Kent Rutter

Career

Kent Rutter is an accomplished appellate advocate who has practiced at Haynes Boone for more than 25 years. A recognized leader of the appellate bar, Kent has chaired the three largest organizations for appellate lawyers in Texas: the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists (TACTAS) (2020-2021); the Appellate Section of the State Bar of Texas (2019-2020), and the Appellate Practice Section of the Houston Bar Association (2010-2011).

Kent is board certified in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is also a prolific author and speaker who has won the Outstanding Law Review Article Award from the Texas Bar Foundation twice, first as co-author of “Reasons for Reversal in the Texas Courts of Appeals,” an empirical study of the factors that most frequently result in reversal in the Texas appellate courts, and second as co-author of “Summary Judgments in Texas,” which has been recognized as one of the ten most-cited articles by appellate courts nationwide. He has given presentations to hundreds of trial lawyers, appellate lawyers, and in-house counsel, often co-presenting with members of the federal and state judiciary.

Kent is also active in the community at large. As a longtime member of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of the United Way of Greater Houston, Kent has mentored young professionals with an interest in bettering their communities, and has supported a wide array of organizations that serve families in need.