Karen Singer, Senior Counsel

Karen Singer is an experienced trial attorney with a varied background defending public and private clients from a variety of claims. As a Senior Assistant City Attorney in the Labor, Employment, Civil Rights Section for the City of Houston, Karen successfully represented the City in labor and employment disputes asserting violations of Title VII, the TCHRA, ADEA, ADA, FMLA, and FSLA, and counseled and trained management on these laws, City ordinances and policies. Karen also represented the City while defending lawsuits asserting various constitutional violations. Prior to her public service, Karen was in private practice in AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 firms in New York City, where she represented major Wall Street investment firms, broker-dealers, close-corporations, and other private and public companies in securities and contract disputes and business torts.

Doctor of Jurisprudence
Brooklyn Law School (Top 14%), 1992

Bachelor of Arts (Urban Studies)
George Washington University, 1981

Olson & Olson, LLP | Houston, Texas | 2022 – present | Senior Counsel
Olson & Olson, LLP | Houston, Texas | 2013 – 2021 | Attorney
City of Houston | Houston, Texas | 2004 – 2012 | Senior Assistant City Attorney
Private Practice | Houston, Texas | 2004 | Contract Attorney
Private Practice | New York, New York | 1997 – 2002 | Associate
Private Practice | New York, New York | 1995 – 1997 | Associate

Karen is assigned to the ad valorem tax litigation section, specializing in advising and defending governmental clients. She represents clients in lawsuits, arbitration, and mediation to resolve claims concerning real and personal property valuation.

• Discrimination 2.0: Implicit Bias How Implicit Bias Affects Our Work and Work Environments, presented at Olson & Olson, LLP’s 15th Annual Local Government Seminar, January 2019, Stafford, Texas
• The Dark Store Theory in Practice, presented at Olson & Olson, LLP’s 14th Annual Local Government Seminar, January 2018, Stafford, Texas
• Legalization of Marijuana and the Workplace: Current Case Law, presented at Olson & Olson, LLP’s 11th Annual Local Government Seminar, January 2015, Stafford, Texas
• Public Sector Employee or Volunteer? The Fair Labor Standards Acts and Public Sector Employees Under the FLSA, presented at Olson & Olson, LLP’s 10th Annual Local Government Seminar, January 2014, Stafford, Texas

• Pleasant Hill Community Development Corp. v. Appraisal Review Board of Harris County, 2015 WL 2342588 (Tex.App. – Houston [14^th Dist.] May 14, 2015.
• Swilley v. City of Houston, et al., 457 Fed.Appx. 400, 2012 WL 29079 (5^th Cir. Jan. 6, 2012)
• Goss v. City of Houston, 391 S.W.3d 168 (Tex.App. – Houston [1^st Dist.] 2012)
• Okpala v. City of Houston, 397 Fed.Appx. 50, 2010 WL 3937351 (5^th Cir. Oct. 4, 2010)
• Stephens v. City of Houston, 260 S.W.3d 163 (Tex.App. – Houston [1^st Dist.] 2008)
• Matter of Glenn v. Redford, 233 A.D.2d 248, 650 N.Y.S.2d 128 (1996)

• Jewish Community Center, Dance Committee
• Congregation Shma Koleinu