C. Patrick Ngwolo
Practice Focus: Litigation

C. Patrick Ngwolo’s practice focuses primarily on litigating disputes involving non-profit and community focused organizations, labor and employment law, and white collar criminal defense.
Prior to becoming a founding member of this firm, Mr. Ngwolo was an associate at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP with a litigation focus. Mr. Ngwolo received his BS in computer engineering at the University of Oklahoma in 2001 and his J.D. in 2005 from The University of Texas School of Law. Among other accomplishments, Mr. Ngwolo was a member of The Board of Advocates and The Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Team.
Mr. Ngwolo is a member of the State Bar of Texas. His community involvement includes membership in the National Urban League Young Professionals and service on the board of directors of various nonprofit organizations, including Hope For Families, Inc. He also previously served on the national executive board of the National Society of Black Engineers.

Olaide A. Banks, CPA
Practice Focus: Deal Structuring and Negotiation

Olaide A. Banks’ practice focuses primarily on deal structuring and negotiation for closely held entities, real estate and nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining the firm as a founding member, Mr. Banks worked for 11 years as accounting manager, director of financial operations and then chief financial officers for DIR, Inc. – a Houston based research and evaluation government contractor. Mr. Banks has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant since 2003 and is heavily involved in strategic and long-range planning for various organizations.
Mr. Banks earned his BBA with a double major in accounting and finance from the Bauer College of Business at The University of Houston in 1998. Mr. Banks earned his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in 2006 while working fulltime as Chief Financial Officer at DIR, Inc. While at South Texas Mr. Banks was recognized for his advocacy in mock trial and moot court, receiving honors in both areas, and was adjudged best advocate in the preliminary rounds of the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition in January 2005 in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Banks is a member of the State Bar of Texas and holds memberships in the Real Estate and Business Law sections.
Mr. Banks founded “The Pursuit” small business roundtable which meets monthly at the law offices of Ngwolo & Banks, PLLC. The program is designed to provide business leaders with the knowledge and skills to lead profitable and sustainable organizations. Mr. Banks leads a small business legal blog at http://olaidebanks.wordpress.com.
Mr. Banks is a guest lecturer at South Texas College of Law on the issue “Predatory Lending in Subprime Markets” in the Urban and Poverty Law Course given each semester by Judge Frank Pierce. Mr. Banks is a member of the Personal Financial Planning Section of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a regular presenter at the NAACP’s Legal Redress Clinic in Houston.