Kevin O'Hanlon
Shareholder
Kevin O’Hanlon, the founding partner of O’Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo began practicing law in 1974 and has a vast knowledge of all areas of litigation. Mr. O’Hanlon became Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1987, and in Civil Trial Law in 1990.
Mr. O’Hanlon is licensed to practice in Texas Courts, Federal District Courts for the Western, Northern, Southern, and Eastern Districts of Texas, the Western District of Oklahoma, and the Western District of Arkansas. He is licensed to practice before the Fifth, Eighth, and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.
Mr. O’Hanlon graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Plan II, the undergraduate honors program. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the national honors fraternity. In 1977, Mr. O’Hanlon graduated from the University of Texas Law School and founded the law firm of Feeney, O’Hanlon & Moore, P.C. immediately upon graduation.
His practice involved a broad range of litigation areas, with a strong emphasis on constitutional and civil rights litigation. In 1983, Mr. O’Hanlon was invited to join the staff of the Texas Attorney General’s Office to assume the responsibility for the celebrated Mobil Litigation. He served as an Assistant Attorney General from 1983 until 1990. Mr. O’Hanlon specialized in public policy litigation involving public education including school finance, (Edgewood vs. Kirby): pre-employment testing (United States v. Texas); employment testing (State of Texas vs Project Principle, Inc.); and Texas’ famous No-pass/No-play rule (Stamos vs. Spring Branch CISD).
As a litigator Mr. O’ Hanlon has tried hundreds of cases in both judicial and administrative settings. He has appeared on many occasions before the Texas Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the intermediate appellate courts of the State of Texas.
In his public practice, Mr. O’Hanlon has become thoroughly familiar with a broad range of state agencies and political subdivisions. He is familiar with the unique legal issues encountered in public representation and with the specific strategies and legal perspectives necessary for public representation. Since September 1, 1990, when Mr. O’Hanlon was first employed as General Counsel of the Texas Education Agency, he has added to his experience as General Counsel for public agencies and/or political subdivisions. In this capacity Mr. O’ Hanlon has acquired in-depth experience with the legislative process, state and federal grants administration, administrative rule making and interpretation, and administrative practice. In addition to conducting legal activities, Mr. O’Hanlon has been recognized as an expert witness regarding both personnel and purchasing functions.