Overview
Jen Spaletta is a seasoned water law attorney with over two decades of experience, helping clients navigate complex water, real estate, regulatory, and commercial challenges. Jennifer has served as lead trial counsel in court and jury trials across California and in the Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C., handling cases related to water rights and water quality regulations, constitutional due process, Bureau of Reclamation water project contracts, and commercial contracts.
During her career, Jen has served as both general and special counsel to various public agencies, including reclamation and water districts, wineries, food processors, and agribusiness industry groups.
Before joining Stoel Rives, Jennifer was the proprietor of a boutique law firm for a decade and held with a prominent law firm in California. Additionally, she is a co-owner of Spaletta Vineyards, a walnut and wine grape farming company in San Joaquin Valley.
Education
University of California, Davis, J.D., 1999
University of California, Davis, M.S., Agriculture and Resource Economics, 1998
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, B.S., Agribusiness Policy, Water Science, 1995, summa cum laude
Admissions
California
United States Court of Federal Claims
Experience
- Advised groundwater sustainability agencies on the preparation of groundwater sustainability plans for aqueducts and critically overdrafted sub-basins.
- Member of legal team that secured a legal victory for California water districts in administrative proceeding at California State Water Resources Control Board related to 2015 drought curtailments, and in trial court and appellate action for violation of water users’ constitutional due process rights related to water right curtailments.
- Advised on the DREAM project, a collaboration between the East Bay Municipal Utility District and the North San Joaquin Water Conservation District, facilitating groundwater banking in San Joaquin Valley.
- Negotiated a water consumption reduction deal with the State Water Resources Control Board on behalf of local growers, resulting in a voluntary 25% reduction to prevent mandatory curtailments.
- Member of legal team that secured a legal victory for California farmers in a case related to the Central Valley's Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program. The Third District Court of Appeal rejected all arguments brought by environmental groups and supported the California State Water Resources Control Board, the California Farm Bureau, and other stakeholders. Spaletta represented agricultural intervenors/respondents.
- Trial and appellate counsel for Stockton East Water District in its legal victory for breach of contract against the United States related to the New Melones project on the Stanislaus River.
- Special counsel to water districts in San Joaquin, Kern, Tulare, and Kings Counties regarding implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
- Lead counsel for special district in Tulare County in action to enjoin unlawful groundwater appropriation.
- Special counsel to landowners throughout California to identify and evaluate surface and groundwater water rights for on-site beneficial use or transfer.
Recognition
- Named among Northern California Super Lawyers® (Environmental, Business Litigation, Real Estate) from 2017 to 2023
- 2019 Agribusiness Person of the Year, Lodi District Chamber of Commerce
Affiliations
Professional
- Advisory Council Member for the UC Davis Environmental Law Center
Civic
- Lodi District Grape Growers Association, former Board Member, former President, Member 2005 - present
- Past president of the Women's Center of San Joaquin Valley
- Volunteer youth recreational soccer coach