Ronald L. Olson

Profile
Memberships

Ronald L. Olson is a name partner in the Los Angeles office of Munger, Tolles & Olson. Mr. Olson’s practice involves a combination of litigation and corporate counseling. He counsels individual executives and boards of directors in a range of matters, including transactions and corporate governance. Mr. Olson has been the lead partner in numerous high-profile matters where clients have looked to the firm for advice and representation.

Mr. Olson is a director of Berkshire Hathaway, Edison International, City National Corp., The Washington Post Co. and Western Asset Trusts. He serves as a director of several non-profits, including the RAND Corp. (formerly chair), the Mayo Clinic and the California Institute of Technology. He was chairman of the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section (1981-1982) and the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary (1991-92). He was also chairman of the board of trustees of Claremont University Center and Graduate School from 1984-1994, founding chairman of the board of trustees of Southern California Public Radio from 1999 to 2004 and a director of the Council on Foreign Relations from 2002-2010.

Key Representations

  • Steven Udvar-Házy and Air Lease Corporation, in establishing a new, global airline leasing company.
  • The Board of Directors of Yahoo!, in connection with Microsoft’s proposed takeover, the Google outsourcing contract and the proxy contests of 2008 and 2012.
  • General Reinsurance, Berkshire Hathaway’s subsidiary, in being investigated by the SEC/DOJ/NYAG for its involvement with AIG and various finite insurance transactions.
  • The Board of Trustees of the Getty Trust in connection with corporate governance and foreign government claims to its antiquities collection.
  • Shell Oil Company in its 2006 U.S. Supreme Court victory (Dagher v. Shell Oil Company, et al.) and in the pending series of class actions claiming oil companies’ liability for the Katrina hurricane damage and global warming.
  • Michael Ovitz, in the Disney shareholder lawsuit tried successfully in Delaware Chancery Court and affirmed by the Delaware Supreme Court.
  • The Tornante Company, the private equity firm of Michael Eisner, in its successful proxy fight for control of Topps.
  • Brad Grey, Paramount’s Chairman, in a wide array of matters, including executive compensation.
  • Edison International, in the California electricity crisis.
  • Merrill Lynch, in the Orange County bankruptcy.
  • Shell Oil Company, as Lead counsel, in CARB gas antitrust cases.
  • Universal Studios, as co-lead counsel, in a trial against Viacom/Paramount for the ownership of USA Network.
  • Salomon Inc., in connection with the Nasdaq antitrust litigation (DOJ and class actions) and the 1991-92 criminal investigation and governmental claims arising from its conduct of treasury security auctions.
  • The Republic of the Philippines, against the Marcos family.
  • Alyeska and its oil company owners, in the criminal investigation and civil litigation arising from the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
  • Daily Journal, in trial against the Metropolitan News.
  • The Limited, in its unsuccessful bid to takeover Carter Hawley Hale.

Ronald L. Olson is a name partner in the Los Angeles office of Munger, Tolles & Olson. Mr. Olson’s practice involves a combination of litigation and corporate counseling. He counsels individual executives and boards of directors in a range of matters, including transactions and corporate governance. Mr. Olson has been the lead partner in numerous high-profile matters where clients have looked to the firm for advice and representation.

Mr. Olson is a director of Berkshire Hathaway, Edison International, City National Corp., The Washington Post Co. and Western Asset Trusts. He serves as a director of several non-profits, including the RAND Corp. (formerly chair), the Mayo Clinic and the California Institute of Technology. He was chairman of the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section (1981-1982) and the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary (1991-92). He was also chairman of the board of trustees of Claremont University Center and Graduate School from 1984-1994, founding chairman of the board of trustees of Southern California Public Radio from 1999 to 2004 and a director of the Council on Foreign Relations from 2002-2010.

Key Representations

  • Steven Udvar-Házy and Air Lease Corporation, in establishing a new, global airline leasing company.
  • The Board of Directors of Yahoo!, in connection with Microsoft’s proposed takeover, the Google outsourcing contract and the proxy contests of 2008 and 2012.
  • General Reinsurance, Berkshire Hathaway’s subsidiary, in being investigated by the SEC/DOJ/NYAG for its involvement with AIG and various finite insurance transactions.
  • The Board of Trustees of the Getty Trust in connection with corporate governance and foreign government claims to its antiquities collection.
  • Shell Oil Company in its 2006 U.S. Supreme Court victory (Dagher v. Shell Oil Company, et al.) and in the pending series of class actions claiming oil companies’ liability for the Katrina hurricane damage and global warming.
  • Michael Ovitz, in the Disney shareholder lawsuit tried successfully in Delaware Chancery Court and affirmed by the Delaware Supreme Court.
  • The Tornante Company, the private equity firm of Michael Eisner, in its successful proxy fight for control of Topps.
  • Brad Grey, Paramount’s Chairman, in a wide array of matters, including executive compensation.
  • Edison International, in the California electricity crisis.
  • Merrill Lynch, in the Orange County bankruptcy.
  • Shell Oil Company, as Lead counsel, in CARB gas antitrust cases.
  • Universal Studios, as co-lead counsel, in a trial against Viacom/Paramount for the ownership of USA Network.
  • Salomon Inc., in connection with the Nasdaq antitrust litigation (DOJ and class actions) and the 1991-92 criminal investigation and governmental claims arising from its conduct of treasury security auctions.
  • The Republic of the Philippines, against the Marcos family.
  • Alyeska and its oil company owners, in the criminal investigation and civil litigation arising from the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
  • Daily Journal, in trial against the Metropolitan News.
  • The Limited, in its unsuccessful bid to takeover Carter Hawley Hale.

Memberships

Mr. Olson is actively involved in the legal community. His memberships include:

  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers 
  • Fellow, American Law Institute
  • Fellow, The American Bar Foundation
  • Chairman, American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary (1991-1992)
  • Vice President, Board of Governors of the State Bar of California (1986-1987)
  • Chairman, American Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (1976-1986)
  • Chairman, American Bar Association’s Litigation Section (1981-1982)