Rusty Hardin named Houston’s Lawyer of the Year for high-stakes legal matters

Texas legal legend Rusty Hardin has been named Houston’s Lawyer of the Year for bet-the-company litigation by The Best Lawyers in America, and five of his partners at Rusty Hardin & Associates also earned honors from the well-known legal guide.

In addition to his award for handling high-stakes cases, Mr. Hardin, firm founder, was also recognized for expertise in white-collar criminal defense and commercial litigation, reflecting his well-earned reputation as one of the state’s most versatile legal minds.

Also selected for 2026 Best Lawyers recognition were firm partners:

• Daniel Dutko – Plaintiffs' personal injury litigation
• Ryan Higgins – Plaintiffs' personal injury litigation
• Terry Kernell – Commercial litigation
• Megan Moore – Commercial litigation
• Joe Roden – White-collar criminal defense, plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation, and appellate practice

All five are repeat honorees by Best Lawyers, which uses nominations, peer review, feedback analysis, and eligibility checks to rank the nation’s top legal talent across numerous practice areas.

“We appreciate the recognition from our Houston colleagues who contribute to the Best Lawyers ratings system,” said Mr. Hardin. “At the end of the day, it is all about our clients. These honors reflect the hard work and outstanding results that our firm is proud to provide them.”

To read the full list of honorees, click here.

About Rusty Hardin & Associates

Rusty Hardin & Associates, LLP has built a solid reputation for taking on the causes of its clients and obtaining favorable results in commercial litigation, plaintiffs’ personal injury, white-collar criminal defense, appellate matters, and general civil and criminal litigation. Learn more about the firm’s representative matters: https://www.rustyhardin.com/.

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