Cathy S. Holmes

Partner

Riverside
3750 University Avenue, Suite 400
P.O. Box 1028

TEL: (951) 826-8218
FAX: (951) 686-3083
Cathy.Holmes@bbklaw.com

Cathy S. Holmes is a Partner with Best Best & Krieger LLP's School's Group.  She is currently a resident of the firm's Riverside and Sacramento offices.  Ms. Holmes received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Los Angeles, with a minor in Business and Administration.  She received her Juris Doctorate, with distinction, from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, where she was a member of the Roger J. Traynor Honor Society and a recipient of the McGeorge Academic Achievement Award, the McGeorge Alumni Scholarship Award, and the Ahmanson Foundation Scholarship Award.

Ms. Holmes joined Best Best & Krieger in 2001, after working for Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann and Girard, a Sacramento based law firm, where she advised school district administrative clients, governing boards and county offices of education on multiple issues pertaining to school law.

Ms. Holmes regularly advises clients on state and federal laws governing students with disabilities. She has provided representation in mediations and due process hearings before the California Special Education Hearing Office as well as acted as lead counsel in both federal and state courts regarding services and accommodations required under the IDEA.  Ms. Holmes has also negotiated multiple Voluntary Resolution Plans with the Office for Civil Rights addressing issues arising under Title VI and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Ms. Holmes also provides legal advice regarding general education matters including student records, intradistrict and interdistrict transfers, general student discipline, Internet access and use, facilities matters, planning and zoning laws, and public works contracts.  Additionally, Ms. Holmes has experience in conducting internal investigations on claims of sexual harassment, unprofessional conduct and racial discrimination.   

Ms. Holmes is a member of the State Bar of California, the Sacramento County Bar Association, the Riverside County Bar Association, the California Council of School Attorneys, the National Council of School Attorneys, and the Coalition for Adequate School Housing (C.A.S.H.).  She is an honorary lifetime member of the UCLA Alumni Association and until recently, served as the Membership Director for the Northern California region.

Bar & Court Admissions

• California, 1997

Education

• JD, McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, Sacramento, CA
• BA, University of California at Los Angeles

Professional Affiliations

• Sacramento County Bar Association
• Riverside County Bar Association
• California Council of School Attorneys
• National Council of School Attorneys
• Coalition for Adequate School Housing (C.A.S.H)