate Law by Sacramento Magazine 2015 to 2020.

Selected as one of the Best of the Bar by the Sacramento Business Journal in 2015.

Selected to the following Top lists by Northern California Super Lawyers:
Top 100 Lawyers in Northern California in 2012 and 2014
Top 50 Women Lawyers in Northern California from 2012 to 2016, 2020
Top 25 Sacramento Lawyers in 2013 to 2016, 2020

Selected as a Super Lawyer from 2011 to 2020 by Northern California Super Lawyers

Awarded Order of the Coif, Syracuse University College of Law Chapter

Justinian Honor Society, Syracuse University College of Law

COMMUNITY & PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Vice Chair, Sacramento County Bar Association, Appellate Law Section, 2017; Board Member, 2007 to 2010

Member, Third District Court of Appeal Appellate Mediation Committee, 2013 to present

Commissioner, California State Bar Appellate Law Advisory Commission, 2010 to 2013

Adjunct Professor, Pacific McGeorge School of Law, 2006 to 2008, and 2012 to 2015

Member, Sacramento Slavic-American Chamber of Commerce

Mediator, Court of Appeal for the Third Appellate District, Mediation Program

Board member, Women Lawyers of Sacramento, 2002 to 2005, 2009 to 2010

PRESENTATIONS & ARTICLES:

Pincus Professional Education, “Exam Preparation: Appellate Law Specialization Exam,” presented on various appellate law topics with Wendy Coats Maguire, Esq., Jack Russo, Esq., and Michael Colantuano, Esq. (August 2017)

Legal Services of Northern California, “Appellate Skills Clinic,” co-presented with Jay-Allen Eisen, Esq. (June 2017)

Sacramento County Bar Association Family Law Section: “An Appealing Way to Practice Law” co-presented with Jay-Allen Eisen, Esq. (March 2016)

San Joaquin County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, “Appeals: When It All Goes Wrong” co-presented with William Parrish, Esq. (September 2015)

“An Overview of Civil Causes of Action for Elder Abuse in California,” published in the Riverside Lawyer (September 2015)

Women Lawyers of Sacramento, “Writing Better Appellate Briefs and Other Tips For Success on Appeal” co-presented with Peg Toledo, Esq. and Justice Ronald Robie of the Third District Court of Appeal (August 2014)

Third District Court of Appeal, Appellate Mediation Program, “Mediating the Family Law Appeal” co-presented with Elizabeth Niemi, Esq. (January 2014)

Co-author of the monthly Appellate Insight column in the Daily Recorder (2008 to 2013)

PUBLISHED DECISIONS:

In re Marriage of Guttierez, 48 Cal.App.5th 877 (2020)

Moore v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 39 Cal.App.5th 280 (2019)

Vasilenko v. Grace Family Church, 3 Cal.5th 1077 (2017)

People v. Steele, 246 Cal.App.4th 1110 (2016)

Stuard v. Stuard, 244 Cal. App. 4th 768 (2016)

Mendoza v. Western Med. Center, 222 Cal.App.4th 1334 (2014)

Escobar v. Flores, 183 Cal.App.4th 737 (2010)

Asvesta v. Petroutsas, 580 F.3d 1000 (9th Cir. 2009)

In re Guardianship of Ann S., 45 Cal.4th 1110 (2009)

In re Marriage of Sareen, 153 Cal.App.4th 371 (2007)

Jones v. Catholic Healthcare West, 147 Cal.App.4th 300 (2007)

Slayton v. Superior Court, 146 Cal.App.4th 55 (2006)

Hawkins v. Wilton, 144 Cal.App.4th 936 (2006)

In re Adoption of Hannah S., 142 Cal.App.4th 988 (2006)

Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch v. Dep’t of Forestry & Fire Protection,
123 Cal.App.4th 1331 (2004)

Auburn Woods I Homeowners Ass’n v. Fair Employment & Housing Comm’n,
121 Cal.App.4th 1578 (2004)

San Diego Watercrafts, Inc. v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 102 Cal.App.4th 308 (2002)

Pagter v. Massanari, 250 F.3d 1255 (9th Cir. 2001)