Katy L. McCully Merrill

Bringing high levels of compassion and competence to her practice, Katy McCully Merrill advises K-12 and community college districts and county offices of education statewide on a variety of challenges and disputes. These include employment concerns such as hiring practices, leaves, labor negotiation and employee discipline, as well as matters involving student discipline, instruction and enrollment. In addition, Katy guides clients in governance issues, including those related to board policy development, Public Records Act requests and the Brown Act.

Katy regularly handles discrimination, harassment and retaliation matters before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the California Civil Rights Department (formerly the Department of Fair Employment and Housing). Drawing on her ample litigation experience, she advocates for clients at all levels of the hearing and trial process before state and federal courts and administrative agencies.

A skilled investigator, Katy assists clients in examining issues including uniform complaints, student expulsions, employee misconduct and allegations of discrimination and harassment. In addition to daily support, she provides client training in the areas of student and employee discipline and in the prevention of discrimination and sexual harassment. Katy’s highly knowledgeable, practical approach enables her to address challenges and resolve problems efficiently so agencies can return their focus to educating youth.

Practicing in a highly complex and often emotionally fraught area of law, Katy excels at persuasively articulating her clients’ positions in a way that judges and non-lawyers can relate to and comprehend. She illuminates the caring, human face of school districts and other public agencies and clearly conveys that these organizations are composed of people who are working hard to ensure all children receive exemplary educations, regardless of ability or background.

Katy previously worked in several diverse legal fields at other firms, including civil litigation and bankruptcy. While in law school, Katy served as a legal clerk for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, engaging in policy-making and congressional hearing support.