Kelly J. Curnutt Arlington, Texas
| Partner | |
| phone | 817-548-1000 |
| fax | 817-548-1070 |
| kcurnutt@curnutthafer.com | |
Professional Experience
Prior to forming Curnutt & Hafer, L.L.P. with his partner in 2000, Mr. Curnutt worked in both a small Dallas trial boutique firm and for one of the largest firms in the world. Since graduation from law school, he has tried cases in many state and federal courts, ranging from personal injury to complex commercial and business tort matters. Mr. Curnutt is AV rated by Martindale Hubble, the highest ethical and legal ability ranking available.
Mr. Curnutt is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is admitted to practice law in the State of Texas, and is admitted in the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western United States District Courts of Texas, as well as the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mr. Curnutt is a member of the State Bar of Texas, and its Litigation Section; the American Bar Association, and its Litigation and Tort & Insurance Practice Sections; and the Dallas County, Tarrant County and Arlington Bar Associations.
Education and Background
Mr. Curnutt obtained his law degree in 1993 from the Southern Methodist University School of Law where he was the Managing Staff Editor of the SMU Law Review Association, Oral Argument Champion and Best Brief Finalist in the all-school moot court competition, Outstanding Advocate in the mock trial competition, recipient of an American Indian Graduate Center Scholarship, member of the Order of the Barristers, and Province Winner in the International Graduate of the Year Award for the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. Mr. Curnutt received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in 1989 from the University of Texas at Arlington, where he served as president of his fraternity, was selected to the Honor Roll and National Dean's List from 1985 to 1989, and served as a Younglife School Director. Mr. Curnutt is a former Certified Public Accountant, having previously worked for the KPMG Peat Marwick public accounting firm prior to entering law school.
- Areas of Practice:
- Oil & Gas Litigation
- Personal Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Nursing Home Liability
- Insurance Litigation
- Business Litigation
- Certification/Specialties:
- Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1998
- Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 1993
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 1997
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1997
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 1997
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1997
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1997
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 2009
- Education:
- Southern Methodist University School of Law, Dallas, Texas,
1993
J.D.
Honors: Order of the Barristers
Honors: Province Winner, Phi Delta Phi International Graduate of the Year Award
Honors: Recipient, American Indian Graduate Center Scholarship
Honors: Champion, Oral Argument, Jackson & Walker Moot Court Competition
Honors: Finalist, Best Brief, Jackson & Walker Moot Court Competition
Honors: Outstanding Advocate, Vial Hamilton Mock Trial Barristers Association
Law Review: Southern Methodist University Law Review Association, Managing Staff Editor, 1992 - 1993 - University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas,
1989
B.B.A.
Honors: Honor Roll
Honors: National Dean's List, 1985-1989
Honors: Younglife School Director
Major: Accounting
- Published Works:
- Surface-Owner Conflicts: When and How to Obtain a TRO, (Co-Author with Douglas R. Hafer and Daniel B. Mathis), Oklahoma City Association of Petroleum Landmen, March 1, 2010
- Classes/Seminars Taught:
- “A Practical Guide to Operator/Surface-Owner Disputes and the Current State of the Accommodation Doctrine”, Southwest Land Institute, hosted by the American Association of Professional Landmen, Dallas, Texas, April 14, 2011
- "Tips for Fielding and Handling Personal Injury Calls", General Practice CLE Workshop, Arlington Bar Association, March 31, 2011
- "A Practical Guide to Operator/Surface-Owner Disputes", Energy Symposium, Texas Wesleyan School of Law, March 4, 2011
- "A Practical Guide to Operator/Surface-Owner Disputes", Fort Worth Association of Professional Landmen ("FWAPL"), October 14, 2010
- Honors and Awards:
- “Top Lawyer” by Fort Worth, Texas Magazine, 2011
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum - Life Member
- AV® Preeminent™ (5.0 out of 5) Peer Review Rated for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability, by The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings (currently)
- Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas, 2008
- College of the State Bar of Texas, 1999
- Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Young Men for Arlington, 1995 - 2000
- President
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Texas, 2000 - Present
- Board of Directors
- State Bar of Texas
- Member
- State Bar of Texas, Litigation Section
- Member
- American Bar Association
- Member
- American Bar Association, Litigation Section
- Member
- Dallas Bar Association
- Member
- Arlington Bar Association
- Past President
- Tarrant County Bar Association
- Member
- Tarrant County Bar Association, Energy Law Section
- Member
- Elden B. Mahon Inn of Court
- Barrister
- Phi Delta Theta Arlington Alumni Club
- President
- Past Employment Positions:
- Baker & McKenzie, Associate, 1997 - 2000
- Pryor & Bruce, Associate, 1994 - 1997
- Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Associate, 1993
- Fraternities/Sororities:
- Phi Delta Theta

