Rick R. Olivarez

Professional Experience

Mr. Olivarez is the founding and Managing Partner of Olivarez Madruga Lemieux O’Neill, LLP (“OMLO”). In this capacity, he oversees the day-to-day operations of the firm. Under his leadership, OMLO has grown into the premier minority-owned law firm in Southern California.

In addition, Mr. Olivarez manages the firm’s municipal and school district practice group.

Mr. Olivarez is honored to serve as city attorney to the cities of El Monte, La Puente, and Bell Gardens. He previously held this same role for the cities of San Fernando and Cudahy, which the firm continues to represent.

As city attorney, Mr. Olivarez advises on all aspects of municipal law including, but not limited to, the Public Records Act, public contracts, Brown Act, litigation, economic development, construction law, and ethics. Additionally, Mr. Olivarez has drafted hundreds of resolutions, ordinances, and contracts on behalf of his municipal clients.

Mr. Olivarez also serves as general counsel to a number of school districts and community colleges. In this role, Mr. Olivarez advises the governing bodies on various legal matters involving workplace harassment, construction, employment, and conflict of interest.

Mr. Olivarez has developed a particular expertise in managing complex internal and external investigations concerning allegations of sexual harassment, conflict of interest, fraud, and misappropriation of public funds. Working with outside state and federal agencies, Mr. Olivarez has worked in partnership with his clients to successfully expose, prosecute, and obtain financial judgements against these bad actors.

Mr. Olivarez has also served as legal counsel to the Surplus Property aka “7-11” committee of his school district clients. In this capacity, Mr. Olivarez advised the committee on the disposition, sale, lease, and transfer of surplus property. Mr. Olivarez also helped to craft the committee’s final report to the governing board on its recommendations.

Mr. Olivarez is a frequent speaker on legal topics concerning ethics and good governance. Most recently, he was a featured speaker at NALEO’s annual conference held in Washington, D.C. for newly elected public officials. Mr. Olivarez delivered a presentation to the attendees entitled “The Top 10 Things to Do to Avoid Getting Indicted.” He gave the same presentation to the Latino Center for Leadership Development in San Antonio, Texas.

In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Olivarez sits on the White Memorial Medical Center Foundation Board, Homeboy Industries Board of Directors, White Memorial Medical Center Governing Board, and the NALEO Educational Fund Board. Mr. Olivarez is particularly honored to serve on the NALEO Board founded by his grandfather, the late Congressman Edward R. Roybal. He also sits on the Board of Directors of HONOR PAC, an organization supporting Latinx LGBTQ+ candidates for political office.

Mr. Olivarez also frequently supports a number of local non-profit organizations including the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, Mexican-American Bar Association, and Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, to name a few. Olivarez is also involved politically on the local, state, and national level, and often holds meet-and-greets and other events with decision and policy makers in the firm’s downtown Los Angeles office.

Admissions & Associations

• State Bar of California (1997)
• President, White Memorial Medical Center Charitable Foundation
• Board of Directors, NALEO Educational Fund

Honors & Awards

• “Man of the Year” – White Memorial Medical Center Foundation