Area of Practice: Complex real estate and business transactions, business entity formation and governance, business sales, mergers and acquisitions, construction law, land use, zoning and planning.
Experience: Mr. Olsan is an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated attorney*. The California State Bar Board of Trustees has appointed Mr. Olsan to the Executive Committee of the State Bar Real Property Law Section. He has also been recognized by his peers by being named to the list of Northern California Super Lawyers®.
After being admitted to the State Bar of California in 1991, Mr. Olsan began practice as a litigation attorney in Southern California. In 1993, Mr. Olsan joined the office of Anderson, Zeigler, Disharoon, Gallagher and Gray in Santa Rosa, where he practiced civil litigation, and counseled clients in real estate and business matters. He became a partner there in 1998. Mr. Olsan has been a partner at Perry, Johnson, Anderson, Miller and Moskowitz LLP since 2008.
Mr. Olsan has negotiated and documented many significant real estate and business transactions, including purchases, sales, leasing and construction of wineries, vineyards, shopping centers, office buildings, ranches, development and subdivision land, estate homes, and conservation and other easements. He also practices in the area of business entity formation and governance, business sales, mergers and acquisitions, construction law, land use, zoning and planning.
Some of his notable real estate and development transactions include: representing the Sonoma Land Trust in the single largest conservation land acquisition in Sonoma County history; representing Codding Enterprises in its sale of a tenancy in common interest in Coddingtown Mall to Simon Property Group; representing the private seller of a 27,000-acre, 250+ parcel ranch; and representation of the Sonoma State University Academic Foundation in the financing and development of the Green Music Center.
Mr. Olsan represents for-profit and nonprofit businesses, academic institutions, and homeowners ’ associations in corporate, governance, and real estate matters. His practice includes representing real estate brokerage firms and Associations of REALTORS® regarding corporate and disclosure issues, broker risk management, and REALTOR® disciplinary and arbitration hearings. Mr. Olsan also assists clients who are negotiating with governmental agencies in real estate transactions, including condemnation-related matters.
He is frequently called on to lecture to and consult with real estate industry groups and brokers on transactional and disclosure issues, broker risk management, and on broker discipline and arbitration hearings. He is a regular participant in the California Association of REALTORS®’ Legal Affairs Forums, and participates in the development of the statewide Association’s real estate contract forms that are the gold standard in California.
Representative Clients: Mr. Olsan has represented private individuals, businesses of all kinds, non-profit corporations, and academic and governmental institutions, including the Sonoma Land Trust, Codding Enterprises, Korbel Champagne Cellars, Siduri Wines, Dehlinger Winery, Copain Wine Cellars, Domaine Della Winery, Sonoma State University Academic Foundation, Sonoma State Enterprises, Audubon Canyon Ranch, Prudential California Realty, Manor Development Company, Quattrocchi Kwok Architects, Shook and Waller Construction, the City of Santa Rosa, and the North Bay, Marin, and Oakland/Berkeley Associations of REALTORS®.
Education and Memberships: Mr. Olsan completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California at Berkeley (1987), and received his Juris Doctor from McGeorge School of Law (1991). He served as the Executive Director of the California Advisory Commission on Cost Control in State Government (1986-1988). Mr. Olsan was a writer for the Pacific Law Journal's Legislation Staff (1989-1990) and served on the Journal's Board of Editors (1990-1991). He is a member of the California State Bar (Real Property and Business Law Sections), and the Sonoma County Bar Association. Mr. Olsan is admitted to practice in the State of California, U.S. District Court Central District of California, U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, U.S. District Court Northern District of California, U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit.
Community Involvement: Mr. Olsan is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Redwood Empire Food Bank, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Career Technical Education Foundation. He served as president of the Board of Directors of the Santa Rosa Downtown Market, was a longtime Board member and Executive Committee Member at the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County, and is the past president of Santa Rosa’s Reform Jewish Synagogue, Congregation Shomrei Torah. Mr. Olsan also provides pro bono legal services for many local non-profits, including the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, the Napa County Bicycle Coalition, and the Ceres Community Project. He has volunteered as a pro bono arbitrator for the Sonoma County Superior Court since 1996.
In the News: The Bohemian - March 17, 2010 Best Attorney, Sonoma County - North Bay Bohemian's Best of the North Bay North Bay Business Journal - January 26, 2009 WINE INDUSTRY BUSINESS JOURNAL - Who's Who in Wine Law.
