James M. Richardson is a nationally recognized trial lawyer who represents businesses, shareholders, executives, fiduciaries, and individuals in complex commercial litigation throughout Texas and the United States.
Jim is ranked in Chambers USA 2026 for Litigation: General Commercial in Texas, Austin & Surrounds. Chambers describes him as "an amazing trial lawyer" and "skilled advocate" who is "resourceful, diligent, courteous, and always prepared."
Jim has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America in Commercial Litigation for fifteen editions (2012–2026). A 19-time Texas Super Lawyers honoree, he has also been selected five times to the Top 50 Super Lawyers in Central and West Texas. He has been recognized as a Texas Top Rated Lawyer by ALM (2012–2026) and holds Martindale-Hubbell's highest AV Preeminent® Judicial Rating.
He is a Past President of the National Board of Trial Advocacy, continues to serve on its Executive Committee and Board of Directors, and has been an active member of the American Board of Trial Advocates since 2012.
Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Jim also holds dual national certifications from the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Advocacy and Civil Practice Advocacy.
Jim regularly speaks at conferences on advanced trial strategy and procedure. He has presented in the State Bar of Texas Advanced Civil Trial Course; moderated the Essential Trial Advocacy Workshop® and NBTA Allstar Conferences; and directed the annual Ultimate Trial Notebook® series in Texas, among others.
Richardson Firm PLLC is nationally recognized as a Tier 1 law firm in Commercial Litigation by Best Law Firms.
Practice Areas: Litigation and Trials in State and Federal Courts; Breach of Fiduciary Duty; Fraud; Breach of Contract; Real Estate Litigation; Business Torts and Technology; Construction Litigation; Marriage Dissolution and Complex Property Claims; Professional Liability; Employment; Environmental Litigation; Negligence; and Trusts and Estates.
Honors and Recognitions
- Chambers USA 2026 - Litigation: General Commercial - Texas, Austin & Surrounds (Chambers & Partners)
- BL Rankings' Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2012-2026
- BL Rankings' Best Law Firms, Ranked Tier 1 - Commercial Litigation
- Super Lawyers (19 years)
- Top 50 Texas Super Lawyers, Central and West Texas Region, by Thomson Reuters, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) (since 2012)
- Martindale-Hubbell/LexisNexis, Rated Judicial AV Preeminent 5.0-5
- Society of Scholars, 20-Year Fellow, College of State Bar of Texas
- Editor-in-Chief, Tulsa Law Review
- Outstanding Law Graduate, Oklahoma Bar Association
Board Certifications
- Board Certified – Civil Trial Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2002
- Board Certified – Civil Trial Advocate – National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2003
- Board Certified – Civil Practice Advocate – National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2012
Professional Activities and Memberships
- Past President, National Board of Trial Advocacy (2020-2022)
- Executive Committee, National Board of Trial Advocacy (2020 - present)
- Board of Directors, National Board of Trial Advocacy (2016-present)
- President, NBTA Austin Area Chapter (since 2017)
- American Board of Trial Advocates (since 2012)
- State Bar of Texas, Member (1981-present); Rules of Evidence Committee (1996-98); Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct Committee (2000-04); Panel Chair, District 9A Grievance Committee (2002-03)(Member from 1997); Member, College of the State Bar of Texas (2002 to present); Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas (2019 to present)
- Austin Bar Association, Board of Directors (1997-99); Past-Chair, Civil Litigation Section (Immediate Past-Chair, 2016-17; Chair, 2015-16; Vice-Chair, 2013-14; Treasurer, 2012-13; Secretary, 2011-12)
- American Inns of Court, Robert W. Calvert Chapter, Senior Master (2005-present)
- Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow (1999-present)
- Austin Bar Foundation, Founding Life Fellow (2005-present)
- Special Counsel to the Attorney General, State of Texas
Representative Experience
- Resolved USD $150 million federal fraud claims involving insider lending and bank executive misconduct, including FSLIC proceedings.
- Served as lead counsel in, and resolved, multi-forum litigation in Texas and arbitration in California arising from alleged fraud and expansive clay foundation failures that caused catastrophic structural damage to one of Austin’s largest research and development facilities.
- Served as lead trial counsel in a two-week jury trial involving fraud claims relating to architectural plans for a Texas Racing Commission racetrack project.
- Resolved an infrastructure and easement dispute involving alleged catastrophic LPG pipeline safety risks, excluding expert testimony and defeating USD $2 million damages claims.
- Secured a USD $5.6 million judgment in fiduciary fraud litigation involving international real estate holdings.
- Secured dismissal of USD $250 million lost-profit claims involving alleged conflicts of interest related to ASIC technology intended for use with an Intel motherboard platform.
- Represented one of North America’s largest fiber optic networks in long-running litigation involving a “most favored customer” dispute, international discovery, and extensive summary judgment proceedings, confidential settlement reached.
- Defended against USD $100 million claims arising from federal Superfund litigation involving abandoned mining operations.
- Served as Texas co-counsel for a financial institution in litigation involving a USD $8 million fraudulent factoring scheme based on fabricated trucking invoices.
- Obtained a jury verdict against a Fortune 100 financial institution arising from a commercial lease dispute, and a confidential settlement was reached.
- Tried partnership and fraud claims involving a USD $2 million real estate venture, obtaining a favorable jury verdict and specific performance judgment before confidential settlement.
- Represented landowners and minority investors in litigation involving the Camino Colombia toll road project, resulting in the denial of condemnation efforts and a favorable settlement of fraud and shareholder disputes.
- Prosecuted wrongful termination claims on behalf of a senior executive of a major oil company through jury trial, resulting in a favorable post-trial resolution.
- Represented the former First Assistant Attorney General of Texas in high-profile proceedings arising from the Texas tobacco settlement and related investigations, successfully opposing efforts to compel testimony during a parallel federal criminal prosecution of the former Attorney General.
Bar Admissions
- Texas State Courts
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Courts, Southern and Western Districts
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
Education
- University of California at Los Angeles – B.A., magna cum laude
- University of Tulsa College of Law – J.D., order of the curule chair
- Hanford High School, Hanford, Californi
