Clyde Otis joined Post Polak in 2015. He has over 25 years of commercial litigation experience in Federal and State courts and a lifetime of experience addressing the business and legal needs of the entertainment industry. Most recently, Clyde spent over 10 years in the public sector, where he represented municipal entities in legal and business affairs, land use, redevelopment, labor and disciplinary matters, litigation and municipal prosecution. He served the City of Newark as:
Clyde successfully represented Newark in litigation and transactional matters, and helped developers navigate redevelopment projects, contracts and planning matters through Newark’s legal and legislative process. He also spent several years as the Municipal Prosecutor for Maplewood and has served as Special Prosecutor for Orange and Irvington. He has tried hundreds of municipal court cases including over 30 DWI trials. Clyde represented the City of Newark in over 100 disciplinary actions, police trials and administrative proceedings and also negotiated collective bargaining agreements. Clyde’s tenure in Newark’s City Hall assists the Firm in its current position as General Counsel to the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation. Clyde’s land use experience is enhanced by his current position as a member of he Zoning Board of Adjustments for the Township of Maplewood.
Clyde comes from a family with very strong ties to the entertainment industry. They have been in the music business for over 60 years. His father, Clyde Sr., was a legendary songwriter and producer, writing and producing hits for Brook Benton, Dinah Washington, Nat King Cole, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Mathis, Randy Travis, Ray Charles and countless others. He was also one of the first black executives at a major record company. His mother, Lourdes, a very success model who appeared on the cover of Ebony and other magazines, was the first person of color with a recurring role on primetime television. For many years, Clyde has handled all litigation, legal and business affairs involving over 4,000 copyrights and 300 writers. He is experienced in copyright infringement litigation as well as experienced in television and movie transactional representation.
Earlier in his legal career, Clyde was associated with large, mid-sized and boutique law firms in New Jersey and New York. He is an Adjunct Professor at Cardozo Law School; teaching Municipal Governance. He served as a law clerk to the Honorable William L. Hungate, USDJ, Eastern District of Missouri.
Experienced in all aspects of administrative law, transactional law, land use and litigation relevant to the representation of airports and airport users.
Post Polak attorneys have collectively been doing just that for decades, and a significant portion of that role has been devoted to handling corporate and commercial disputes in both federal and state courts, as well as before administrative bodies.
In addition to regularly advising our business clients on employment practices and in the drafting of policies and procedures, employee handbooks and employment contracts, Post Polak’s employment litigators have substantial experience in representing both employers and business executives in federal and state courts, before federal and state regulatory entities in New Jersey, and in arbitration and mediation forums.
Our attorneys have represented the largest city in the state, suburban boroughs and even municipalities with special charters. We are experienced in municipal contracting and have substantial experience negotiating agreements for the procurement of potable water and the operation and maintenance of municipal utility systems.
Whether the matter is complex or simple our attorneys can handle all aspects of the land use process. Moreover, the firm’s attorneys can add value to the process by making optimal use of statutes that permit payments in lieu of real estate taxes.
