Robert W. Olson

Biography

Bob has many years of experience in corporate, merger and acquisitions and securities law. He has managed the legal aspects of more than 40 merger, acquisition and divestiture transactions across a broad variety of industries. Bob's experience also includes regularly advising public company boards of directors and management on the legal issues they face, including compliance with federal securities laws, corporate governance and general business issues.

He joined the firm in 2008, after 19 years as a public company general counsel. Most recently, he was senior vice president and general counsel of Chiquita Brands International, Inc. for 11 years, with responsibility for all global legal matters. Previously, he spent 16 years with The Penn Central Corporation, the last eight as its senior vice president and general counsel. Bob began his career with nine years at the New York City law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore and worked for two years in its Paris office.

Education

  • University of Virginia School of Law  (J.D., 1970)
    • Virginia Law Review, Managing Board
  • Williams College  (B.A., cum laude, 1967)
    • With honors in History

Bar Admissions

  • Ohio
  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Affiliations/Memberships

  • University of Cincinnati College of Law, past adjunct professor
  • Cincinnati Opera Association 
    • Trustee
    • Past board president
  • Cincinnati Museum Center
    • Trustee emeritus
    • Past chairman of the board
  • Cincinnati Historical Society, past president

Distinctions

  • Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers©
    • "Lawyer of the Year" in Cincinnati for International Mergers & Acquisitions (2019) 
    • Corporate Law, International Mergers and Acquisitions (2021-2024)
  • Ohio Super Lawyers® as a public company general counsel