Otis McGee, Jr.

Otis McGee, Jr. is a partner in the firm's San Francisco office where he specializes in labor and employment matters on behalf of management.

Areas of Practice

Mr. McGee has represented management in a myriad of employment related matters for most of the 27 years he has practiced law. These matters have included the primary responsibility for single plaintiff and class action employment litigation, including claims for discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, the Americans with Disabilities Act and alleged wage and hour violations. Matters for which Mr. McGee has had primary responsibility have been resolved during pre-litigation negotiations, alternative dispute resolution and dispositive motions. Employment related jury trials for which Mr. McGee has had primary responsibility include race, sex and age-based discrimination claims, reverse discrimination, constructive discharge and sexual harassment.

Dispute Resolution. Mr. McGee has effectively used various forms of alternative dispute resolution for the early disposition of litigation for which he has had primary responsibility. These processes have included mediations, early neutral evaluations, settlement conferences before third party neutrals, and arbitrations. Mr. McGee also serves as a judge pro tem on the San Francisco Superior Court and as an arbitrator and mediator for the American Arbitration Association.

Litigation Track Record. The vast majority of the employment matters for which Mr. McGee has had responsibility have been resolved during pre-litigation negotiations, alternative dispute resolution and dispositive motions. Over the years, Mr. McGee has tried to verdict over 30 jury trials. The overwhelming majority of these trials resulted in verdicts favorable to Mr. McGee's clients, including a perfect record regarding claims for punitive damages.

Professional Qualifications and Activities

Teaching and Lecturing. Mr. McGee has made the following presentations: "Effective Jury Voir Dire," April 1995 (videotape) and November 1997; "Federal Practice Institute," June 1992; "Effective Use of Video in Trial," (videotape), October 1991; "Fundamentals of Civil Trial Practice," May 1991; "Laying a Foundation to Introduce Evidence," (videotape) September 1988; panel program on cross-examination of plaintiff's expert economist, Lawyers' Club of San Francisco, American Inn of Courts, February 1993; 1977-1985 Hastings College of Law, Assistant Professor (Adjunct) "Evidence Advocacy"; Lecturer, Legal Writing and Research; 1977 Faculty member, Hastings College of Law, College of Advocacy; "Litigating The Titanic The Original and Greatest Disaster of This Century." American Bar Association Showcase Program, ABA Annual Convention, Toronto, Canada, August, 1998 (Videotaped); Champions of The Courtroom, the Masters in Action, State Bar of California Litigation Section, April, 2001.

In 2001, Mr. McGee was inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He presently serves on the National Board of this prestigious organization comprised of trial attorneys and judges.

Awards. In 1988, Mr. McGee received the Charles Houston Bar Association, Clinton W. White award for outstanding achievements in civil litigation. Mr. McGee is a founding member and Master of the Lawyers Club of San Francisco, American Inns of Court. He is a former member of the Board of Directors, Northern California Association of Defense Counsel, former Lawyers' Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, a former Commissioner of the State Bar of California, Judicial Nominees' Evaluation Commission and a former Director of the Bar Association of San Francisco.

Education

• J.D., University of California, Boalt Hall, 1976
• A.B., University of California, Berkeley, 1973

Events

• California Minority Counsel Program Annual Conference, September 12, 2007