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Oakland City Attorney Hires Top Litigator as Special Counsel

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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.

 

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Oakland Post: Week of November 26 – December 2, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 26 – December 2, 2025

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Oakland Post: Week of November 19 – 25, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 19 – 25, 2025

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IN MEMORIAM: William ‘Bill’ Patterson, 94

Bill devoted his life to public service and education. In 1971, he became the founding director for the Peralta Community College Foundation, he also became an administrator for Oakland Parks and Recreation overseeing 23 recreation centers, the Oakland Zoo, Children’s Fairyland, Lake Merritt, and the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center.

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William "Bill" Patterson, 94. Photo courtesy of the Patterson family.

William “Bill” Patterson, 94, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2025, at his home in Oakland, CA. He was born on May 19, 1931, to Marie Childress Patterson and William Benjamin Patterson in Little Rock, Arkansas. He graduated from Dunbar High School and traveled to Oakland, California, in 1948. William Patterson graduated from San Francisco State University, earning both graduate and undergraduate degrees. He married Euradell “Dell” Patterson in 1961. Bill lovingly took care of his wife, Dell, until she died in 2020.

Bill devoted his life to public service and education. In 1971, he became the founding director for the Peralta Community College Foundation, he also became an administrator for Oakland Parks and Recreation overseeing 23 recreation centers, the Oakland Zoo, Children’s Fairyland, Lake Merritt, and the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center.

He served on the boards of Oakland’s Urban Strategies Council, the Oakland Public Ethics Commission, and the Oakland Workforce Development Board.

He was a three-term president of the Oakland branch of the NAACP.

Bill was initiated in the Gamma Alpha chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

In 1997 Bill was appointed to the East Bay Utility District Board of Directors. William Patterson was the first African American Board President and served the board for 27 years.

Bill’s impact reached far beyond his various important and impactful positions.

Bill mentored politicians, athletes and young people. Among those he mentored and advised are legends Joe Morgan, Bill Russell, Frank Robinson, Curt Flood, and Lionel Wilson to name a few.

He is survived by his son, William David Patterson, and one sister, Sarah Ann Strickland, and a host of other family members and friends.

A celebration of life service will take place at Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center (Calvin Simmons Theater) on November 21, 2025, at 10 AM.

His services are being livestreamed at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1250167107131991/

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Euradell and William Patterson scholarship fund TBA.

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