About Reed H
Reed H Olmstead studied the intersection of law and society before turning to the practice of law. He earned a B.A. in Law & Society and Philosophy from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1999. He later returned to Santa Barbara for his legal education, receiving a J.D. from Santa Barbara College of Law in 2006.
Early in his legal career Olmstead spent time inside the courthouse. In 2008 he served as a judicial extern for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. That experience gave him first-hand exposure to bankruptcy procedure and courtroom practice. He moved into private practice soon after, joining Hurlbett & Faucher, LLP in 2010. Two years later he continued the association at Hurlbett & Olmstead, where he worked as a lawyer and handled matters that brought him regular contact with consumer bankruptcy and related litigation.
In 2018 he opened his own firm, Law Offices of Reed H. Olmstead. He admits cases in California and in the Central District of California, and he maintains memberships in professional organizations that reflect his practice interests. He has been a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute since 2009 and belongs to the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Lawyers beginning in 2010. Those affiliations keep him connected to developments in bankruptcy law and practice.
Colleagues describe his approach as practical. He handles chapter filings, adversary proceedings and creditor negotiations. He represents individual debtors and deals with the paperwork and court requirements those filings entail. Cases can be paperwork-heavy and procedurally exacting. He emphasizes clarity in filings and steady communication with clients as matters progress through the bankruptcy system.
Olmstead runs offices in Santa Barbara and Grover Beach. The practice serves local clients who seek bankruptcy relief and related counsel in consumer matters. He balances case work with firm administration and remains active in professional circles that track changes in bankruptcy rules and consumer protections. He continues to handle consumer bankruptcy cases and related litigation from his Santa Barbara and Grover Beach offices.
