Our Practice

Walt Olsen received his juris doctor degree cum laude from the University of Puget Sound School of Law in 1994. Following graduation in 1994, he joined the law firm Short Cressman & Burgess in Seattle and was associated with that firm until 1999 when he formed The Olsen Law Firm. In 2018, Mr. Olsen and Branson became partners, and the name of the firm was changed to Olsen Branson PLLC.

Mr. Olsen's involvement with manufactured housing communities began in 1994. He represents owners and managers of manufactured housing communities statewide, as well as the Manufactured Housing Communities of Washington. He is a frequent lecturer and seminar speaker on manufactured housing matters. He is intimately familiar with the Washington Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act because he has litigated its provisions, and he has worked with the statute on a daily basis since 1994.

Mr. Olsen has represented owners of manufactured housing communities on wide-ranging issues including the processing of evictions, drafting rules and regulations, defending suits brought by tenants, defending discrimination actions, financing and purchase/sale of communities, and the general representation of his long-term clients in most aspects of their day to day management of their communities and general real estate matters.

Tony Branson is received his Bachelor of Arts from the Evergreen State College in 1995, and graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 2000. After being admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in 2000, he worked as an associate attorney for a real estate law firm in Tacoma until 2001. He then worked as an in-house attorney for llluminet, Inc. and Verisign, Inc. where he practiced real estate, corporate, contracts, and business law until 2002. He joined our firm in April 2003. Tony completed a Certificate Program in Commercial Real Estate in 2005 at the University of Washington. His practice is focused in the areas of real estate transactions, bankruptcy, corporate, business, and landlord tenant relations. He has also presented numerous seminars on the Manufactured Housing Landlord-Tenant Act. He is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Western and Eastern District of Washington. He has also been recognized with an Excellence for the Future Award for Achievement in Advanced Real Estate.

Laura Tocheny is an associate attorney at Olsen Branson PLLC.  She received my Juris Doctorate from Willamette University School of Law in 2019. She was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in early 2020.  I have worked in civil private practice since admittance and governed a real estate LLC since 2015.  Her current practice focuses primarily on the areas of real estate litigation, real estate transactions, and landlord tenant relations.          

Doug Scharnhorst is a paralegal with our firm and assists our attorneys in the processing of evictions and mobile home title issues. Doug also worked as the Chief Financial Officer at Short Cressman & Burgess for 16 years; he has held a similar position with our firm since 2001. He can assist you both in your eviction matters and title issues. Doug can also answer any questions you may have about your billing.

Kelley J. Gilbertson is the receptionist and legal assistant for our firm. Kelley attended the University of Maine for two years before starting a long history of working in customer service oriented employment, including a flight attendant with Continental Airlines and a European Charter, as well as a receptionist/assistant with an Investment Firm in downtown Portland, Maine. Kelley has been with the Firm since February 2001.