Bio
Waukeen Q. McCoy Appointed to UC Law San Francisco Board of Trustees
Effective July 1st, Waukeen Q. McCoy joins the Board of Trustees at UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), bringing with him decades of legal excellence, entrepreneurial leadership, and unwavering commitment to civil rights and social justice.
A native of Tatum, Texas, McCoy graduated from Tatum High School before earning his B.A. in Political Science from San Francisco State University in 1988. He received his J.D. from UC Hastings College of the Law in 1992.
McCoy’s legal career began with early roles at Mullen & Filipi and as a law clerk for Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro. He also served as a procedural motions deputy clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, under Judges Joseph T. Sneed and James Browning.
In 1993, McCoy launched The McCoy Law Firm in San Francisco, where he continues to serve as President and CEO. The firm has earned national recognition for its focus on employment and civil rights litigation. Among his landmark victories is In re Marriage Cases (2008), where McCoy successfully argued before the California Supreme Court, leading to California becoming the second state to legalize same-sex marriage. He also secured a historic $132 million discrimination verdict against the parent company of Wonder Bread—one of the largest in U.S. history.
His dedication to public service includes a four-year term on the San Francisco Ethics Commission (2002–2006), appointed by Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. In recognition of his impact, Mayor Brown declared September 1st as Waukeen McCoy Day in San Francisco in 2000.
McCoy has received numerous honors for his work, including the Champions of Justice and Equality Award from the Bayard Rustin Coalition and a Lawyer of the Year nomination from the Charles Houston Bar Association.
Beyond law, McCoy is active in sports and entertainment. He serves as President and CFO of Overtime Sports Management Group, overseeing football and basketball operations, and is founder and CEO of Genuine Sports Group, a full-service talent agency representing clients across the NFL, NBA, MLB, music, and film.
A dedicated community advocate, McCoy has served on the board of the YMCA of San Francisco’s Urban Services branch and Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF). He currently sits on the advisory board for the University of San Francisco’s Sports Management Master’s Program and is a proud member of the California Employment Lawyers Association.