Jim Richardson specializes in high-stakes trials in complex litigation, including real estate disputes, breaches of contract, construction cases, and fiduciary claims in trust and estate litigation.
Jim is nationally recognized by Best Lawyers in America and has been named to the state's Top 50 Central & West Texas Super Lawyers on multiple occasions by Thomson Reuters. He holds three active Board Certifications, one by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law, and two additional certifications by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Law and Civil Practice Advocacy.
Since 2020, Jim has served as the elected President of the National Board of Trial Advocacy, based in Wrentham, Massachusetts. As the largest private organization for attorney certification in the United States, the NBTA offers national board certification in multiple areas of trial advocacy. He also serves as President of the NBTA Austin-Area Chapter.
Jim is recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and is a Member and Fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is a frequent course director and presenter on topics of trial advocacy and courtroom evidence, and is past-chair of the Civil Litigation Section of the Austin Bar Association. He has been appointed to serve on numerous committees of the State Bar of Texas, including the Rules of Evidence and Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct Committees.
Richardson Firm PLLC is ranked a Tier 1 “Best Law Firm” in Commercial Litigation by U.S. News and World Report and Best Lawyers for 2022, a significant honor limited to a small percentage of American 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
o President, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2020-present
o President, NBTA-Austin Area Chapter, 2016-present
o BL Rankings' Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2012-2022
o Ranked Tier 1 in Commercial Litigation, BL Rankings' U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers, 2022
o Top 50 Texas Super Lawyers, Central and West Texas Region, by Thomson Reuters, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019
o Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers
o American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
o Martindale-Hubbell/LexisNexis, Rated Judicial AV Preeminent 5.0-5
o Society of Scholars Award, 20-Year Fellow, College of State Bar of Texas
o Editor-in-Chief, Tulsa Law Review
o Outstanding Law Graduate, Oklahoma Bar Association
Board Certifications
o Board Certified – Civil Trial Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2002
o Board Certified – Civil Trial Advocate – National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2003
o Board Certified – Civil Practice Advocate – National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2012
Professional Activities and Memberships
o National Board of Trial Advocacy, President (2018-2020); Executive Committee (2016-present); Board of Directors (2015-2018); State Coordinator–Texas (2013-present); Civil Trial Advocate (2002-present)
o President, NBTA-Austin Area Chapter (2016-present)
o American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) (2012-present)
o 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)
o 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)
o American Inns of Court, Robert W. Calvert Chapter, Senior Master (2005-present)
o Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow (1999-present)
o Austin Bar Foundation, Founding Life Fellow (2005-present)
o Special Counsel to the Attorney General, State of Texas (1981-82)
Representative Experience
o Lead counsel in prosecuting real estate fraud related to the sale of a 350,000 square-foot office building, confidential settlement reached.
o Represented attorneys in a suit for alleged damages of $250 million in connection with an integrated circuit proposed for Intel motherboards, judgment for client.
o Represented racetrack on alleged multimillion-dollar claims pertaining to architectural services, confidential settlement reached after a ten-jury day trial.
o Multiparty lead counsel in United States Superfund litigation including claims under the Clean Water Act related to a former mining operation, confidential settlement reached.
o Prosecuted claims against air cargo carrier for alleged breach of lease and jet fuel contract, confidential settlement reached on the first day of trial.
o Represented roof tile manufacturer in connection with alleged construction defect claims by one of Austin's largest condominium projects.
o Prosecuted one of Texas' largest lawsuits for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty related to insider commercial real estate loans, confidential settlement reached.
o Prosecuted multimillion-dollar claims for invasion of privacy and destruction of computer evidence related to high technology surveillance, confidential settlement reached.
o Prosecuted claims for breach of real estate partnership agreement and fraud, confidential settlement reached following a five-day jury winning verdict.
o Represented exterior insulation and finish system manufacturer in connection with alleged construction defect claims for water intrusion.
o Prosecuted claims against a Fortune 100 bank for material breach of contract, confidential settlement reached after a five-day winning verdict.
o Prosecuted claims against a Fortune 500 petroleum company for wrongful termination of an executive employee, confidential settlement reached after a ten-day jury trial.
o Represented the executor of a multimillion-dollar estate on claims of constructive fraud, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty, case dismissed.
o Represented an independent executor against alleged claims for breach of fiduciary duty relating to an ongoing automobile dealership, judgment for the executor.
Bar Admissions
o State Bar of Texas, 1981
o U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, 1985
o U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 1982
o U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, 1982
o U.S. Supreme Court, 1989
Education
o University of California at Los Angeles – B.A., magna cum laude
o University of Tulsa College of Law – J.D., order of the curule chair
o Hanford High School, Hanford, California
