A native of Santa Clara County, Doug Allen is the son of the late Bruce F.
Allen, Superior Court Judge and State Assemblyman. Doug graduated from Los
Gatos High School, and San Jose State University where he received a
Bachelor's in Political Science, a Masters degree in American Politics and a
teaching credential in American Government. An avid athlete, Doug played
college football and wrestled.
Doug's Masters thesis was on the California Uniform Determinant Sentence
Act, and he started lobbying for tough on crime legislation together with his
father in the late 1970's. Doug served as a council aide for Lu Ryden on the San
Jose City Council, and taught high school at Gilroy High, along with coaching
football and wrestling.
Doug received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Santa Clara, and
began the practice of law in 1981 as an associate to Arther K. Lund, of Rankin,
O'Neal, Luckhardt, Lund and Hinshaw. There Doug began handling complex
business and real estate transactions and litigation.
While still employed by Rankin, O'Neal, et. al. Doug took on his first Pro Bono
case in his spare time, representing residents of the Town of Los Gatos who
objected to the majority of the Town Council cancelling an election and
extending their own terms of office by a year and seven months. Although,
delayed by three months, an election was held as a result of Doug's efforts.
Doug and his wife Francisca then established their own law practice, known
as Burnett, Burnett and Allen. Early, in his career, Doug became lead trial
counsel on numerous complex cases, including major shopping center
partnership dissolutions, farm products manufacturers liability, defective
construction claims, contractor licencing regulation, consumer protection, and
civil racketeering prosecutions.
Doug took on the next major pro bono project to represent homeowners and
mutual water companies against a rash of "fly by night" logging companies who
proposed to log many of the most beautiful and unstable redwood stands in the
Central Coast. Eight cases, five trials, four appeals, and two Supreme Court
orders later, the original Redwoods in the scenic Moody Gulch became a part of
the Open Space District. Published opinions from the Appellate Court's added
environmental protections to California forest practices, including the major
requirement that timber harvest plans must consider cumulative environmental
impacts.
Doug continued to act as counsel for businesses, and professionals, handling
commercial transaction litigation, real estate, construction, intellectual
property and professional defense. As lead trial counsel for local electronics
and real estate companies, Doug shepherded companies through Chapter 11,
insolvency workouts, and tried cases in state, federal and bankruptcy courts.
Doug also took on numerous pro bono cases from individuals protecting their
property and civil rights, several of which resulted in published opinions on
subjects of employment unlawful detainer and condemnation. Doug has tried
over one hundred cases, in this county and counties through out California, as
well as Federal and United States Bankruptcy Court.
Doug donated his time to form the Santa Clara County Correction Peace
Officers Association. Several years later as one of their attorneys Doug
handled cases that defined peace officer powers and he helped negotiate and
draft legislation defining law enforcement powers, and settling major internal
County disputes. Doug's law enforcement defense record stand as one of the
best in the state, with an over all record of over 80% success. Doug has also
used his expertise in law enforcement issues to obtain successful jury verdicts
on behalf of citizen victims of excessive force.
While practicing, Doug has made time to coach high school football and
wrestling. Teams where Doug has been an assistant coach have logged nine
championship seasons. Doug's work on local charities has helped the
community, including helping the West Valley/Mission Community College
Foundation renovate the college theater, and build high technology learning
centers.
Doug's has a son in college and lives in Santa Clara County with his wife
Francisca who is a Deputy District Attorney.
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