Brian Olney

Brian Olney is a partner at Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai LLP in Pasadena, California, where his practice focuses on Civil Rights Law, Employment Law - Individuals, and Litigation - Labor and Employment. He represents plaintiffs in state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration proceedings, handling matters through all stages of litigation, including pre-litigation negotiations, discovery, trial, and appeal.

Mr. Olney serves as a trainer at the annual trial college hosted by the California Employment Lawyers Association, a statewide organization of more than 1,300 California employment attorneys. His work has been recognized by a number of legal publications and organizations. In 2024, the Daily Journal included him on its “Top Labor & Employment Lawyers” list. He also received the California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) award in 2024 alongside attorneys from Munger Tolles & Olson, Civil Rights Corps, and Public Justice for work in Urquidi v. City of Los Angeles, Case No. 22STCP04044, litigation that contributed to significant changes to the use of cash bail in Los Angeles County.

Mr. Olney was selected to the Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars list from 2018 through 2024, the Up-and-Coming 100 list in 2024, and the Super Lawyers list in 2025 and 2026. He was also included in the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment & Civil Rights Lawyers guide from 2021 through 2025 and in The Best Lawyers in America for Civil Rights Law, Employment Law - Individuals, and Litigation - Labor and Employment in the 2025 and 2026 editions.

Mr. Olney and his cases have been featured in national and regional media outlets, including The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, Inside Edition, CBS, ABC, NBC, Daily Journal, OC Weekly, and Voice of OC.

Before joining Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai LLP, Mr. Olney clerked for the Honorable Stephen Reinhardt of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Honorable Margaret M. Morrow of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Mr. Olney graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Irvine in 2013. During law school, he received awards for the highest performance in seven courses and earned the Best Oral Argument award in the UC Irvine Moot Court Competition.

From 2001 through 2010, Mr. Olney worked with the Service Employees International Union and its affiliates, helping healthcare workers organize and advocate for workplace representation. He also served as a Research Director and participated in lobbying efforts related to legislation addressing nursing home transparency and oversight.