Steven J. Olson

Our Team
Steven J. Olson

Partner

Los Angeles Office

Overview Experience Insights News Credentials

Steve Olson is co-chair of O’Melveny’s Litigation Department and a member of the firm’s management team.

Steve is a trusted advisor to clients facing government enforcement actions, regulatory oversight, complex civil litigation, and other sensitive matters with reputational ramifications. A former federal prosecutor, he prepares efficient and coordinated defense strategies for parallel government investigations, criminal and regulatory proceedings, and civil litigation.

Corporate and university boards and independent directors regularly turn to Steve for counsel on investigating allegations of fraud and misconduct, strategic initiatives and crisis management, and rely on his in-depth understanding of the nuanced responsibilities and liabilities of board leadership. Steve has advised the boards of CenturyLink (now Lumen Technologies), Mattel, USC, and UCLA in high-profile investigations involving allegations of financial fraud and misconduct.

Steve also represents UCLA, Stanford, and multiple other universities in connection with athletic conference realignment and related matters that have reshaped the landscape of college sports, and represents LA28 Olympic Organizing Committee.

As a former senior advisor to the US Commerce Secretary and executive director of SelectUSA, Steve also advises non-US headquartered companies on investing and operating in the US and navigating the regulatory, political, and litigation environment.

In 2021, Steve served as interim general counsel and chief legal officer for Hyundai and Genesis Motor Americas. He is chair of the World Trade Center Los Angeles and past chair of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation. He also serves on the board of the Public Policy Institute of California and the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, and is a trustee of Pomona College.

Steve has been recognized by Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, and Benchmark Litigation as a leading lawyer in the area of White Collar Criminal Defense. In recent editions of Chambers USA, clients describe Steve as “very adept at anticipating legal issues—quickly cutting through complex facts to distill key issues” and as someone with “great integrity” who is “always working to protect his client.” Clients also note that Steve is “completely committed to his clients” and “a top-flight investigations and trial attorney.” Sources also tell Chambers that Steve “is very results-oriented, and delivers with extraordinary speed,” “has a very, very good touch in terms of negotiations,” and “can make on-the-spot calls which inevitably turn out to be right and he has a sixth sense when it comes to governmental agencies.” Steve has also repeatedly been recognized as among the “Top White Collar Lawyers” by the Daily Journal and among the “Most Influential People in Los Angeles” by The Los Angeles Business Journal.

Served as interim general counsel and chief legal officer for Hyundai Motor North America and Genesis from March to October 2021.

Board-Led and Internal Investigations

Represented the Audit Committee of Mattel’s Board of Directors in an internal investigation into allegations by an anonymous whistleblower of an accounting error that resulted in a misstatement of the toy maker’s income tax accounting.

Government Investigations

Defending one of the largest global automakers in multi-year federal (DOJ and CDCA USAO-led) criminal grand jury investigation. Defended same company in earlier three-year federal (SDNY USAO-led) grand jury and NHTSA investigations about the scope and timing of certain recalls, persuading them to not bring charges.

Civil Litigation and Arbitrations

Representing Boise State, Colorado State, and Utah State in litigation against the Mountain West Conference in response to the schools announcing their move to the Pac-12 Conference.
Defended ESSA, a Mexican State-owned enterprise and the world’s largest producer of sea salt, in multi-billion dollar lawsuits in US federal court.
Represented medical testing company Myriad Genetics in a successful challenge to a revised California Department of Public Health policy that limited consumer choices for prenatal screenings.
Successfully defended a Wall Street Bank in an arbitration before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) against claims alleging insufficient disclosures about a US$60 million foreign exchange investment, unauthorized trading, and negligent supervision of a financial advisor.
Secured a multi-million dollar victory with punitive damages for client Contessa Premium Foods when a jury found defendant Thai Union International—along with several of its subsidiaries and two employees—had schemed to compete unfairly with Contessa in the sale of frozen shrimp and other seafood in the US.

Admissions

Bar Admissions

California

Court Admissions

US District Court, Central District of California

Education

University of Michigan, J.D., 1995: Contributing Editor, Michigan Journal of International Law
Stanford University, B.A., 1990: with honors

Honors & Awards

Named a “Litigation Star” (2025) and “California Litigation Star” (2020-2025) for White-Collar Crime by Benchmark Litigation
Recognized by Chambers USA for White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (2017-2024)
Recommended by The Legal 500 US for Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense (2016-2024) and Sports (2024)
Named a “Top White Collar Lawyer” by the Daily Journal (2020, 2021)
Named to the “500 Leading Litigators in America” list for White Collar Defense & Corporate Investigations by Lawdragon (2022, 2024, 2025)
Named “One of the Most Influential People in Los Angeles” by the Los Angeles Business Journal
Recognized by Best Lawyers® in Criminal Defense: White Collar in Los Angeles, CA (2023-2025)
Named a “Super Lawyer” in surveys conducted by Law & Politics Media Inc. and published in Los Angeles Magazine