Olivia N. Norwood

Olivia’s practice focuses on employment law and litigation and general corporate matters.

Olivia advises employers and businesses on a variety of day-to-day employment and business issues and represents them in all stages of litigation, including in administrative proceedings. She drafts employment policies, contracts and handbooks, and she also assists clients with various individual employment issues outside of litigation. In addition, Olivia advises clients on general corporate governance matters and employment-related issues involved in mergers and acquisitions. She provides practical, value-focused advice to her clients to help them achieve their business goals.

Prior to practicing law, Olivia was an engineer for an international developer and manufacturer of medical devices. As an engineer, she performed quality system audits and worked with regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Her experience in this role developed her careful attention to detail and analytical aptitude, which she uses to help her clients solve their business issues.

• Obtained dismissal of multiple civil rights complaints brought against employers by former employees.
• Drafts employment policies, contracts and handbooks.
• Advises clients on various individual employment issues outside of litigation.
• Conducted multiple internal investigations of sexual harassment complaints for various employers.
• Successfully represented client in bench trial for various non-compete issues.
• Defended employer against age discrimination, disability discrimination and retaliation claims brought by former employee.

Education

• Drake University Law School, J.D., certificate in Global Intellectual Property, 2017, with highest honors
• Iowa State University, B.S., 2012, magna cum laude

Admissions

• Minnesota, 2021
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 2021
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 2021
• Iowa, 2017

• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Labor and Employment Law - Management, 2025
• Great Plains Super Lawyers Rising Star, Employment Litigation: Defense, 2023-2024
• Harold G. Cartwright Law Review Award for Best Note, Drake Law Review, 2016-2017
• Order of the Coif
• Dwight D. Opperman Scholar
• CALI Excellence for the Future Award (top grade): Bar Exam Preparation; Constitutional Law I; Constitutional Law II; Evidence; Intellectual Property Litigation; Patent Law; Secured Transactions

Professional Activities

• Iowa State Bar Association, Member
• Polk County Bar Association, Member
• Polk County Women Attorneys, Member
• Young Lawyers Division, Member
• Drake Law Review, Note Editor, 2016-2017