City Attorney, Michael E. Gates
Michael was elected as Huntington Beach City Attorney on November 4, 2014. Prior to his election, Michael was a partner at a successful law firm in Orange County, serving as a trial attorney and had defended numerous clients in a wide range of legal areas such as: Federal Civil Rights (Excessive Force), Public Entity Law, Government Tort Liability, General Liability, Truck/Automobile Liability, Premises Liability, Products Liability, Professional Liability, Medical Malpractice, and Employment Law. He has represented clients such as the County of Orange, Orange County Sheriff's Department, Orange County District Attorney, Catholic schools and parishes, various large scale trucking companies, and various physicians, surgeons, and other medical professionals and hospitals in the Orange County and Los Angeles areas.
Through his law partnership and his extensive experience as a business owner in Huntington Beach, Michael has demonstrated strong management and leadership skills - leading teams to produce the highest quality work product and services.
Michael's legal experience began in 2006 when he had the privilege of working as a clerk for the United States Department of Justice engaged in the prosecuting fraud cases on behalf of the U.S. Government. He also clerked two terms with the Orange County District Attorney's Office in both the Felony and Major Frauds units, and worked for a federal bankruptcy judge for the Central District of California. Michael also worked as a Certified Law Clerk representing minors before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, where he undertook significant law and motion to protect the due process rights of unrepresented minors in the immigration court system.
Michael earned his Juris Doctor from Chapman University School of Law. Prior to his legal education, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Management, magna cum laude, from Pepperdine University, and has been a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honors Society for almost ten years.
Michael earned the "Commitment to Service Award" for completing over 50 hours of pro bono work, volunteered his time performing legal research and writing defending a Title VII, religious discrimination case for the Pacific Justice Institute and worked over 30 hours of directed research for the Anaheim Family Justice Center.
Michael and his wife, Kelly, are life-long residents of Huntington Beach. Michael and Kelly met in Huntington Beach shortly after graduating from Marina and Huntington Beach high schools, respectively. They were married in 1997 and now have five beautiful children: Michael, Madeleine, John, Gregory and Catherine. As an active member of the Huntington Beach community, Michael taught for two years (year round) at Golden West College in the Computer Science Department and served for 10 years at Ocean View Little League as a volunteer baseball manager/coach. Michael's family has also been actively involved in other youth sports in Huntington Beach such as AYSO, S.C.A.T.S., and Friday Night Lights, among others.
Did you know?
The Public Works Graffiti Removal program responds to over 2,500 reports of graffiti on public and private property throughout the city. Request Graffiti removal online.
Contact Information
City of Huntington Beach
City Attorney Office
2000 Main Street
Huntington Beach, CA
Phone: (714) 536-5555
Fax: (714) 374-1590
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