For Texas legal legend Rusty Hardin, trial work is about people and their stories. In appreciation of a career devoted to telling those stories with skill, integrity, and purpose, The National Law Journal has honored Mr. Hardin with the 2026 Elite Trial Lawyers Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. Hardin accepted the award during an award ceremony in New York City on July 23.

Described as a “raconteur, showman, charmer,” and above all else a highly successful trial attorney, Mr. Hardin has proven for more than 50 years to be a relatable yet commanding courtroom presence. His career encompasses historic public service, high-profile celebrity defense, landmark Supreme Court victories, and massive civil verdicts for everyday families.

“I am deeply humbled to receive this Lifetime Achievement honor from Law.com and The National Law Journal,” said Mr. Hardin. “When you spend decades in the courtroom, you don’t think about awards. You think about the people who put their lives, their trust, and their futures into your hands.

“This recognition is not just mine. It belongs to every client who had the courage to stand up and fight, and to the incredibly talented team at our firm that I am honored to work with every day.”

Mr. Hardin’s career began in 1975 as a Harris County assistant district attorney. Serving as chief of a felony division for eight years, he tried 15 death penalty cases and more than 100 felony jury trials without a loss, earning Prosecutor of the Year honors in 1989.

Since launching Rusty Hardin & Associates in 1996, he has built an eye-popping track record, trying more than 90 additional jury trials.

Among Mr. Hardin’s most high-profile corporate cases was his representation of Arthur Andersen in Enron-related litigation, which resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously overturning the firm’s conviction for obstruction of justice.

He defended several high-profile sports clients, including Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Scottie Pippen, Adrian Peterson, Kurt Busch, Warren Moon, Rudy Tomjanovich, and Deshaun Watson. In 2025, he represented the family of the late Tyler Skaggs in a wrongful death lawsuit against Skaggs’ former MLB team. A favorable confidential settlement was reached three days into jury deliberations.

In 2023, Mr. Hardin was chosen by the Texas House of Representatives to lead the prosecution in the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton before the Texas Senate.

Most recently, he and his team secured a $46 million verdict for the family of an oil field worker killed on the jobsite.

Mr. Hardin’s impact on civil and criminal litigation has earned him nearly every major industry accolade. He has been named to The National Law Journal’s 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America, Texas Lawyer’s 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter-Century, Texas Lawbook’s Lion of the Texas Bar, and Law360’s Trial Ace.

He is also the recipient of the Ronald D. Secrest Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award and the Lifetime Excellence in Advocacy Award and has been named a Texas Legal Legend by the State Bar of Texas.

The Elite Trial Lawyers Lifetime Achievement Award is determined through a rigorous, data-driven evaluation process. The award recognizes attorneys who have spent their careers advancing the plaintiffs’ bar.

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, white-collar criminal defense, plaintiffs’ personal injury, appellate matters, and general civil and criminal litigation. Learn more at https://www.rustyhardin.com/.

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