Background and Experience

Mr. Parkin was elected Long Beach City Attorney on June 3, 2014. City Attorney Charles Parkin has extensive experience with the City of Long Beach. He began his career in 1985 working for the Department of Oil Properties. In 1995 Mr. Parkin was hired as a Deputy City Attorney, in October of 2006 was promoted to Principal Deputy City Attorney, in January of 2012 was promoted to Assistant City Attorney and in August of 2013 the City Council appointed Mr. Parkin City Attorney.

Mr. Parkin's experience includes representing the City of Long Beach in general civil litigation matters, negotiating settlements, conducting jury trials, bench trials, mediations, arbitrations and depositions. Mr. Parkin has advised various City Departments including City Auditor, City Clerk, Water, Police, Fire, Oil Properties, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Community Development, Health, Public Works, Financial Management and Human Resources.

In addition to his administrative duties in the office, Mr. Parkin currently advises the City Council, City Clerk and also provides legal advice regarding Tidelands issues, open meeting laws and conflict of interest regulations.

The City Attorney's Office is comprised of five divisions: Departmental Counsel, Litigation, Harbor, Workers' Compensation, and Administrative, and has an operating budget of approximately 10.8 million dollars for fiscal year 2016. The office is the sole and exclusive legal advisor of the City, City Council and all City commissions, committees, officers and employees. The City Attorney’s Office consists of 69 employees, including 23 attorneys. It is charged with municipal, legal responsibilities as complex as any in the state.

Professional Affiliations

Mr. Parkin is admitted to practice in California and before the United States District Court for the Central District, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Parkin is a member of the California State Bar Association (Public Law Section), Long Beach Bar Association (Elected to the Board of Governors for the terms of 2003-2004 and 2012-2013) and served as President of the Long Beach City Attorney's Association for the term of 2003-2004 and served as the Vice-President 2002-2003. Mr. Parkin has served as an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Long Beach City Employees Federal Credit Union since 1998 and as Chairman since 2011, and is a member in good standing of the City Attorney Association of Los Angeles County.

Education

Mr. Parkin graduated cum laude from Pacific Coast University, School of Law and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University, Long Beach.