MEET OUR TEAM

With over thirty years of combined experience in trial litigation and strong connections with our local community, the attorneys of OPLaw are ready to help you.

Rebecca J. Otey

PARTNER

Rebecca's legal experience crisscrosses the country and reads like an adventure novel.  From her start as a public defender trying felony cases in Miami, Florida, to serving her country in the U.S. Air Force, to protecting her community as a domestic and sexual violence criminal prosecutor in Addison County, Rebecca's wealth of legal experience has prepared her for any legal need her clients might have.

Rebecca was born on Yokota Air Force Base in Japan and subsequently moved frequently in her childhood.  She graduated from Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, SD in 1998.  Rebecca earned a B.S.B.A. in International Business from Drake University in 2001 and her Juris Doctorate from University of Iowa College of Law in 2004.

During law school, Rebecca studied European Union law in the south of France and British common law in London with a British Barrister.  After graduating from law school, Rebecca joined the Miami, Florida Public Defenders' Office, gaining valuable criminal defense and trial experience in a wide variety of misdemeanor and felony cases for indigent defendants.  She then joined a private criminal defense firm in Coral Gables, Florida, continuing her criminal defense practice and experience.

In 2007, Rebecca felt the call to serve her country and joined the United States Air Force as a Judge Advocate General.  While stationed at Scott Air Force Base in  Illinois, Rebecca rose through the ranks while broadening her legal skills and experience helping military personnel with their legal issues.  During her active duty tour Rebecca wrote wills and counseled airman about their estates, worked in labor law, civil litigation and continued to expand her trial experience in criminal defense.  Still a major in the Air Force reserves, Rebecca continues to serve her country and assist the men and women of the Air Force as appellate defense counsel, reporting to her duty station in Washington, D.C.

In 2012, Rebecca and her husband moved back to Vermont with plans to stay and raise their two children.  Rebecca joined the Addison County State's Attorney's Office as the domestic and sexual violence prosecutor under a federal grant.  For two years, Rebecca prosecuted domestic batterers and sexual predators, obtaining countless guilty pleas and no less than two guilty verdicts from trial juries.

At home, Rebecca enjoys her time with her husband and children on their hobby farm, raising chickens and ducks, along with a cat, a dog, and a horse the whole family is learning to ride. 

Christopher E. Perkett

Partner

Before forming OPLaw with Rebecca, Chris spent 15 years serving his community as a criminal prosecutor with the Addison County State's Attorney's Office.  Having successfully argued more than 100 trials, Chris is one of the more experienced criminal trial attorneys in Vermont.  He has shepherded criminal cases from their start at arraignment, through motion practice and jury trials, and has even argued before the Vermont Supreme Court a number of times.  Chris is completely familiar with all aspects of any criminal law case.

A native Vermonter, Chris grew up in South Burlington and graduated from South Burlington High School in 1988.  He earned a B.A. in Sociology from UVM in 1992 and his Juris Doctorate from Syracuse University College of Law in 1996.

After graduating, Chris started his law career in Oregon, working first for the Klamath County District Attorney as a domestic violence prosecutor, then as a Deputy District Attorney in Umatilla County, Oregon. After nearly four years, Chris returned home to Vermont to be closer to his family, and joined a general law practice in Bennington, Vermont, then a family law firm in Burlington. 

In 2004, Chris was deputized by State’s Attorney John Quinn and began his 15-year run as an Addison County prosecutor.  During his tenure, he taught new police officers at the Vermont Police Academy, served on legislative committees relating to criminal justice, and prosecuted thousands of criminal cases from minor cases like shoplifting to multi-day trials involving sexual violence or homicide.  Chris is one of the most experienced attorneys in Vermont in juvenile law and is one of the few attorneys who has completed Drug Recognition Expert training, which trains police officers to recognize when drivers are impaired by drugs other than alcohol.

When not working, Chris enjoys spending time with his wife Dorothy and their son sailing on the lake, hiking, and skiing at the Snow Bowl.