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Kelly J. Curnutt 
Arlington, Texas
Partner
phone 817-548-1000
fax 817-548-1070
email Email Me

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
Litigation Percentage:
100% of Practice Devoted to 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


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


Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Life Member


Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas
Member


Past Employment Positions:
Baker & McKenzie, Associate, 1997 - 2000


Pryor & Bruce, Associate, 1994 - 1997


Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Associate, 1993


Fraternities/Sororities:
Phi Delta Theta

Curnutt & Hafer, L.L.P.
101 East Park Row Drive
Arlington, TX 76010
Toll Free: 877-540-2594

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