John hightower

Bar Admissions

• State Bar of Texas
• Supreme Court of the United States
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims
• U.S. District Courts:
  Southern District of Texas
  Eastern District of Texas
  Northern District of Texas

   

Memberships & Associations

• American Bar Association – Section of Litigation; Section of Urban, State, & Local Government
• State Bar of Texas – Litigation Section
• Texas City Attorneys Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Houston Bar Association
• International Municipal Lawyers Association

Education

• Doctor of Jurisprudence

University of Texas School of Law, Austin, with honors, 1978

• Bachelor of Science (Political Science)

University of Houston, 1975

Professional Experience

• Olson & Olson, LLP | Houston, Texas | 2018 – Present | Of Counsel
• Olson & Olson, LLP | Houston, Texas | 2012 – 2017 | Managing Partner
• Olson & Olson, LLP | Houston, Texas | 1996 – 2011 | Partner
  Olson & Olson, LLP | Houston, Texas | 1991 – 1996 | Attorney
• City of Houston | Houston, Texas | 1987 – 1991 | Section Chief, Litigation Section
• City of Houston | Houston, Texas | 1984 – 1987 | Section Chief, Corporate Section
• City of Houston | Houston, Texas | 1978 – 1984 | Assistant City Attorney

Concentration

John Hightower currently serves as Senior Partner at Olson & Olson, where he handles a docket of administrative and regulatory law, contract law, civil rights matters, takings/inverse condemnation law, state and federal constitutional law, as well as general municipal law. He represents cities, counties, special districts, and other local government entities and public officials across the State of Texas. During his 40 years in practice, John has defended local governments and their officials in cases involving regulatory takings, zoning and subdivision regulation disputes, elections, police shootings, police pursuits, jail suicides, emergency vehicle accidents, first amendment and whistleblower claims, challenges to local regulations, construction accidents, and a myriad of other local government issues. 

Articles, Publications & Presentations

• Removal and Remand: The Games We Play, presented at Texas Bar CLE, Suing and Defending Governmental Entities, July 22, 2011, Austin, Texas
• Liability Risks Associated with Borrowed Employees, presented to Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool, 2009 Attorney Workshop, August 14, 2009, Austin, Texas
• Individual Liability Issues for Public Officials Involved in Land Use Regulation, presented to The Center for American and International Law, Short Course on Planning & Zoning, June 30, 2008, Plano, Texas
• Fair Housing Issues, presented to the University of Texas School of Law, 12th Annual Land Use Conference, March 7, 2008, Austin, Texas
• Selected Issues in Land Use Litigation, presented through Lorman Educational Services, Seminar on Plat and Subdivision Law in Texas, August 2, 2007
• Removal and Remand: Taking the Initiative, presented to Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool, 14th Annual Workshop for Attorneys, August 13, 2004, Austin, Texas
• Removal and Remand, the Defendant’s Choice of Forum, presented at Texas Bar CLE, Suing and Defending Governmental Entities, July 22, 2004, Galveston, Texas
• Municipal Liability for Damages Arising From Sanitary Sewer Backups, presented to Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool, 13th Annual Workshop for Attorneys, August 22, 2003, Association of Defense Counsel, Austin, Texas
• Substandard Housing: Cleaning Up Our Communities to Keep Property Values High, presented to Clear Lake Area Council of Cities, October 25, 2002, Shore Acres, Texas

Cases

• John has tried cases before judges and juries in state and federal court and has handled appeals at all levels of state and federal courts