Donna Johnson

Bar Admissions

• State Bar of Texas
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas

Memberships & Associations

• Texas Bar Foundation, Sustaining Life Fellow
• State Bar of Texas, Government Lawyers Section
• Texas City Attorneys Association
• Houston Bar Association – Bench Bar Conference Committee, 2017-2026 Member; Golf Tournament Committee, 2017-2026 Member, 2018-2020 Co-Chair Member, 2018-2020 Co-Chair
• University of Houston Alumni Association, Life Member
• Lawyers of Distinction 2021-2024

Education

• Doctor of Jurisprudence

South Texas College of Law, 2010 

• Bachelor of Science (Psychology Major, Political Science Minor)

University of Houston, 2005 

Professional Experience

• Olson & Olson, LLP | Houston, Texas | 2022 – Present | Partner
• Olson & Olson, LLP | Houston, Texas | 1987 – 1991; and 1997 – 2021 | Legal Secretary, Legal Assistant/Paralegal, Law Clerk, Attorney
• Underwood, Wilson, Berry, Stein & Johnson, PC | Amarillo, Texas | 1992 – 1996 | Legal Secretary
• Filteau, Sullivan & Georgantas, PC | Houston, Texas | 1991 – 1992 | Legal Secretary

Concentration

Donna represents governmental entities specializing in ad valorem tax litigation. She is also an expert in the Public Information Act and Open Meetings Act. Her ad valorem tax expertise is centralized in her representation of the Harris Central Appraisal District in cases involving commercial and industrial properties and various exemptions.

Articles, Publications & Presentations

• Open Government, presented at TAAD 2020 Chief Appraiser Institute, November 2020, Austin, Texas
• Open Meetings Act Training, presented at the City of Galveston Open Government Training Seminar, July 2018, Galveston, Texas
• The Texas Public Information Act – Practically Speaking, presented at Prized & Proven: Fulfilling the PR Promise Seminar, #PRDay16, Public Relations Society of America, Houston Chapter, October 2016, Houston, Texas
• Open Meetings Act Training, course approval obtained from the Texas Attorney General
• Subpoenas, Exculpatory Evidence and Expunction of Records, presented at the 13th Annual Salt Grass Chapter Public Information Act Seminar, September 2014, Deer Park, Texas
• Practically Speaking – The Public Information Act, presented at Olson & Olson, LLP’s 10th Annual Local Government Seminar, January 2014, Stafford, Texas
• Social Media, A Continuing Legal Education Presentation to TMCA, Inc. Salt Grass Chapter, October 2013, Houston, Texas
• Records Retention and The Public Information Act, presented at Olson & Olson, LLP’s 9th Annual Local Government Seminar, January 2013, Stafford, Texas
• E-mail Retention and Social Media and How They Relate to the Texas Public Information Act and Texas State Library Retention Schedule, A Continuing Legal Education Presentation to TMCA, Inc. Salt Grass Chapter, October 2012, Houston, Texas
• Public Information Act, presented at Olson & Olson, LLP’s 8th Annual Local Government Seminar, January 2012, Stafford, Texas
• Legal Issues for City Officials re: Public Information Act, presented at the Houston-Galveston Area Council Elected City Officials Workshop, June 2012, Houston, Texas
• The Public Information Act, presented at the City of Tomball’s “On The Road To Sunshine In Government” Training Seminar, October 2011, Tomball, Texas
• Social Media and the Public Information Act, A Continuing Legal Education Presentation to TMCA, Inc. Salt Grass Chapter, September 2011, Houston, Texas
• Electronic Discovery, Electronic Evidence & Social Media, A Continuing Legal Education Presentation at Olson & Olson, LLP Paralegals’ CLE Seminar, July 2011, Houston, Texas
• Lawfully Spending EDC Money, presented at Olson & Olson, LLP’s 7th Annual Local Government Seminar, January 2011, Stafford, Texas
• 42.23 & You, A Continuing Legal Education Presentation at Olson & Olson, LLP Paralegals’ CLE Seminar, May 2010, Houston, Texas
• Municipal Websites, presented at Olson & Olson, LLP’s 6th Annual Local Government Seminar, January 2010, Stafford, Texas