Douglas Eugene Olson

1937 - 2015

March 23, 1937 - November 15, 2015 Douglas Eugene "Doug" Olson, age 78, of Rancho Santa Fe, California, passed away on November 15, 2015. Born on March 23, 1937, in Madison, Wisconsin, Doug was the son of Leslie and Viola (Henricks) Olson. He completed both Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Chemical Engineering while attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Later, he earned his law degree from The George Washington University Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review and elected to the Order of the Coif. He moved to Los Angeles, California in 1966, and began a legal career that spanned more than 40 years. As a Partner with Lyon & Lyon, Doug specialized in litigation focusing on intellectual property, patents, trade secrets, and trademarks and was a mentor to hundreds of young lawyers who are now leaders at firms across the country. He relocated from Los Angeles to San Diego in 1992 to represent most of the region's leading biotech companies including Gen-Probe, Gensia, Amylin, Allergan, Ligand and Mycogen, and helped grow the burgeoning San Diego biotech industry. After retiring from Lyon & Lyon, Doug joined several global and domestic law firms including Brobeck, Phleger and Harrison LLP, Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker LLP, Duane Morris LLP, and San Diego IP Law Group LLP. Doug was named in "The Best Lawyers in America" listing, along with repeated inclusion in San Diego Magazine's "The Best Lawyers in San Diego." In addition to publishing numerous articles he was a frequent lecturer on topics surrounding intellectual property. He was recognized as a "California Rainmaker," by the Daily Journal, and was profiled in the San Diego Union's Business Section. Professionally, Doug was associated with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, State Bar of California, Virginia State Bar, American Bar Association, American Intellectual Property Law Association, San Diego County Bar Association, San Diego Intellectual Property Law Association, Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association. While representing clients in over a hundred matters filed in federal and state courts, Doug was particularly proud of presenting the argument in the appeal in Hybritech v. Monoclonal Antibodies, Inc., winning a reversal on all grounds at the United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit. He was also proud of his longstanding representation of Nobelpharma (Nobel Biocare). In addition to his love of practicing law Doug enjoyed skiing, windsurfing, cycling, and tennis, but especially valued including his family on his travels. Doug is survived by his beloved wife Debera (Thees) Olson of Rancho Santa Fe, CA, daughter, Stephanie (Brett) Granger of Westford, MA, son, Eric (Iris) Olson of Seattle, WA, daughter, Bryttava (Robert) Olson of Washington, D.C., and his four grandchildren. A private memorial was held for family members at the Old Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, CA. Donations in his memory may be made to the International Myeloma Foundation, 12650 Riverside Drive, Suite 206, North Hollywood, CA 91607.