S. Daniel Harbottle

Mr. Harbottle practices in both State and Federal court, as well as in the administrative law settings unique to the practice of Education Law. Under his guidance, HLG has succeeded in ushering in new law for the benefit and clarity of public school districts. Mr. Harbottle also provides ongoing legal consultation to numerous school districts, and conducts frequent seminars and workshops regarding Education Law.

Prior to founding HLG in 2008, Mr. Harbottle was the Chairman of the Education Law Practice Group at Rutan & Tucker, LLP, Orange County’s oldest and largest law firm. Mr. Harbottle practiced law with Rutan & Tucker for 18 years, and was an equity partner for his last 11 years there. During his tenure at Rutan, Dan was a primary member of a litigation team successfully defending a large public agency against a lawsuit filed on behalf of over 400 individual plaintiffs. After graduating with his BA and MA Phi Beta Kappa from Purdue University, Dan received his JD Summa Cum Laude from Indiana University, where he also served as an Editor of the Indiana Law Review. Dan also holds a PhD in Educational Foundations which he received from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 1995. His dissertation involved application of U.S. Constitutional Law in the context of public education. At Purdue University, Mr. Harbottle taught Biology and American History, and at the University of Michigan, he taught Educational Foundations and Law. Mr. Harbottle has also served as an adjunct Professor of Law at Chapman University School of Law.

Mr. Harbottle was previously elected to serve a two-year term on the California Office of Administrative Hearings Advisory Committee, which advises the Office of Administrative Hearings on special education due process and mediation procedures. Mr. Harbottle’s service with the Advisory Committee provided the firm with an enhanced opportunity to serve the special education legal community.

Education

• Purdue University, B.A., M.A.
• Indiana University, School of Law, J.D.
• University of Michigan, Ph.D. in Educational Foundations

Bar Admissions

• State Bar of California
• 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