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About
Olson Law specializes in wrongful conviction cases, working to achieve justice for those who have been wrongly incarcerated. Founding partner Chris Olson has handled a wide variety of complex civil litigation during his 25-year legal career, with cases including consumer class actions, mass torts, and product liability suits. For the past 15 years, Olson has focused almost exclusively on civil rights work with an emphasis on wrongful incarceration cases and innocence claims. Olson has successfully seen to conclusion multiple wrongful incarceration civil rights lawsuits.
Career Highlights
Highlighted below are a few of the achievements and the work of which founding partner Chris Olson is most proud.
Defender of Justice Award, NC Justice Center (2009): The recognition followed Olson’s work on behalf of low-income borrowers in consumer class action lawsuits. The cases against major financial institutions resulted in landmark legal rulings in favor of consumers and substantial monetary payments to class members.
Work with Duke Wrongful Convictions Clinic: Olson has teamed up with outstanding lawyers and students on two successful exoneration efforts. This work brought about the vacating of wrongful convictions and the release of innocent men who had been wrongfully incarcerated for 23 and 44 years.
Bank of America and CitiFinancial Class Actions: Olson served as Class Counsel in two class action lawsuits that settled for $38.75 million and $42.5 million. The cases established favorable precedent for North Carolina consumers on issues involving unfair trade practices by lenders and the unenforceability of unfair consumer arbitration clauses.
The Ronnie Long Case: Olson served as pro bono counsel for the Duke Wrongful Convictions Clinic in the effort to have Mr. Long’s wrongful convictions set aside. Following a favorable ruling by the Fourth Circuit, Mr. Long’s convictions were vacated, and he received a Pardon of Innocence. Olson represented Mr. Long in his post-exoneration civil rights lawsuit that resulted in a settlement of $25 million and issuance of a formal, public apology for actions that caused Mr. Long’s wrongful incarceration.
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Attorney Referrals
If you are an attorney who needs a contractual relationship with a North Carolina lawyer with experience in complex litigation matters, please contact us.
Chris Olson is licensed in North Carolina and Massachusetts, is admitted to practice in the Western District, Middle District, and Eastern District of North Carolina, and regularly handles matters as local counsel. Olson will also associate with out-of-state attorneys and has handled matters in Georgia, Texas, and Washington, D.C.Olson Law also welcomes the opportunity to accept referrals from other lawyers and the chance to associate with lawyers both within and outside North Carolina. Referral arrangements consistent with Bar guidelines will be extended to referring counsel.
Education
- JD, Campbell University School of Law, magna cum laude, 1994
Campbell Law Review, Notes and Comments Editor
Member of Prince Evidence Moot Court Team (Second Place) - BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1990
Experience
- Olson Law, PLLC (2020 – present)
- Solo Practitioner (2016 – 2020)
- Martin & Jones, PLLC, Shareholder (2007 – 2016); Associate (2001 – 2007)
- Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP (1996 – 2001)
- Judicial Law Clerk, United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (1994 – 1996)
Publications and Distinctions
- Panel Discussion Participant, NC Central University School of Law Civil Rights Society, April 4, 2024.
- "Anatomy of a Wrongful Incarceration Case,” CLE Presentation, Campbell University School of Law, October 27, 2023.
- Received North Carolina Justice Center’s 2009 Defender of Justice Award in recognition of work on consumer class actions benefitting low-income homeowners.
- Recognized as a North Carolina Super Lawyer on a regular basis since 2014. Received Martindale-Hubbell’s “AV” peer review rating, the highest level of professional excellence in legal knowledge, communication skills, and ethical standards.
- Co-Chair and Speaker, “Class Actions: Making Mountains out of Molehills.” NC Advocates for Justice Convention 2014.
- Presenter, “Class Action Roundtable.” UNC Festival of Legal Learning 2010.
- Manuscript Author and Presenter, “So, You’re Going to Sue a Big Bank. . . Or, How to Stay Busy for Eight Years.” NC Advocates of Justice Mountain Magic 2009.
- Chair of NC Advocates of Justice Commercial Litigation Section, 2012 – 2013.
- Member of NC Advocates of Justice Executive Committee, 2012 – 2013.
- Editor, NC Advocates of Justice, Manual of Complaints, Commercial Litigation Section, 2009 – 2010.
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Personal
Family is incredibly important to Olson Law’s founding partner, Chris Olson. He is a devoted husband to his wife of eighteen years and the father of two wonderful children who he adores. Chris loves the outdoors, gardening, travel and good books.
With healthier knees, Chris competed in six marathons, including Big Sur, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and the Midnight Sun Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska. In recent years, Chris has tackled rigorous hikes, including summits of Mt. Whitney (tallest mountain in the continental US), Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, the Black Mountain Crest Trail, and the Rim-to-Rim traverse of the Grand Canyon.
Chris was recently featured in the 2024 North Carolina Super Lawyers publication which highlighted Chris’s devotion to his family, as well as his clients and work.
Olson Law, PLLC | Chris Olson (he/him/his) | 509 W. North Street | Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 | 919.756.5506
