Peggy Otum Installed as President of the Bar Association of San Francisco

Peggy Otum Installed as President of the Bar Association of San Francisco

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On December 11, WilmerHale Partner Peggy Otum was officially installed as the president of the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) at its Annual Membership Luncheon at an event attended by leaders from across the San Francisco and Bay Area legal and business community, including valued clients from the University of California, Google, and Gilead. 

Otum, who co-chairs WilmerHale’s nationally recognized Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Practice has served on BASF’s board of directors for a combined 6 years and became president-elect in 2024 She is the first African American woman to lead the organization in its 153-year history. 

In her inaugural address, Otum introduced “Fortifying Justice” as her presidential theme, outlining three priorities: defending judicial independence, expanding access to justice through BASF’s Justice & Diversity Center, and strengthening the pipeline for lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds. 

Reflecting on those who preceded her, Otum described the significance of the moment as “a waypoint on a longer journey toward the kind of legal community we aspire to be — one where opportunity is truly accessible to all, where diversity is not just welcomed but is essential, and where every lawyer, regardless of background, can see themselves reflected in leadership.” 

Otum also acknowledged WilmerHale’s response to the Executive Order targeting the firm: “When that order was issued, my firm did not equivocate. We defended the foundational principle that every person deserves representation. That is what defending the rule of law looks like — not in the abstract, but in the moment when courage is required.” 

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