James Michael Richardson

Jim Richardson is a leading trial lawyer in significant litigation, including real estate disputes, contract and construction cases, and fiduciary claims in trust and estate matters. He has been named to Best Lawyers in America Commercial Litigation® every year since 2012.

Additionally, the firm is ranked Tier 1 by U.S. News and World Report and Best Lawyers®, an honor limited to the top one percent of American law firms.

Jim is currently President of the National Board of Trial Advocacy, based in Wrentham, Massachusetts. As the nation's largest private organization for attorney board certification, the NBTA offers attorney certification in multiple specialty areas of trial advocacy. He also serves as President of the NBTA Austin-Area Chapter.

Jim has been named to Texas Super Lawyers® for over 15 years, including a Top 50 Central & West Texas Super Lawyer® 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 by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Law and Civil Practice Advocacy.

Recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Top 100®, Jim regularly serves as course director and presenter at legal conferences on the topic of trial advocacy and evidence. He has served on numerous committees of the State Bar of Texas, including the Rules of Evidence and Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct Committees. He is a past chair of the Civil Litigation Section of the Austin Bar Association  Civil Litigation Section. He is a Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

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 Distinctions

President, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2020-2022
Member and Fellow, American Board of Trial Advocates
Top 50 Super Lawyers®, Central and West Texas Region (Thomson Reuters) 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019
Top 10 Business Tort Trial Lawyers - Texas®, The National Trial Lawyers 2019
Best Lawyers in America® 2012-2022, Commercial Litigation (Levine Leichtman Capital Partners)
U.S. News & World Report – Best Law Firms®, 2022 (Levine Leichtman Capital Partners)
Texas Best Lawyers®, 2012-2022 (Levine Leichtman Capital Partners)
Top Rated Lawyers®, 2012-2021 (ALM/LexisNexis) AV®Preeminent™ 5.0-5
Editor-in-Chief, Tulsa Law Review
Outstanding Law Graduate, Oklahoma Bar Association

Special Licenses/Certifications

Board Certified – Civil Trial Law, National Board of Trial Advocacy
Board Certified – Civil Practice Law, National Board of Trial Advocacy
Board Certified – Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Bar/Professional Activity

President (2020-2022), National Board of Trial Advocacy; National Board of Directors (2015-2018); Civil Trial Advocate (2002-present); State Coordinator–Texas (2013-present); Executive Committee (2016-present); Advisory Committee (2009-present); Long Range Planning Committee (2015-present)
Member and Fellow, American Board of Trial Advocates
State Bar of Texas, Rules of Evidence Committee (1996-98); Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct Committee (2000-04); Panel Chair, District 9A Grievance Committee of the State (2002-03) (Member from 1997)
Past-Chair, Civil Litigation Section, Austin Bar Association (Immediate Past-Chair, 2016-17; Chair, 2015-16; Vice-Chair, 2013-14; Treasurer, 2012-13; Secretary 2011-12); Austin Bar Association, Board of Directors (1997-99)
Fellow, American College of Board Certified Attorneys (2015-present)
Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (2015-present)
Master of the Bench, American Inns of Court, Robert W. Calvert Chapter (2005-present)
Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation (1999-present)
Founding Life Fellow, Austin Bar Foundation (2005-present)
Special Assistant Attorney General, State of Texas, 1981-82

Verdicts and Settlements:

Depth of experience resulting from significant jury and non-jury trials in numerous cases across the State of Texas.

References available on request.

Educational Background:

• University of California at Los Angeles (1977) – B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Political Science
• University of Tulsa College of Law (1981) – Juris Doctor, Highest Honors