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About Olaun
Olaun Simmons is originally from Ohio and his father was a member of the United States Army who served honorably during the Vietnam War.
Olaun joined Vanderpool Frostick & Nishanian, P.C. as an associate in 2016, and became a partner of the law firm in 2022. Olaun has been practicing law in Virginia for 19 years.
The focus of Olaun’s practice is land use and zoning, and municipal law. In his land use and zoning practice, he advises developers, commercial property owners, and commercial realtors regarding the applicability of zoning laws, design guidelines, design and construction standards, environmental concerns, and comprehensive plan designations.
Olaun enjoys collaborating with civil engineers and architects on land use applications. He also enjoys meeting with government officials and community stakeholders to discuss the complexities of his clients’ pending land development proposals. He has prepared and filed land development proposals involving mixed-use developments, high and low-density residential developments, commercial/retail developments, religious institutions, industrial/storage uses, sign modifications, and data centers.
In his municipal law practice, Olaun provides legal advice and representation to governing bodies in Virginia. He is currently legal counsel for the Town of Haymarket and the Town of Quantico.
Olaun has served as General Counsel for the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, and he is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Prince William’s Signature Program.
As a result of his stellar work and accomplishments over the years, Olaun has received the coveted AV Preeminent® Rating–Judicial Edition from Martindale-Hubbell®. The AV Preeminent® ranking is the highest peer rating standard given by Martindale-Hubbell®, and the Judicial Edition indicates that he has received favorable ratings from lawyers and judges.
In his free time, Olaun enjoys reading, paddleboarding, spending time with family and friends, and attending live music events. He lives in Prince William County with his wife and three children.
Q&A: Get to Know Olaun
Education
- Juris Doctor, The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law
- University of Oxford, St. Anne’s College, Oxford, England, Legal Studies Summer Program
- Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Morehouse College
Practice Areas
Bar Admissions
- Virginia State Bar
- Member of the Bar, U.S. District for the Eastern District of Virginia
- Member of the Bar, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Professional Activities
- General Counsel for the Chamber Foundation of Northern Virginia
- General Counsel for the Prince William Chamber of Commerce
- Member, Land Use and Environmental Committee, Virginia State Bar Real Property Section
- Member, Northern Virginia Building Industry Association (NVBIA)
- Member, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP)
- Member, Prince William County Bar Association
- Town Attorney for the Town of Haymarket
- Town Attorney for the Town of Quantico
- Legal counsel for the City of Manassas
- Member, Board of Directors, Local Government Attorneys of Virginia
- Member, Board of Regents, Leadership Prince William
- Member, Board of Directors, Smart Beginnings Greater Prince William
- Member, Board of Directors, Didlake, Inc.
- Member, Board of Directors, Greater Prince William Heath Center
- Treasurer, Prince William County Bar Association
Awards
- “AV Preeminent® Rating–Judicial Edition” – Martindale-Hubbell®.
- “Trial Attorney of the Year” – Prince William County Circuit Court.
- “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” – National Trial Lawyers Association.
- “Top 40 Under 40” – National Trial Lawyers Association.
- “Legal Elite” – Virginia Business Magazine.
- “Leaders in the Law Award” – Virginia Lawyers Weekly.
Cases
- Gainesville Crossing Data Center: Successfully obtained a rezoning of the property to allow for a data center on the site.
- Sheetz: Successfully obtained a special use permit for a Sheetz retail establishment by untangling site layout and transportation concerns on the site.
- Expansion of Religious Institution: Successfully obtain a special use permit to allow the expansion and redevelopment of a religious institution.
Testimonials
View all testimonialsLand Use and Local Government
Experiences in Land Use
Churches and religious Institutions: Provide advice, consultation, and representation to churches and religious institutions during the rezoning and special use permit process.
Data centers: Provide advice, consultation, and representation to data center developers while working collaboratively with the civil engineers and architects.
Commercial and retail establishments: Provide advice, consultation, and representation to developers of large and mid-sized commercial and retail establishments.
Industrial and equipment storage facilities: Provide advice, consultation, and representation to churches and religious institutions during the rezoning process.
Experiences in local government
Encroachment: Resolved ongoing encroachment issue between the town and residents.
Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan revisions: Revised Comprehensive Plan and Chesapeake Bay Ordinance to comply with Department of Environmental Quality standards.
Building and Zoning Code Violations: Prosecuted and resolved numerous building and zoning code violations for localities.