Opal McKinney-Williams Senior Attorney

ATTORNEY OPAL McKINNEY-WILLIAMS is a Senior Attorney at Pittman Law Group. Opal has extensive experience working with local governments in the areas of administrative and regulatory law and compliance. Prior to joining PLG, Opal spent a decade as shareholder at Ausley McMullen, a Tallahassee-based, full service civil litigation firm. While at Ausley, her practice focused primarily on legal representation and compliance for education-focused governmental entities. An accomplished attorney, Opal has worked closely with education-focused governmental entities on a variety of education related matters. Opal also advises on election law and campaign finance compliance.

Opal’s relevant litigation experience includes successfully defending local governments against alleged violations of the sunshine law and the public records act, in rule challenges and administrative disputes challenging both home rule and delegated legislative authority, in redistricting litigation, and in administrative disputes alleging violations of the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act.

In addition, Opal has a wealth of experience helping local governments to examine and adjust existing policies, procedures, operations, and programs to ensure continued compliance with an ever evolving legislative and legal landscape.  Opal has managed the legal affairs of local governments in the areas of business law, employment law, contract drafting, negotiation and review, procurement, governance, compliance, and policy development.

A native of Miami, Florida, Opal obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from Florida State University in 2002, and her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, magna cum laude, from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in 1998.  She is a Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist (B.C.S.) in Education Law.  Opal is an Emeritus Member of the Florida School Board Attorneys Association, a statewide association for attorneys representing Florida’s 67 school districts. Opal is also an A/V rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell (its highest rating), and her legal accomplishments and abilities have been recognized by such publications as the Florida Trend’s Legal Elite. Opal is a member of Leadership Florida’s Cornerstone Class 26, and Leadership Tallahassee, Class 24. Opal is licensed to practice in the state of Florida, as well as the Northern District and Southern District Courts for the state of Florida.