Dr. Harbottle practices primarily in federal court, and before the California Office of Administrative Hearings (“OAH”). Dan has conducted over 45 OAH due process trials, and has litigated dozens of federal district court appeals of OAH Decisions as well as defending school districts against ADA, Section 504 and related claims. He has prevailed before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals many times, and has successfully briefed several matters before the United States Supreme Court. Under his guidance, HLG has established new law for the benefit of public school districts. Dr. Harbottle also provides ongoing legal consultation to numerous school districts, and conducts frequent seminars and workshops regarding Education Law.
Prior to founding HLG in 2009, Dr. Harbottle was the Chairman of the Education Law Practice Group at Rutan & Tucker, LLP, Orange County’s oldest and largest law firm. Dan practiced law with Rutan & Tucker for 18 years, and was an equity partner for his last 11 years there. After graduating with his BA and MA, Phi Beta Kappa from Purdue University, Dan received his JD, Summa Cum Laude from Indiana University School of Law, where he served as an Editor of the Indiana Law Review. Dan also holds his PhD in Education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. His doctoral dissertation involved application of U.S. Constitutional Law in the context of public education. At Purdue University, Dr. Harbottle taught in both the Biology and History Departments, and at the University of Michigan, he taught Educational Foundations and Law. He has also served as an adjunct Professor of Law at Chapman University School of Law.
Education
- Purdue University, B.A., M.A., Phi Beta Kappa
- Indiana University, School of Law, J.D., Summa Cum Laude
- University of Michigan, Ph.D. in Educational Foundations
Bar Admissions
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- United States District Court, Central, Northern, Eastern and Southern Districts of California
- State Bar of California
Practice Areas
- Special Education
- Litigation
- Appellate Litigation
- Government Tort Claims
- Student Services
- Staff Training
