Wes Dutton

Wes Dutton is an associate in Haynes Boone’s Litigation Department and a member of the firm’s Insurance Recovery Group. Wes has experience with a broad range of commercial contract disputes, including franchise agreements, purchase and sale agreements, asset purchase agreements, and a number of common commercial insurance policy forms. Wes has represented policyholders in lawsuits, arbitrations, and mediations contesting coverage under a myriad of policies, including commercial general liability policies, commercial property policies, private partnership and employer liability policies, rep & warranty policies, and directors & officers liability policies. Wes also has experience reviewing and revising insurance and indemnity provisions in draft contracts involving some of the firm’s transactional clients. 

Notable representations include:

• Serving as special insurance counsel to the Boy Scouts of American and Delaware BSA, LLC, during their successful Chapter 11 reorganization, including the creation of a settlement trust funded in large part by $1.5 billion in contributions from various insurers;
• Representing an industrial pump and compressor manufacturer in a lawsuit against numerous primary and excess commercial general liability insurers concerning coverage for thousands of underlying toxic tort bodily injury claims;
• Representing a large petroleum company in multiple lawsuits seeking insurance coverage under subcontractors’ insurance policies for bodily injuries and property damage arising from incidents at the client’s refining facilities;
• Representing a construction contractor in multiple arbitrations involving contract disputes between the client, a public-private partnership company, and various subcontractors related to their work in designing and building a Texas toll road.

Wes has also represented the firm’s pro bono clients in actions involving child custody disputes (both domestic and international), petitions for post-conviction relief, and prisoners’ rights under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. 

In addition to his advocacy on behalf of Haynes Boone’s clients, Wes regularly authors articles and delivers presentations on emerging insurance coverage issues. Wes previously served as a board member for the Dallas Bar Association’s Franchise Litigation Section and has presented to the Franchise Litigation Section on topics addressing recent trends in Texas franchise litigation and insurance issues relevant to franchised businesses. Wes is also involved with the firm’s efforts to recruit and train new associates and has mentored summer associates for the past several years.