Howard Rutten

Howard Rutten is the founding managing partner of The Rutten Law Firm, APC, in Studio City, Los Angeles. The firm has a wide reach in Orange County, California. Mr. Rutten is a litigator with over 30 years of legal experience. He specializes in employment law. He focuses on wrongful termination, harassment, retaliation, and discrimination cases.

Mr. Rutten began his academic journey at Arizona State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business. He then attended Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco. He graduated with a Juris Doctor, making the Dean’s List and contributing to the law review. His dedication to academics laid a solid foundation for his legal career. It led to his admission to the California Bar in 1993 and to various U.S. District Courts in California and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 2001.

Throughout his career, Mr. Rutten has demonstrated a profound commitment to advocating for employees who have faced workplace injustices. His legal skills have won big awards from his clients. These include a $3.45 million settlement in a defamation case and a $1 million settlement for a transgender client who was harassed.

Mr. Rutten is a member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, the California Employment Lawyers Association, the Beverly Hills Bar Association, and the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

Mr. Rutten’s outstanding legal skills and ethics have earned him many accolades. These include a spot on the Southern California Super Lawyers List from 2012 to 2023. He also has an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which marks him as a top-tier lawyer. His service and compassion make him a top advocate in employment law.

Law Office Affiliations

• Managing Partner, The Rutten Law Firm, APC
• Member, California Employment Lawyers Association
• Member, Consumer Attorney Association of Los Angeles
• Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Employment and Business Litigation Sections
• Member, Beverly Hills Bar Association

Licensed State

• California

Education

• Golden Gate University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Arizona State University
  Bachelor of Science (BS)

Awards & Badges