Mary C. Richardson

Mary Creer Richardson was appointed Port Attorney for the Port of Oakland effective December 31, 2021. Ms. Richardson joined the Port in 2008 as a Deputy Port Attorney and has served as the Assistant Port Attorney since 2019. She has been involved in several major Port of Oakland projects over the last 13 years including handling of real estate, construction, grant, and interagency coordination agreements related to the development of the former Oakland Army Base, as well as the International Arrivals Building, Terminal 1 renovation and runway rehabilitation projects at Oakland International Airport. As Port Attorney, Ms. Richardson is responsible for advising the Port on all legal matters that arise in the conduct of Port’s Maritime, Aviation, and Commercial Real Estate businesses. In addition, Ms. Richardson and the Port Attorney’s Office manage and provide legal advice in several areas, including claims and litigation, labor and employment, finance, utilities, environmental remediation and protection, regulatory guidance, and land use.

Prior to joining the Port, Ms. Richardson represented various public agencies, contractors, sureties, insurance companies, and other businesses first as a law firm associate attorney and later as corporate counsel. Ms. Richardson received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Cornell University and her Juris Doctor from the University of California Hastings College of the Law. Ms. Richardson is a Bay Area native who attended Holy Names High School in Oakland and currently serves as an active member and officer in local school, charitable and civic organizations.