Susan Freya Olive

Susan Freya Olive has practiced for over 45 years with Olive & Olive, P.A., an intellectual property firm that obtains patents, trademarks, domain protection, and copyrights for U.S. and foreign clients, handles licensing transactions, and litigates intellectual property claims. She has helped Lawyers Mutual-insured attorneys resolve intellectual property claims, both through claims repair and in those instances where litigation has been filed. Susan represents individual athletes, authors, inventors, photographers, singers, and more; and she represents organizations of every kind, from universities to publishers, manufacturers, and film companies, and from churches to adult entertainment companies.

Susan graduated from Brown University and Duke School of Law; has a background in chemistry, computer science, and biomedical engineering; is admitted to NC’s state and federal trial courts; the Courts of Appeal for the Fourth Circuit, Federal Circuit, and Armed Forces; and the U.S. Supreme Court; and focuses her practice on intellectual property law, with an emphasis on disputes. 

Susan has received multiple honors from her peers and others in the business and legal communities. Notably, Susan was the first woman to head the NC intellectual property bar, the NC Federal Bar Advisory Council, and the NC Board of Law Examiners; and has served as president of multiple legal organizations.

Susan is active in her community, including service for several years as chair of the Durham, NC homeless shelter and community café. She also worked to develop an endowment foundation for its benefit.  She and her husband have three adult children along with a Havana Silk Dog, Tellisan.