Overview And Experience
John F. Olsen, a versatile, passionate and skilled litigator and trial attorney, brings 30+ years of experience to the Firm. Mr. Olsen has handled all types of commercial disputes for clients of all sizes and in all industries. He has prosecuted and defended contract, employment, construction, antitrust, intellectual property, tort and contract claims before courts and arbitration panels in venues across the country.
Throughout his career, Mr. Olsen has always focused on fully understanding his clients’ motivation and objectives and has always done his best to make sure his clients understand the legal process. Mr. Olsen feels clients and lawyers must always work together to design the best strategy to achieve the client’s objectives as efficiently as possible with the resources available and must be able to adapt and change course, if necessary, as matters progress.
Early in his career, Mr. Olsen was an associate attorney at the international law firms of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker in Los Angeles, and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in Los Angeles and New York.
Education and Background
- B.A., University of New Hampshire
- J.D., with distinction, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
- Order of the Coif
- International Moot Court Honors Board
- Staff Member, Pacific Law Journal
Representative Matters
Two of Mr. Olsen’s more memorable experiences are summarized below.
- $40.4 million jury verdict. Mr. Olsen was part of trial team that achieved a $40.4 million jury verdict in a defamation action filed on behalf of his investment fund clients. The claims concerned inflammatory and false remarks printed in a due diligence investigation report concerning his clients. After a 10-day trial, the jury awarded more than $39 million in actual, compensatory damages plus punitive damages. The Court later awarded more than $6 million in interest. Mr. Olsen was also part of the team that successfully defended the verdict before the New Jersey Appellate Division and the New Jersey Supreme Court.
- $200 million antitrust settlement. Mr. Olsen was part of a team of lawyers that brought an antitrust case on behalf of client Swedish Match against United States Smokeless Tobacco in federal court in Owensboro, Kentucky. After the team developed evidence through witness interviews and depositions taken across the country, the case settled in Swedish Match’s favor for $200 million plus a cigar company.
Bar and Court Admissions
- New York
- New Jersey
- California
Practice Areas
Outside General Counseling
- Negotiating and drafting contracts
- Negotiating, drafting, and reviewing leases
- Handling employment and immigration matters
- Managing Corporate Governance
- Risk Management Policies and Procedures
Litigation
- Non-compete Litigation
- Trade Secret Litigation
- Contracts & Agreement
- Restrictive Covenant Litigation
- Civil and Commercial Litigation
- Breach of Contract Disputes
- Employment Litigation and Counseling
- Class Litigation Defense
- Debt Collection
- Restaurant & Franchise Litigation
- Unfair Business Practices
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty
- Fraud & Misrepresentation
Businesses
- Business Formation
- Commercial Lease Agreements
- Operating Agreements
- Subscription Agreements
- Partnership Agreements
- Non-Disclosure Agreements
- Master Service Agreements
- Manufacturing Agreement
- E-Commerce Policies
- Physician Services Agreements
- Pharmacist Services Agreements
- Physical Therapist Services Agreements
Individuals
- Real Estate Closings
- Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning
- Physician Employment Agreements
- Employment & Severance Negotiation
Our Awards
