Judi Otteson – Gatik AI Inc.

In the world of autonomous technology and logistics, change isn’t just constant—it is accelerating. For Gatik, a company revolutionizing regional distribution networks with autonomous delivery solutions, staying ahead means more than developing cutting-edge technology. It also requires navigating a dense and evolving legal landscape. That is where Judi Otteson plays a vital role.

Judi Otteson | Gatik AI Inc. | Chief Legal Officer

“Gatik is uniquely positioned to ​optimize the supply chain for the continent’s ​l​argest retailers, grocers and eCommerce companies,” said Judi Otteson, Gatik’s ​chief Legal Officer. “​M​y role is focused on support​ing ​the company as we continue to scale safely and rapidly in the months ahead, ensuring we continue to raise industry standards in safety, compliance, and accountability, while delivering on the ​t​rue advantages of safer, more ​s​ustainable, and more efficient autonomous ​n​etworks for our customers.”

With nearly three decades of legal experience across public and private companies, Otteson brings a unique blend of grit, precision, and strategic foresight to Gatik. Since joining in 2022 and stepping into her current role in early 2025, she has helped transform Gatik’s legal department into a cornerstone of the company’s long-term success—one that champions safety, compliance, and growth without ever slowing down.

From social work to Silicon Valley

Otteson’s path to the C-suite wasn’t conventional. Before attending law school, she earned a master’s degree in social work and worked for Santa Clara County CPS, advocating for some of society’s most vulnerable individuals. She later graduated from Rutgers Law and began her legal career as a public defender.

“I wanted to fight for fairness, but trial work didn’t feel sustainable long term,” she says.

Her pivot to corporate law came in 2000, and it was a revelation.

“I quickly recognized that working in-house was the environment where I could truly thrive,” Otteson recalls. “It combined strategic thinking, collaboration, and the opportunity to help shape a business.”

After four years in private practice and an in-house role at @Road, she joined NeoPhotonics, where she rose to become general counsel and chief compliance officer. She later served as GC at Matterport, gaining valuable experience leading through scale, public offerings, and compliance transformations.

This mix of public and private sector legal expertise has been instrumental at Gatik, where the company’s ambitions include not only scaling Freight-Only (driverless) delivery, but eventually going public.

“Having experience with both public and private companies is extremely valuable,” she says. “I’ve seen what’s required to operate at public-company standards and brought that mindset into our current structure.”

Building a legal function that drives growth

Founded with a mission to modernize supply chains through autonomous technology today—not years from now—Gatik focuses on “middle-mile” logistics: short-haul, high-frequency routes between warehouses, distribution centers and retail storefronts. With a growing fleet of medium-duty autonomous box trucks and partnerships with major retailers, Gatik is redefining what it means to move goods safely and efficiently.

Otteson’s legal team is small but mighty: one attorney, a senior paralegal, and a legal admin. She supplements this lean in-house team with trusted outside counsel, many of whom she’s worked with for years. This hybrid model allows the department to remain agile while providing top-tier legal support across all functions.

Central to Otteson’s philosophy is cultivating a “kinder, gentler” legal team.

“We’re not the department of ‘no’—we’re the department of ‘no, but,’” she explains. “We collaborate closely with every department to find creative, compliant solutions. That’s how we build trust.”

That trust extends across the executive leadership team.

“After nearly three years together, we’ve built a foundation of mutual respect that I haven’t always experienced in other roles,” she adds. “It’s a privilege to work with people I admire and trust.”

Preparing for public company readiness

Though no IPO timeline has been announced, Otteson has laid the groundwork to ensure Gatik is ready whenever the opportunity comes.

“Even if we don’t know the exact timing, preparing isn’t wasted effort,” she says. “It’s about building a strong, resilient company with scalable processes, disciplined reporting, and thoughtful governance.”

From tightening internal controls to running compliance training, Otteson has led Gatik’s transformation into a company that can meet public market expectations without compromising innovation.

“By treating public readiness as a long-term capability rather than a short-term goal, we avoid the chaos of a reactive IPO sprint,” she says. “That credibility—internally and externally—is priceless.”

One standout project that ties directly into this preparation is Gatik’s move toward Freight-Only (driverless) operations at scale in 2025. The legal implications are complex, and Otteson’s team is essential in ensuring that deployment aligns with safety standards, data privacy, and regulatory mandates.

Shaping the legal future of autonomous tech

The autonomous vehicle space is as legally complex as it is technologically advanced. With a patchwork of state-level policies constantly evolving and no unified federal standard yet in place, companies like Gatik are at the forefront of developing autonomous vehicle legislation and accompanying regulatory frameworks. Otteson sees this as an exciting opportunity.

“There’s a rare chance right now to help shape how safety, compliance, and innovation coexist,” she says.

Gatik’s safety-first philosophy isn’t marketing fluff—it’s embedded in the company’s operations.

“We go beyond industry norms in our audits, checks, and decision-making frameworks. Legal doesn’t just protect the company—we enable safe, responsible progress.”

AI plays a major role in Gatik’s vehicles, and increasingly, in Otteson’s own work.

“AI can help us review documents faster, spot issues earlier, and focus more time on strategic thinking,” she says. “It’s a valuable tool, but it won’t replace judgment, ethics, or context. That’s where lawyers are still irreplaceable.”

For aspiring legal leaders, she offers clear advice:

“Advocate for yourself. Find where you can add value. Build strong connections—those relationships will support you in the toughest moments of your career.”

Resilience and redefining success

Otteson’s story isn’t just about professional ascent. It’s also one of personal resilience. Raised in a household where money was tight and her father was often unemployed, she was determined early on to build a life defined by stability and purpose. After a 16-year marriage and raising two children while working full time, she’s now remarried and splits time between the Bay Area and Kona, Hawaii.

The challenges she faced along the way—including the uphill battle to land her first general counsel role—have only strengthened her resolve.

“That moment at NeoPhotonics, where I had to prove I could lead before I got the title, taught me how important persistence and preparation are,” she says.

Now, at the helm of Gatik’s legal department, Judi Otteson is not only helping to steer one of the most innovative companies in the logistics space—she’s setting a new standard for what it means to lead with clarity, collaboration, and conviction in a high-stakes, high-speed world.

As autonomous trucks hit the road and Gatik’s influence continues to grow, it’s clear that Otteson’s steady hand on the legal wheel is helping drive the company—and the industry—toward a safer, smarter, and more strategically sound future.