Katie Rutherford, Attorney

Katie’s legal experience includes local government work and medical research. After graduation from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with University Honors, Katie began a doctoral program at Baylor College of Medicine studying disease mechanisms in molecular and human genetics. It wasn’t long before she found herself much more interested in the intricacies and politics of a legal career and changed lanes. While a law student at the University of Houston’s Law Center, Katie focused on medical ethics and health policies of human genetic subject matter under the auspices of Baylor College of Medicine. She transitioned her research experience into legal work for the Harris County Medical Examiner and Institute of Forensic Sciences as an intern for the Office of the Harris County Attorney. She then progressed within the Office of the Harris County Attorney to handling employment litigation matters as an intern. During her last term in law school and shortly thereafter, Katie worked for an energy company where she learned to handle transactional matters, research, and other pipeline and midstream oil & gas operations, as well as government regulations.

Katie’s professional career includes more than seven years of experience with the Office of the Harris County Attorney where she advised elected officials and Human Resources and Risk Management regarding employment law. She investigated and handled EEOC claims and was a frequent speaker on related topics, including ethics. Her work history also includes policy development in forensic sciences in relation to criminal justice reform and other public law matters.

Doctor of Jurisprudence 

University of Houston Law Center, 2012

Bachelor of Science (Biology)

Texas A&M University (College Station, TX), University Honors, 2005 

Olson & Olson, LLP  |  Houston, TX  | 2020-Present  | Attorney 

Harris County District Attorney’s Office  | Houston, TX   | August 2020- December 2020  |  Human Resources Policy Director

Office of the Harris County Attorney  | Houston, TX  | 2013- August 2020  | Assistant County Attorney/ General Counsel to the Chief Medical Examiner and Institute of Forensic Science 

Plains All American Pipeline LP Oil & Gas Firm  | Houston, TX  | 2010-2013  | Contract Attorney/ Legal Internship

Katie Rutherford’s experience as a transactional attorney is invaluable to our municipal and special district clients. She represents cities, counties, special districts, and other local government clients.  Katie has the knowledge, skills, and experience to handle routine to complex employment law matters and investigations. She readily identifies resources to help solve municipal issues as quickly and as seamlessly as possible. She is able to advise city leaders on matters related to ethics, personnel, ordinances, contracts, land use, taxes and finance, among other issues and will ensure that the city’s legal interests are not compromised. Katie is a problem solver with a strong work ethic. 

State Bar of Texas Advanced Government Law July 25-26, 2019 “Employees and Health Issues”

Harris County Career Development Course “Harassment Awareness and Prevention,” “Ethics” “Timesheets: What Counts as Hours Worked,” & “Policies and Procedures”

Moore QL, Majumder MA, Rutherford LK, McGuire AL. Ethical and Legal Challenges Associated with Public Molecular Autopsies. J Law Med Ethics. 2016 Jun;44(2):309-18

McGuire Al et al. The ethics of conducting molecular autopsies in the cases of sudden death in the young. Genome Res. DOI:10.1101/gr.192401.115 (Published in advance July 13, 2016)