About Holly McIntush

Legal Assistant: Kristy Alonzo | 512-615-2350 | kalonzo@thompsonhorton.com

Holly has experienced first-hand the benefits of a strong public education and its ability to fuel upward mobility and civic engagement. That’s why every facet of her career has been dedicated to improving public education, whether through the legislative process, counseling clients in general school law matters, or handling complex litigation for her K-12 and higher education clients. She takes pride in handling sensitive and demanding matters for her clients so they can focus on the important work of educating students.

A native west-Texan and a Partner in our Austin office, Holly McIntush advises K-12 districts and higher education institutions on a variety of matters, including personnel and student issues, open government, and high-profile investigations. Holly is a nationally recognized civil rights expert who trains and advises K12 and higher ed administrators across the country on civil rights compliance (including Title VII, Title VI, and Title IX). Holly regularly helps clients develop legally compliant civil rights policies and procedures, advises them as they conduct investigations and hearings under those policies, and defends them before the Office for Civil Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She also serves colleges and universities nationwide as a civil rights investigator, hearing officer, and appointed Title IX advisor.

A talented litigator, Holly has played a pivotal role in several high-profile cases, including litigation against the governor and attorney general over school districts’ rights to make local decisions regarding face masks during COVID-19, challenging the constitutionality of the Texas school funding system, and several significant Title IX lawsuits involving allegations of sexual harassment in the university and K12 settings. At the appeals court level, Holly uses her excellent oral and written advocacy skills to fight for her clients before the Fifth Circuit, the Texas Supreme Court, and other state courts of appeals.

Holly has a deep knowledge of the Texas school finance and property tax systems. Prior to law school she served four years as the legislative director for a Texas state representative on the House Public Education and Appropriations committees, focusing on budget issues, public education, and school finance policy. In that role, Holly built school finance models that showed the impact of various proposed changes to the school finance system on every school district in the state, giving her an understanding of how small changes can move millions of dollars. Now, she uses that knowledge to advise K12 and community college clients on school finance, tax rate adoptions, and other tax and funding issues. She also drafts legislation, amendments, and budget riders for T&H legislative coalitions.

While in law school, Holly co-founded the Suspension Representation Project, through which students from law schools throughout the city represent New York City public school students in school disciplinary proceedings.

Prior to joining Thompson & Horton, Holly litigated complex federal and state False Claims Act cases for the Texas Attorney General’s Office, where she mastered the art of conducting effective depositions and direct and cross-examinations. She also served as a clerk at the Texas Third Court of Appeals, gaining insight into what to do—and not do—to craft a persuasive appellate argument. .

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