About David Thompson
Legal Assistant: Kristy Alonzo | 512-615-2350 | kalonzo@thompsonhorton.com
David has been at the forefront of the fight for high-quality public education in Texas for decades. His intimate knowledge of current and past legislation affecting Texas public schools is matched only by his passion for supporting his clients. David is among the state’s indispensable experts on all things public education.
David is a partner in our Houston office and represents public school districts, junior colleges and other educational entities across Texas. David serves as legislative counsel for the Texas Association of School Administrators, Houston Independent School District, and other school districts and has been actively involved in most legislative activities affecting public education over the past 30 plus. Specifically, David has been instrumental in matters regarding public school funding in Texas. He has represented hundreds of school districts in major cases challenging the constitutionality of the Texas public school finance system, and has successfully argued before the Supreme Court of Texas that the system violates the Texas Constitution. In addition, David has extensive experience with board/superintendent relations, contracts, conflicts of interest, nepotism, student residency and attendance, competitive bidding, school board policy development, and employment matters. He regularly assists school boards with superintendent searches.
Education
- J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, 1976
- M.A., Texas A&M University, 2000, Lechner Fellow
- B.A., The University of Texas at Austin, 1973
Practice Areas
- Government Relations & Pubic Policy
- General Counsel
- Litigation
Licensing & Court Admissions
- Licensed in the state of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Memberships & Recognitions
- The Best Lawyers in America
- Texas Super Lawyer, School and Education, 2004-2019
- Texas Lawyer, Go-to Lawyer in School Law
- Education Law Association
- Houston Bar Association
- National School Boards Association-Council of School Attorneys
- Boy Scouts of America, Sam Houston Area Council, Board of Directors