Andy Drumheller is at his best in a crisis. For more than twenty-four years, he has helped clients work – and often fight – their way through times of intense difficulty and trouble. Andy understands the value that seasoned, calm judgment can bring to the most important problems his many clients have experienced.
Andy’s professional versatility is difficult to match, even in a large and diverse community like Houston. He has extensive trial experience in the areas of white-collar criminal defense, complex commercial litigation and other disputes involving everything from publication rights and point-of-sale technology to breach of contract and oil and gas royalty fights. He also has substantial experience conducting internal investigations for educational institutions, public agencies and private companies.
Andy understands the importance of successfully balancing the needs and demands of clients’ widely divergent but equally important cases. For example, he represented a citizen charged with murder who was acquitted by a jury for acting in self-defense. At the same time, Andy was significantly involved in the defense of a professional athlete facing a Congressional investigation and threat of prosecution. Moving seamlessly from the extremes of highly-contested matters at their most critical stage to controversies just beginning to brew is a challenge Andy embraces.
Andy focused on getting trial experience immediately out of law school. He worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the Trial Bureau of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. After nearly three years in that position, Andy met Rusty Hardin and joined him at Rusty Hardin & Associates, where he became a partner and litigated high-stakes matters on behalf of public figures, large organizations with global interests, as well as small, local businesses and private individuals. While working there, Andy had the honor of leading an investigation for a Court of Inquiry that exposed the conduct of a district attorney who hid evidence during the prosecution of an innocent man for a highly publicized murder. He also represented a state legislative committee investigating the actions of a university regent.
Andy is known for paying close attention to his clients and the details of their cases. His judgment about how to proceed in even the most unusual situations and his unique portfolio of case experience make him an excellent problem solver and tireless advocate. Together with his partners at DHM, Andy offers clients a wealth of high-level experience within the flexible and adaptable environment of a boutique firm.
Please refer to DHM’s Case Studies for summaries of Andy’s experience and victories for specific clients.
Education
Texas Tech University School of Law
Juris Doctorate
1995
The University of Texas at Austin
Bachelor of Arts
1992
Court Admissions
State of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Western and Southern Districts of Texas
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. Supreme Court
Certifications
Board Certified
By the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
In Criminal Law
Community Involvement
The HAY Center Foundation Board
Vice-Chair
2018-2021
The HAY Center Foundation Board
Coach and Mentor
2016-Present
Houston Bar Association
Speaker's Bureau
2012-2015
- Best Lawyers, rated in Criminal Defense: White Collar 2016-2023
- Texas Super Lawyers, 2013-2022
- Texas Rising Stars, 2006-2009
- 2022: From PLI Press Expert Witness Answer Book, “Chapter 29: Forensic Experts in Criminal Trials,” 2022 Edition, chapter co-authored with Derek Hollingsworth
- 2021: University of Houston Advanced Legal Writing Presentation, “Distinguishing Fact and Opinion Work Product”
- 2021: Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office Training, “Collateral Consequences in Criminal Prosecutions”
- 2020: HBA Ethics Program, “How to Ethically Handle Difficult Clients”
- 2019: 45th Annual Advanced Criminal Law Course, “Collateral Consequences and the Criminal Justice System.”
- 2019: Texas Bar College 21st Annual Summer School, “Collateral Consequences and the Criminal Justice System”
- 2019: 2nd Annual Harris County Capital Murder Seminar, “Ethically Dealing with Media Intensive Cases”
- 2016: Dallas Trial Skills Association, “Representing High Profile Athletes in Criminal Cases”
- 2016: State Bar Texas Minority Counsel Program, “Criminal Law”
- 2012: Page Keeton Civil Litigation Conference, “Lessons from the Courtroom Trenches”
- 2012: Harris County CLE for Criminal Defense Appointments, “Handling High Profile Cases”
- From Texas Lawyer, “A View from the Dugout at the Roger Clemens Trial,” Aug. 20, 2012, article bylined with Derek Hollingsworth and Jeremy Monthy.
- 2011: Houston Bar Association CLE, “Search & Seizure”