Atty. Rusty Hardin, Jr.
Acclaimed Texas trial lawyer Rusty Hardin is the founder and name partner of Houston’s Rusty Hardin & Associates, LLP , accomplished in both complex civil matters and significant criminal cases. Mr.
Profile Summary
About Rusty Hardin, Jr. at a glance
Rusty Hardin, Jr. is a criminal defense, business, white collar, and litigation attorney based in Houston, Texas, practicing at Rusty Hardin & Associates LLP. Admitted to practice in Texas, State Bar of Texas. Educated at Southern Methodist University (J.D., 1975) and Wesleyan University (B.S., 1965). Recognitions include Lawyer of the Year — Bet-the-Company Litigation (Houston) (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Bet-the-Company Litigation (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026). Serands clients in Houston, TX and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Want to Get Service From This Attorney?
Sign up free and choose one of the two methods below.
Have a legal question? Sign up free, submit it through the Ask the Attorney module and receive a focused answer from a specialist.
- Free to ask a question
- Answers from specialist attorneys
- Optional private / anonymous question
Request an online video meeting or an in-person consultation at the attorney's office. Pick a time that works for you and share the details securely.
- Online video meeting
- In-person at the attorney's office
- Secure messaging and payment
About
- Acclaimed Texas trial lawyer Rusty Hardin is the founder and name partner of Houston’s Rusty Hardin & Associates, LLP, accomplished in both complex civil matters and significant criminal cases
- Mr. Hardin has more than 40 years of litigation experience, beginning his career as an assistant prosecutor in Houston’s Harris County in 1975
- Since entering private practice in 1991, Mr. Hardin has tried over 70 jury trials, fairly evenly split between civil and criminal cases
- His clients have been as varied as Arthur Andersen in both civil and criminal cases
- Dow Jones, for whom the firm won a new trial in the face of the largest libel verdict in history
- the J. Howard Marshall II estate in the nationally followed probate trial involving claims made by Anna Nicole Smith
- ExxonMobil Corp
- Rice University
- Las Vegas Sands
- and a lengthy roster of professional athletes that includes Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Warren Moon, Rudy Tomjanovich, Calvin Murphy and Adrian Peterson
- Mr. Hardin also has a lengthy track record of independent investigations involving highly sensitive matters
- He served as chief trial counsel for Independent Counsel Robert Fiske and his successor Kenneth Starr in the Whitewater investigation
- And more recently, he led a politically fraught investigation into the actions of a University of Texas System Regent for a Texas legislative committee
- Mr. Hardin has earned many accolades over the years, earning a place on The National Law Journal’s list of The 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America in 2013 and profiled as a “Trial Ace” by Law360 in 2015
- He was named one of the "25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter-Century" by Texas Lawyer in 2010
- He has been selected a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers
- He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
- Since 2009, Hardin has served on the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee
- A native of North Carolina, Hardin received his undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, and his J.D. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas
Practice Areas Explained
Rusty Hardin, Jr.'s Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Rusty Hardin, Jr. handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
A criminal defense attorney protects your rights from arrest through trial. Find experienced lawyers handling DUI, drug, federal, theft, and violent-crime charges.
Rusty Hardin, Jr. is one of 214,270 criminal defense attorneys indexed nationally. Browse criminal defense attorneys in Texas →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Rusty Hardin, Jr. is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Texas →
Rusty Hardin, Jr. is one of 20,025 white collar attorneys indexed nationally. Browse white collar attorneys in Texas →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Rusty Hardin, Jr. is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Texas →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Texas
Practicing law in Texas. Legal matters in Texas are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Houston are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Texas state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Texas brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Texas courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Texas attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Houston or all attorneys in Texas.
Frequently Asked
Common questions about Rusty Hardin, Jr.
Where is Rusty Hardin, Jr.'s law office located?
What practice areas does Rusty Hardin, Jr. handle?
Where did Rusty Hardin, Jr. go to law school?
How can I contact Rusty Hardin, Jr. for a consultation?
What awards or recognition has Rusty Hardin, Jr. received?
Education
Awards
Bar Admissions
Reviews
No reviews yet.