Stacey Leyton

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WARNING: If you received an email threatening to take you to court to collect a debt, which says it is from Stacey Leyton, do not respond.  This email is not from Stacey Leyton, and her name is being used without her permission in what appears to be a scam.

(415) 421-7151 ext. 304
sleyton@altshulerberzon.com

Education
B.A., Stanford University
M.A., Stanford University
J.D., Stanford Law School

Clerkships
Hon. Stephen Breyer, United States Supreme Court
Hon. Stephen Reinhardt, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Hon. Susan Illston, United States District Court, Northern District of California

Stacey has briefed and argued numerous cases in state and federal court, both at the trial and appellate levels. Her litigation practice has involved representation of labor unions, environmental groups, individual workers and public benefits recipients, and advocacy organizations. The cases have involved a wide variety of issues under federal and state law, including federal labor law, Medicaid, the Americans with Disabilities Act, RICO, state choice-of-law issues, state employment law, and protections afforded by the federal and state constitutions. Stacey has also represented local government entities, and her practice includes legislative drafting and client advice.

Stacey volunteers with Legal Aid at Work’s Workers’ Rights Clinic. She previously served as an Appellate Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference from 2010 until 2013, as a United States District Court Northern District of California Lawyer Representative from 2015 to 2018, and on the Board of Directors of Public Interest Clearinghouse (now OneJustice) from 2002 through 2009.

Stacey was named a “California Lawyer of the Year” by California Lawyer Magazine in 2011 for her work in a case challenging budget cuts to the California program providing in-home care to Medicaid recipients. She has been selected to Northern California Super Lawyers, Benchmark Plaintiff California Local Litigation Stars, and Benchmark Plaintiff Top Women in Litigation on numerous occasions.

In addition to being a member of the California state bar, Stacey is admitted to the state bar of Washington.

Stacey volunteers outside of the law at her children’s public school and with San Francisco youth soccer organizations. She enjoys watching and playing sports, biking, and spending time with friends and family.

Representative matters:

  • Obtained, and defended on appeal, federal court injunctions preventing California budget cuts to in-home care program that would have eliminated services, reduced hours, limited eligibility, and cut compensation to providers.
  • Secured preliminary injunction requiring North Carolina to restore to the registration rolls thousands of voters whose registrations had been unlawfully cancelled in the months preceding the 2016 election.
  • Helped defeat International Franchise Association federal court challenge to Seattle $15 minimum wage ordinance.
  • Defending City of Seattle against federal lawsuit filed by U.S. Chamber of Commerce seeking to strike down Seattle ordinance allowing for-hire drivers to organize and collectively bargain.
  • Obtained dismissal of RICO cases alleging that international union officials pressured union staff to contribute to union’s political action committee.
  • Secured reversal on appeal of federal district court decision applying Texas law to determine whether California workers were employees or independent contractors.
  • Part of habeas team that successfully challenged murder conviction based on prosecution’s failure to disclose exculpatory evidence.
  • Successfully defended on appeal California state court injunction invalidating legislative amendments to voter-enacted initiative that required drug treatment rather than incarceration.
  • Represented labor union in overturning multi-million dollar defamation verdict based on speech in course of labor dispute.
  • Represented California cities and counties in defending on appeal a judgment requiring lead paint companies to establish a $409 million fund to pay for the abatement of lead paint hazards in California homes.