City Government

Oakland City Attorney Hires Top Litigator as Special Counsel

Published

12 years ago

April 25, 2014

Oakland City Attorney’s Office has hired senior trial attorney Otis McGee as Special Counsel.

McGee most recently served as a Partner and Senior Trial Attorney at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, LLP. He started work in the City Attorney’s Office this month and is assigned to act as the Chief Assistant City Attorney in charge of litigation for the City of Oakland.

“Mr. McGee’s expertise, skill and leadership will be an extraordinary asset for the City of Oakland,” said City Attorney Barbara Parker. “As a top trial attorney with broad experience in complex areas of law, Otis is a tremendous addition to our legal team as we fight to protect the City’s resources and interests.”

McGee has nearly four decades of legal experience. He attended UC Berkeley Law School after serving as a police officer in Pacifica and as an investigator for the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office.

In 1980, he co-founded the firm Ocampo, Millner & McGee. Following several mergers, the firm became Alexander, Millner & McGee, at one time the largest minority-owned firm in in the country, with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City and Philadelphia.

McGee served as Managing Partner throughout the firm’s tenure.

McGee joined Sheppard Mullin as a partner in 1997. His areas of expertise include labor and employment, products liability, environmental and toxics matters and general commercial litigation.

He has substantial jury trial experience, including work for the City of Oakland, and has conducted numerous investigations for both public and private entities. In the products liability and consumer warranty arenas, he has represented manufacturers of automobiles and light trucks, consumer products, industrial equipment, pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

McGee is also a trained arbitrator and mediator. He has been selected as a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Litigation Counsel of America.