Polly Benton Fohn
Biography
Polly Fohn has more than fifteen years' experience handling complex commercial appeals in Texas and has argued high-stakes cases to the Texas Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit. She excels at transforming complicated facts and legal arguments into simple and persuasive briefs.
Polly is recognized in Texas appellate litigation by Chambers USA (Chambers and Partners), where she has been praised by clients as “a persuasive writer who can distill complex disputes into strong arguments.” She is also skilled at drafting jury charges and other key trial pleadings that can set a case up for a successful appeal long before it actually reaches an appellate court.
Polly graduated from Harvard Law School cum laude and clerked for the Honorable R. Lanier Anderson on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
She is active in the Houston legal community, where she is a Past-Chair of the Houston Bar Foundation and is a former Editor-in-Chief of The Houston Lawyer magazine.
Click here to watch Polly’s latest argument before the Texas Supreme Court.
Polly Fohn has more than fifteen years' experience handling complex commercial appeals in Texas and has argued high-stakes cases to the Texas Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit. She excels at transforming complicated facts and legal arguments into simple and persuasive briefs.
Polly is recognized in Texas appellate litigation by Chambers USA (Chambers and Partners), where she has been praised by clients as “a persuasive writer who can distill complex disputes into strong arguments.” She is also skilled at drafting jury charges and other key trial pleadings that can set a case up for a successful appeal long before it actually reaches an appellate court.
Polly graduated from Harvard Law School cum laude and clerked for the Honorable R. Lanier Anderson on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
She is active in the Houston legal community, where she is a Past-Chair of the Houston Bar Foundation and is a former Editor-in-Chief of The Houston Lawyer magazine.
Click here to watch Polly’s latest argument before the Texas Supreme Court.
- Persuaded the Texas Supreme Court to reverse an approximately $8 million judgment against our client and to reinstate our client's breach of contract counterclaim and attorneys' fees claim in a dispute arising out of the termination of a gas transportation agreement. The Court eviscerated Rainbow Energy's case on remand by rendering a take-nothing judgment on Rainbow tort and contract repudiation claims against our client and holding that Rainbow's lost profits damages model failed as a matter of law.
- In refinery construction dispute, assisted trial team with strategy, legal briefing, and preparing and arguing the jury charge in a trial that resulted in a favorable judgment of approximately $35 million.
- Recognized by Chambers USA, Chambers and Partners, for Litigation: Appellate (Texas), 2023-2025
- Recognized by Best Lawyers, Woodward/White, Inc., for Appellate Practice, 2021
- Included among the Texas Rising Stars Up-and-Coming 100 list, Thomson Reuters, 2020-2021
Education
J.D., Harvard Law School, 2008, cum laude, Journal on Legislation, Supervising Editor
B.S., Chemistry, Brown University, 2004, magna cum laude, with honors
Clerkships
Law Clerk, the Honorable R. Lanier Anderson, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (2008-2009)
Admissions
Texas
Court Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
Haynes Boone Secures Texas Supreme Court Win for American Midstream, Reversing $6 Million Judgment
May 23, 2025