Meredith Osborn, former Chief Trial Deputy at the City Attorney’s Office for San Francisco, is an accomplished litigator and trial lawyer with extensive civil and criminal litigation experience. Before joining the City Attorney’s Office, Meredith served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of California for 6 years (2014-2020). During the course of her career, she has served as first chair in four jury trials and one bench trial as a prosecutor and defense counsel, tried seven cases in state and federal court, written 30 appellate briefs, and argued 13 cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Most recently, she served as trial counsel in a seven-day federal antitrust trial resulting in a unqualified defense verdict for her client.
As Chief Trial Deputy at the City Attorney’s Office for San Francisco, Meredith oversaw civil litigation on behalf of the City and County of San Francisco in the Bay Area’s state and federal courts. She was responsible for defending city agencies and employees in a wide variety of litigation, including class actions and multiparty indemnification and insurance coverage disputes. She also investigated and prosecuted cases brought under California’s Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices Statute.
Before becoming a federal prosecutor, Meredith was one of the founding members of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and served as an enforcement attorney in the agency. She brought the first case alleging abusive acts and practices under the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA) and led the team responsible for establishing the Bureau’s authority over tribally chartered financial services companies. Meredith served as Policy Advisor in the U.S. Treasury Department as part of the team responsible for standing up the new federal agency and was the Special Assistant to the first Director of Enforcement.
Meredith began her career as a Deputy City Attorney in the City Attorney’s Office for San Francisco on its Trial Team.
Experience
- Bayer Healthcare LLC and Elanco Animal Health in winning a defense verdict after a seven-day trial in an antitrust case brought by Tevra Brands LLC, which failed to prove a relevant antitrust market.
- AT&T in regulatory proceeding to obtain relief from Carrier of Last Resort, Eligible Telecommunications Carrier, and other state regulatory obligations.
- GlobalTranz as appellate counsel in a case attempting to impose carrier liability on a transportation broker filed in Sacramento County Superior Court.
- Businessman in a wire fraud criminal case in the Northern District of California.
- Venture capital firm in connection with a grand jury subpoena regarding portfolio company.
Perspectives
Credentials
Education
- J.D., Harvard Law School, 2006, magna cum laude
- M.Sc., International and European Politics, The University of Edinburgh, 2003, with distinction
- A.B., Harvard University, 2002, magna cum laude
Admissions
- California
Government & Military Service
- Chief Trial Deputy, San Francisco City Attorney’s Office (2020-2023)
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California (2014-2020)
- Enforcement Attorney, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2011-2014)
- Policy Advisor, Department of the Treasury (September 2010-July 2011)
Clerkships
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, The Honorable John T. Noonan, Jr.
Activities
- Adjunct Professor, Criminal Procedure, University of California, Hastings College of the Law (2019-present)
- Chair, SF Bar Association's Judiciary Committee
- Legal Advisory Committee Member, American Fintech Counsel