For many people the word Attorney conjures up the picture of an arrogant guy in an expensive suit arguing with someone in court, or talking down to his client using confusing legal jargon, or pounding his fist on a table.

That’s not me.

Although I have over 40 years of experience, many people who meet me never suspect that I’m an attorney. Maybe that’s because many people think attorneys are intimidating, cold, and unapproachable.

That’s not me.

I practice law in a different way.

I genuinely want to connect with my clients, understand your business needs, and give you practical advice to solve your legal problems.

My advice is based on solid knowledge of the law, and is always structured to produce a “win/win” outcome that benefits all parties.

I don’t believe in fighting and I don’t handle litigation.

I believe in working out collaborative solutions and am skilled at developing alternative resolutions to challenging problems that don’t easily respond to simple fixes.

I keep my rates reasonable because I don’t have a big fancy office with high overhead. Long before the COVID-19 crisis, I have been a virtual attorney, efficiently working from my home office.

I know myself well and practice mindful meditation every day. I often meditate before important calls because I want to bring my maximum strategic focus to what I’m discussing so that I can optimize results for my clients.

I believe in always working from my strengths:

CliftonStrengths™: Maximizer | Strategic | Ideation | Input | Learner

• LEED® AP – LEED® Accredited Professional (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the Green Building Certification Institute
• AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 – Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating

• Fellow, American Bar Foundation, January 2021
• South Carolina Lawyers Hall of Fame, South Carolina Lawyers Weekly, November 2018
• Career Mastered – Women’s Leadership in Action, Career Mastered, March 2018
• South Carolina Leadership in Law, South Carolina Lawyers Weekly, March 2016
• The Outreach Award, CREW Charlotte Excellence Awards, December 2016
• CREW Network Foundation Visionaries, CREW Network Foundation, September 2015
• The President’s Volunteer Service Award (Silver), U.S. Green Building Council, in partnership with the Corporation for National & Community Service, June 2015
• North Carolina Leaders in the Law, North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, September 2014
• 50 Most Influential Women, Mecklenburg Times, April 2014
• The Outreach Award, CREW Charlotte, December 2013
• ATHENA Leadership Award – Corporate, ATHENA International – Charlotte, October 2013
• Networker of the Year, CREW Charlotte, December 2010
• SC Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2010-2019

• University of Michigan Law School (Ann Arbor, Michigan): J.D., cum laude, 1978
  Senior Trial Advocacy Award from International Academy of Trial Lawyers; American Jurisprudence Award in Conflicts of Law; completed law school in an accelerated twenty-six month program.
• Oberlin College (Oberlin, Ohio): B.A., Government, 1976

Supreme Court of the United States (2019)
North Carolina (1983); United States District Court, Western District of North Carolina (1983)
South Carolina (1985); United States District Court, District of South Carolina (1987)
Ohio (1979, inactive)

Nancy Olah Law | Founding Attorney and LEED® AP (2009 to present) My solo law practice gives me an opportunity to personally serve my clients on a cost-effective basis. I believe in adding value and look for creative ways to solve complex issues. I provide practical, business-focused legal advice on commercial real estate and business law transactions in the Carolinas.

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP | Special Counsel; Counsel and LEED® AP (2000 to 2014) Providing legal advice to developers in the creation of mixed-use developments, business and industrial parks, townhome and condominium projects, resorts, hotels, and golf course communities; Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act compliance; commercial leasing (representing both landlords and tenants for office, retail and industrial properties); advising developers seeking LEED® certification for commercial, mixed-use, office, or condominium projects; drafting and negotiating complex development agreements, ground leases, construction management agreements; loan workouts and asset restructuring; easements and right-of-way agreements; joint venture agreements; business transactions.

Kennedy Covington (now known as K & L Gates) | Special Counsel (1997 to 2000) Commercial real estate development, leasing, and financing; creation of master planned communities, condominium and townhomes; development of mixed-use projects, shopping centers, business and industrial parks; development agreements; title insurance.

F & G Life | Special Counsel (1996 to 1997) Agency relationships, contracts, business transactions; information technology; securities broker/dealer issues; structured settlements; development of new marketing channels; banking agreements and investment issues. Researched and coordinated new program to accept credit cards for premium payments.

Maryland Casualty Company | Vice President and Associate General Counsel (1992 to 1996) Head of the Business Department within the Law Department, handling all contracts, business transactions, agency relationships, real estate, information technology, and intellectual property matters. Provided legal support for Real Estate Department and seventy-five field offices. Coordinated successful property tax appeals on company’s home office property in Baltimore and its Atlanta office building.

Royal Indemnity Company | Counsel; Assistant Corporate Secretary; Managing Counsel/Corporate Secretary (1988 to 1991) Handled all contracts, business transactions, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and reinsurance treaties. Successfully drafted, negotiated and closed $90 million stock transaction, completely in-house. Coordinated commercial real estate leasing for ninety locations. Insurance and regulatory responsibility for southeast region. Corporate Secretary for twenty-five companies.

Cannon & Blair, P.A. (now Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP) | Associate; Senior Associate (1986 to 1988) Commercial real estate, interstate land sales, master planned communities, bankruptcy, workouts, foreclosures, condemnation, title insurance, environmental law, secured transactions, mergers and acquisitions.

The Hilton Head Company, Inc. | Staff Attorney; Counsel and Assistant Secretary (1984 to 1985) Construction and development, commercial and residential closings, interstate land sales, marketing, brokerage, finance, letters of credit, and corporate secretarial responsibilities.

Korf Industries, Inc. | Counsel (1981 to 1983) Coordinated environmental and OSHA compliance for all subsidiaries; litigation management; corporate acquisitions, commercial leasing, financing and secured transactions; technology licensing agreements for MIDREX, Korf’s engineering subsidiary.

Squire, Sanders & Dempsey | Associate (1978 to 1980) Litigation Department, with concentration in environmental and labor law.