Ryan Richardson currently serves Oakland as our Chief Assistant City Attorney and is part of our Executive Management Team. He will be sworn in as Oakland’s newly elected City Attorney on January 6th, 2025.

“Ryan has been an extraordinary partner in advancing the work of our office. I am proud of Ryan’s leadership and accomplishments, and I am confident that he will build upon the progressive legacy of our office, the integrity of our office, the diversity of our office, and also chart his own course. I am excited to pass the baton to Ryan because he will continue to work diligently to serve all Oaklanders as our new City Attorney, just as he has for the past ten years in his roles as Chief Assistant City Attorney, Special Counsel and Supervising Deputy City Attorney of the Labor and Employment Unit.” – City Attorney Barbara J. Parker

Ryan received his undergraduate degree from Howard University, one of our country’s most renowned Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and earned his law degree from University of Southern California (USC) Law School. He began his legal career at the Jones Day law firm, then founded his own law firm, where he represented employees against Fortune 500 employers in harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation and wage-hour litigation. He also taught as an adjunct professor at USC Law School.

Ryan has been working for the City of Oakland for more than a decade. He initially was an analyst in the City’s equal employment office, working on labor negotiations, police accountability efforts, and other matters. Ryan’s work helped to strengthen the Police Commission, Community Police Review Agency, and Office of the Inspector General. As the head of our Office’s Advisory Division, Ryan now oversees all Oakland City Attorney advisory teams and serves as the primary parliamentarian at City Council meetings. Congratulations on your electoral victory, Ryan! We look forward to seeing you in action in your new capacity as Oakland’s elected City Attorney.