New LA Harbor Department General Counsel Named 

Steve Otera
Steve Otera
Steve Otera. Photo via Port of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Assistant City Attorney Steve Otera has been tapped as general counsel to the Los Angeles Harbor Department, leading the legal team that advises on operations at the Port of Los Angeles and provides counsel to the Los Angeles Harbor Commission. 

Otera, who takes over the role after Janna Sidley retired earlier this year, is a familiar face at the Harbor Department, where he worked for almost 20 years. In his assistant city attorney role, Otera led the in-house legal staff at the port, counseled on container terminal leasing, land use, contracts and other matters. 

Before coming to the L.A. City Attorney’s Office, Otera worked in private practice for more than 10 years, including his time as director of legal compliance and education at LRN (previously Legal Research Network). He received a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. 

“With his depth of experience, as well as strong relationships with port staff and the Board of Harbor Commissioners, Steve is fully prepared to serve as General Counsel during this pivotal time in the port’s history,” said Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer, who named Otera to the role. 

“Steve’s work over the past decade has centered on transactional matters related to port container terminals and operations, a background that makes him ideally qualified for this leadership position,” Feuer said. 

By Karen Robes Meeks