Holly Boyd Wardell

Holly is a shareholder in our Austin office.

Holly is licensed to practice law in all Texas state courts; the United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas; the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; and the United States Supreme Court.

She is a member of the Austin Bar Association, National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys; School Law, Administrative Law, and Labor and Employment Law sections of the Texas Bar, Texas Council of School Attorneys, and the Texas Association of Defense Counsel. Holly has also served on the State Bar’s Disabilities Issues Committee and the Texas Education Agency’s State Supervision Committee & Complaints Management System. Holly graduated cum laude from Texas Wesleyan University in 1992 and earned her Juris Doctorate from The University of Texas School of Law in 1996.

Holly has an impressive litigation background in whistleblower cases and civil rights cases including gender, race, and national origin, and disability discrimination claims. Her work on position statements, motions, and briefs has resulted in numerous victories for school districts at every level conceivable. Additionally, she regularly attends ARD and Section 504 Committee meetings and represents clients at due process hearings.

Holly’s outgoing personality, enthusiasm, and thoroughness combine to make her a popular lecturer. She is a frequent guest speaker for school districts, regional education service centers, special education cooperatives, state organizations, and universities on a variety of topics related to school law, including special education, Section 504, education records, sexual harassment, student discipline, and search and seizure. Holly has published numerous articles for state and firm publications on special education and other issues.

Holly’s paralegal is Andrea Stevens.