Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has paid tribute to long-time partner and general counsel Harry Olivar, who died in a car accident last week (15 May).
Olivar, 62, also lost his stepson, David Jackson, in the accident, while his wife, Leigh, was seriously injured and remains in hospital.
Olivar had been with Quinn Emanuel for 26 years, serving as chair of its national securities practice and co-chair of its domestic arbitration practice, alongside his GC role. He was based in the firm’s Los Angeles office.
The firm said colleagues from across its global offices expressed “profound grief” at Olivar’s tragic passing, describing him as “the heart of Quinn Emanuel and a universally trusted and beloved partner”.
The firm added that partners, associates and staff remembered him as an “extraordinary mentor” whose “genuine warmth made everyone feel that they belonged”.
Christopher Tayback, co-managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office, said: “Harry has been a leader in our Los Angeles office for a quarter century. He had an unassuming manner that naturally lent itself to commanding respect. He enjoyed and was excellent at mentoring our younger lawyers, but our colleagues of all ages, including myself, learned from him every day. We will miss him tremendously.”
William Burck, co-managing partner of the firm and co-chair of its government and white collar criminal defence practice, added: “We are devastated by the loss of our partner and friend, Harry Olivar. Harry was an exceptional lawyer and an even more exceptional human being who profoundly impacted our firm, our clients and the broader legal community. We will always think of him as the heart and part of the essential fabric of our firm.”
Over the course of his legal career, Olivar recovered more than $4.9bn in verdicts, judgments, and settlements on behalf of plaintiffs. His defence practice specialised in class action litigation, particularly in securities, antitrust and product liability-related claims.
Outside of law, Olivar and his wife, Leigh, were patrons of the Pasadena Playhouse. He served on the board of directors of the Stone Trust and the board of trustees of the Philatelic Foundation, as well as serving as a trustee of La Salle College Preparatory.
Michael Carlinsky, co-managing partner of the firm and global head of complex litigation, said: “We tragically lost one of life’s greatest individuals. Harry was a gentle giant who was brilliant, devoted, always upbeat and always willing to help anyone at the firm, whether partner, associate or staff. He was a mentor to many and a loyal friend to us all. No one ever had anything negative to say about Harry, and all who knew him loved him. The enormity of this loss has yet to sink in.”
Olivar is survived by his wife and four sons: Jordan Olivar, David Olivar, Harry Olivar III and Robert Jackson.
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