OLSON & OLSON - Key Persons
Allison Killian is an attorney in Olson & Olson, LLP's municipal litigation practice group. Her practice focuses on local government defense, and she has successfully represented governmental entities and public officials at both the trial and appellate level, including the Supreme Court of Texas, in cases involving complex land use and regulatory taking claims, zoning disputes, boundary disputes, breach of contract claims, civil rights claims, challenges to local regulations, First Amendment claims, Texas' Anti-SLAPP statute, annexation disputes, code enforcement, due process claims, claims of Texas Open Meetings Act violations, and others. She also regularly speaks on the topic of regulatory takings at seminars and conferences. Allison is licensed to practice in both Texas and California. Prior to joining Olson & Olson, she practiced commercial litigation in Orange County California, where she participated in all aspects of litigation practice from case initiation to settlement, including multi-million dollar business disputes.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
Whittier Law School (Costa Mesa, California), Valedictorian, 2014
Andrea Chan brings a multifaceted cache of experience to our clients. Prior to joining Olson & Olson, she served as a Briefing Attorney to the Fourth Court of Appeals District in San Antonio, Texas, and also as a municipal lawyer for the City of Houston. Her local government practice as a Senior Assistant City Attorney included work in the Labor, Employment, and Civil Rights Section and in the Defense Litigation Division. Andrea is highly skilled in appellate matters, oral arguments, alternative dispute resolution, legislative bill drafting and analysis, as well as in drafting and interpreting public policy. As an expert in these areas, Andrea has developed and presented continuing legal education programs for her peers and other interested professionals.
Andrea has also demonstrated her commitment to public service by earning a Master of Public Health degree in Management, Policy & Community Health, as well as a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
University of Houston Law Center, 1990
Job Titles:
- Associate Editor, 1979 - 1980
Bridgette Begle has been working with the legal community for several years, having begun her career as an assistant in the legal marketing department of our municipal department. While an undergrad student and through law school, Bridgette volunteered and worked with various organizations which led to her passion for public service. She understands her community's needs, how the legal system can help and, most importantly, how she can make a difference to her clients.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
University of Houston, 2018
Bachelor of Arts (Public Affairs)
Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tennessee, 2014
Caroline Tom joined Olson & Olson, LLP, and has been working on property tax valuation challenges. She launched her career in local government by working with regulations and regulatory actions as a solo practitioner, specifically working with rural farm and environmental permitting matters. During her law school career, Caroline trained under a district court judge where she developed a strong understanding of substantive areas of law, including the voir dire process in criminal cases, reasoning, outcomes, and potential successful theories. She has joined our firm with exuberance and knowledge to defend client interests. Caroline attended law school with a full tuition scholarship based on academic excellence.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
Baylor Law School, 2018
Bachelor of Arts (Economics & French)
University of Texas, Austin, 2015
Daniel Sylvia is an attorney with Olson & Olson, LLP, where he has worked out of the firm's Liberty, Texas, office since 2021. Since graduating from Texas A&M University in 2014 and South Texas College of Law Houston in 2018, Daniel has dedicated much of his legal career to the representation of local government entities in the areas of property tax litigation, municipal court prosecution, and general municipal law. Daniel is a life-long resident of Chambers County, Texas, where he enjoys spending time in the outdoors and with his family.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
South Texas College of Law Houston, 2018
Bachelor of Arts (Political Science)
Texas A&M University, 2014
David W. Olson has been an integral part of the Olson & Olson team since 2005. His prior experience as a real estate appraiser of commercial property served as a foundation for a career defending appraisal districts and other local government entities. David is an experienced negotiator who is also highly effective in drafting contracts, resolutions, releases, and ordinances. David has helped clients create and defend land regulations, annexations, zoning regulations, subdivision regulations, economic development opportunities, home-rule charter amendments, utility franchising, land acquisition/eminent domain, building and construction regulations, and municipal incorporation. David frequently speaks to groups on the subjects of ethics, Texas Open Meetings Act, the Public Information Act, annexation, and legal concerns of City Government. David is involved as part of Olson & Olson's educational services team, providing annual training for city council members and Board of Adjustment members, as well as to local governmental entities.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
South Texas College of Law, 2005
Bachelor of Business Administration (Marketing and Real Estate)
Baylor University, 1998
Denis Potvin has accumulated many courtroom hours as a successful commercial and civil litigator. Prior to joining the firm, Denis managed an insurance defense docket including personal injury, premises liability, and intellectual property suits. Denis is proficient at handling business disputes, corporate, commercial, and employment law. Denis earned his Juris Doctorate in 2010 from Mississippi College School of Law after graduating cum laude from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
Mississippi College School of Law, 2010
Bachelor of Arts (History & Politics)
Drexel University, Cum Laude, 2007
Denis is an expert in ad valorem tax litigation specializing in advising and defending governmental clients. He represents clients in matters and interests regarding property tax, ensuring that statutes and laws are applied correctly, fairly, and consistently. He works closely with commercial and industrial property owners in resolving disputes concerning tax valuation. He also works with single and multi-family residential communities regarding tax exemption matters such as homestead and agricultural circumstances.
Todd Stewart began his career in local government in 1981, when he was first elected to serve on the city council for the City of Friendswood at the age of 19. At the time, Todd was attending the University of Houston. He was then elected to serve as Mayor Pro-Tem the following year. Upon receiving his undergraduate degree, Todd proceeded to attend law school at South Texas College of Law in Houston while working as a law clerk at Olson & Olson, LLP. Todd is an Eagle Scout who enjoys spending time flying, hunting, fishing, backpacking, sailing, and being outdoors with his family.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
South Texas College of Law, 1987
Bachelor of Arts
University of Houston, 1984
Holly Torres is an accomplished lawyer who developed her fundamental experience by working within the legal system while she attended law school. She handled public benefit matters for the legal aid system, government relations for a national insurance agency, as well as labor and employment matters for a corporate entity. Upon receiving her license in Ohio, she served as a staff attorney with the Community Legal Aid Services, Inc. in Canton, focusing on Landlord Tenant/Real Property, Reentry, and Family issues. Holly readily applied her trial advocacy skills to litigation matters at Olson & Olson, LLP.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio, 2017
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
Texas A&M University, College Station, 2014
Holly Torres specializes in ad valorem tax litigation and regularly represents our clients in matters and interests regarding property tax, ensuring that statutes and laws are applied correctly, fairly, and consistently. As an ad valorem tax litigator who specializes in advising and defending governmental clients, Holly works closely with commercial and industrial property owners in resolving disputes concerning tax valuation and tax exemptions, as well as with single and multi-family residential properties.
Job Titles:
- Paralegal Association, Former Member, 2008
Job Titles:
- Lawyers Association, Scouting Committee, Committee Chair
Paul graduated from South Texas College of Law Houston (STCL). While at STCL Paul competed as a varsity advocate in the nationally ranked Mock Trial program and served as a member of the Currents International Law and Trade Relations journal. Immediately after receiving his juris doctorate degree, Paul began his career as a personal injury lawyer where he gained substantial experience in all aspects of litigation and further developed his skills as he tried multiple cases to successful verdicts.
As a former member of the Texas A&M University Corp of Cadets, Paul continues to exercise his discipline and leadership skills within the legal community. He is an active member of the Texas Bar Association, Houston Bar Association where he serves as a member of the Campaign for the Homelessness Committee, and the Houston Young Lawyers Association where he is the Committee Chair for the Scouts Committee. The Scouts Committee provides Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts with opportunities to better understand the legal profession and to help youths develop academic skills, self-confidence, ethics, leadership skills, and citizenship skills. He is also a council member of the South Texas College of Law Young Alumni Council and a director of the South Texas College of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors. Paul also takes an active role in his community and is a council member with Christ Church Cathedral's 20s & 30s Council that strives to connect young adults throughout the Houston area and to explore and integrate their faith in a supportive community.
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Partner
John J. Hightower is one of the most experienced local government lawyers at Olson & Olson. After graduating with honors from the University of Texas Law School in 1978, John joined the City of Houston's Legal Department where he began his career as an Assistant City Attorney. During his 13 year career a the City Legal Department, John served in a variety of position including as Chief of the Litigation Section from 1987 to 1991. He joined Olson & Olson in 1991 where he served as Managing Partner from 2012 to 2017.
Throughout his career, John has spoken on local government law and litigation issues at educational programs sponsored by a number of legal and local government organizations, including the International Municipal Lawyers Association, the Texas City Attorneys Association, the Texas Municipal League, the State Bar of Texas, the University of Texas, the Center for American and International Law, and the Public Risk Management Association.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
University of Texas School of Law, Austin, with honors, 1978
Bachelor of Science (Political Science)
University of Houston, 1975
John Hightower currently serves as Senior Partner at Olson & Olson, where he handles a docket of administrative and regulatory law, contract law, civil rights matters, takings/inverse condemnation law, state and federal constitutional law, as well as general municipal law. He represents cities, counties, special districts, and other local government entities and public officials across the State of Texas. During his 40 years in practice, John has defended local governments and their officials in cases involving regulatory takings, zoning and subdivision regulation disputes, elections, police shootings, police pursuits, jail suicides, emergency vehicle accidents, first amendment and whistleblower claims, challenges to local regulations, construction accidents, and a myriad of other local government issues.
Jorge Garay has been working in the legal field since 2016, when he was a legal extern and then a law clerk in 2017. Jorge received his undergraduate degree in Philosophy from the University of Houston - Downtown campus. Jorge then went on to receive his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Houston Law Center, where he was busy with Moot Court competitions, the Hispanic Law Student Association, the Latino Law Student Association, as well as with the Houston Business and Tax Law Journal. Jorge's interests in business/commercial litigation are a good fit for the cases he defends on behalf of the Harris County Appraisal District.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
University of Houston Law Center, 2018
Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy)
University of Houston Downtown, 2015
Jorge Garay recently joined the legal team at Olson & Olson, LLP, with experience as a trial attorney at a litigation boutique law firm. Jorge's court docket involves ad valorem tax challenges, and he assists with cases that involve business personal property.
Karen Singer is an experienced trial attorney with a varied background defending public and private clients from a variety of claims. As a Senior Assistant City Attorney in the Labor, Employment, Civil Rights Section for the City of Houston, Karen successfully represented the City in labor and employment disputes asserting violations of Title VII, the TCHRA, ADEA, ADA, FMLA, and FSLA, and counseled and trained management on these laws, City ordinances and policies. Karen also represented the City while defending lawsuits asserting various constitutional violations. Prior to her public service, Karen was in private practice in AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 firms in New York City, where she represented major Wall Street investment firms, broker-dealers, close-corporations, and other private and public companies in securities and contract disputes and business torts.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
Brooklyn Law School (Top 14%), 1992
Bachelor of Arts (Urban Studies)
George Washington University, 1981
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- General Counsel for Hilshire Village
Scott Bounds began his career at Olson & Olson, LLP with 20 years prior experience as a city attorney. He has authored and presented articles on local government law and litigation at educational programs sponsored by the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool, the Texas City Attorney Association, and the State Bar of Texas. During his career, he has successfully represented governmental entities in disputes covering such matters as civil rights, elections, fair housing act, land use regulation, open meetings act, procurement, regulatory takings, taxation, and zoning.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
University of Texas School of Law, Austin, 1975
Bachelor of Arts (Plan II)
University of Texas, Austin, with honors, 1973
Scott currently serves as General Counsel for Hilshire Village, the City of Humble, Gulf Coast Authority, West University Place, Galveston County Water Control & Improvement District No. 1, Taylor Lake Village, and other local governments. He advises and represents local governments on federal and state law matters including contracts, elections, public procurement; open meetings and public information acts; land use regulation including subdivision and zoning; and real estate and right-of-way matters.
Pat Dyer has been an active civil trial attorney for more than 30 years as a litigator in state and federal courts, both at the trial and appellate levels. In 2008, he was appointed by the Texas Supreme Court to the Supreme Court Task Force on Ancillary Proceedings, tasked to review and recommend revisions to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure regarding attachment, execution, garnishment, injunction, sequestration, turnover and trial of right of property. In 2012, Pat was appointed by the Texas Supreme Court to the Texas Process Servers Review Board. In 2011-12, he was also named as a Texas Super Lawyer in the field of business litigation by Thomson Reuters and the publishers of Texas Monthly Magazine. In 2013, Pat was named a Super Lawyer in the field of business litigation in Super Lawyers Business Edition and was also named a Top Lawyer in Houston by Houstonia Magazine. Pat has also received the highest Martindale-Hubbell peer rating of AV Preeminent, recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
University of Texas School of Law, Austin, with honors, 1982
Bachelor of Arts (History & Political Science)
Rice University, 1979
Paul joined Olson & Olson, LLP in May 2017, as a litigator for our tax valuation clients and is well versed with the Texas Property Tax Code and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices (USPAP). Paul resolves disputes concerning tax valuation and handles complex litigation matters, defending our governmental clients' interests and ensuring that statutes and laws are applied correctly, fairly, and consistently.
Paula Alexander delivers a wealth of experience to Olson & Olson's clients. Paula began her distinguished career in local government as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Houston. She later joined the Houston/Harris County Metropolitan Transit Authority, where she established herself as a leader, serving as its General Counsel for 12 years. She worked with the Authority's administration as it transformed a broken bus fleet into a regional multimodal transportation system, engaging in federal regulations that involved operations and management of transit systems and grant programs. While at Metro, she was instrumental in the planning and execution of their corporate development plan and strategic initiatives.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
University of Houston Law Center, 1977
Bachelor of Arts (Social Science)
University of Houston, Magna Cum Laude, 1974
Tammy White-Chaffer, a partner at Olson & Olson, LLP in Houston, Texas, has over 20 years of legal experience and is a skilled and proficient litigator in the area of ad valorem property tax disputes. Tammy handles appraisal challenges and valuation issues of some of the largest, most complex disputes posed by multi-billion dollar corporations from varied industries. Her in-depth knowledge of trial proceedings and pre-trial rulings comes from years of handling a large and wide-ranging civil trial docket as well as appellate matters. Tammy regularly consults and provides legal advice to chief appraisers and in-house counsel representing appraisal districts.
Tommy Ramsey recently joined Olson & Olson, LLP, after practicing law with the Harris County Attorney's Office for the past six years. While at the County Attorney's office, Tommy served as General Counsel to elected and appointed officials, county entities, and special districts including, but not limited to, the Juvenile Board, Juvenile Probation Department, Justices of the Peace, County Court at Law Judges, Probate Court Judges, Probable Cause Court Judges, Bail Bond Board, Sheriff's Civil Service Commission, and Greater Harris County 9-1-1 Emergency Network, in addition to advising numerous other county entities and elected and appointed officials. He provided general legal services and counsel on a broad range of issues including contracts and transactional matters, policies and procedures, and the duties and authority unique to each entity or office. Tommy is highly experienced at analyzing, negotiating, and drafting a variety of agreements and legal instruments to protect the client's interests and ensure compliance with applicable laws and funding requirements.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
South Texas College of Law, 2002
Bachelor of Arts (English)
Baylor University, 1999
Mr. William Andreas Olson was born on July 1, 1923 in Waco, Texas and spent his life dedicated to serving the people of Texas and his beloved family. After graduating from Baylor Law School in 1950, Olson Sr. immediately began representing Texas cities.
During his career, Olson Sr. chaired numerous committees, published many articles, but one of his proudest achievements was his representation of Hank Avery in the landmark case of Avery v Midland County. This case was eventually decided by the United States Supreme Court and extended the constitutional rule of "one-man, one vote" to local governments.
He served as the City Attorney of the City of Houston from 1966-1974 after which he returned to private practice to open what would become a long-standing pillar for local government in Texas, Olson & Olson LLP. Together with his eldest son, Olson Sr. began a tradition of excellence that has grown to serve over 35 local governments and employ over 80 employees.
The vision Olson Sr. had for this firm since its inception has embedded an irrevocable standard of values that is recognized throughout the communities we serve. In honor of his memory and legacy, we at Olson & Olson LLP strive daily to maintain the code of service and truth he instilled through his work and life.