Kent Rutter

Kent Rutter is an appellate advocate in Haynes Boone’s Houston office who has practiced at the firm for 30 years. He represents clients in high-stakes civil appeals and mandamus proceedings involving substantial judgments, statutory interpretation, federal preemption, jury-charge error, and other issues that can determine the outcome of complex litigation.

Chambers USA recognizes Kent in Texas appellate litigation, with clients describing him as “a calm presence in the midst of tumultuous litigation,” a “terrific writer,” “easy to work with,” and an advocate who “achieves great results” (Chambers and Partners, 2018-2026).

Additionally, Best Lawyers in America named Kent Houston’s appellate “Lawyer of the Year” (Woodward/White, Inc., 2026).

Recent appellate victories include:

• Presented oral argument and secured reversal of a $73 million judgment against a railroad arising from a $557 million nuclear personal injury verdict. The Houston First Court of Appeals reversed based on jury-charge error.
• Represented a major pipeline company in the Iowa Supreme Court and obtained a unanimous decision holding that a state agency exceeded its statutory authority by imposing a significant monetary penalty for a permitting violation.
• Presented oral argument in the Texas Supreme Court and obtained a unanimous decision granting mandamus relief from the denial of summary judgment, enforcing and clarifying a federal statute of repose important to the aviation industry.
• Presented oral argument in the Texas Supreme Court and won a unanimous reversal clarifying the warnings railroads must provide to drivers where private roads cross railroad tracks in rural Texas.
• Presented oral argument in the Twelfth Court of Appeals in Tyler and won a unanimous reversal in a dispute over an 1872 agreement requiring a railroad to build a repair shop and employ local residents “forever,” saving the client $180 million.
• Served as lead appellate counsel for Apple in the Houston First Court of Appeals and a Houston trial court in multidistrict litigation arising from the Astroworld music festival tragedy, obtaining results that Law360 included among the “biggest rulings in 2024.”

Kent has chaired three major organizations for Texas appellate lawyers: the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists (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 has twice received the Texas Bar Foundation’s Outstanding Law Review Article Award: 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 Texas appellate courts, and later as co-author of “Summary Judgments in Texas,” recognized as one of the ten most-cited articles by appellate courts nationwide. He frequently speaks to trial lawyers, appellate lawyers, and in-house counsel, often alongside members of the federal and state judiciary.

Kent is a longtime member of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of the United Way of Greater Houston. He has mentored young professionals interested in strengthening their communities and supported organizations that serve families in need.