James M. "Jim" Richardson

Jim Richardson is one of the state's leading trial lawyers in complex commercial litigation. His practice focuses on complex commercial disputes involving fiduciary litigation, multi-jurisdictional matters, and business tort claims.

Jim is ranked in Chambers USA 2026 for Litigation: General Commercial – Texas, Austin & Surrounds, published by Chambers & Partners. Chambers clients describe him as "an amazing trial lawyer" – "resourceful, diligent, courteous, and always prepared." Clients equally note that he is "extremely responsive," takes time to understand both legal and business issues, and is "a very experienced and skilled advocate."

He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation for 15 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. He is a past Chair of the Austin Bar Association Civil Litigation Section.

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 both directed and moderated the Ultimate Trial Notebook® series in Texas.

Richardson Firm PLLC is nationally recognized as a Tier 1 law firm in Commercial Litigation by Best Law Firms®, a division of BL Rankings.

Jim is admitted in Texas and the District of Columbia.

Practice Areas: Trial and Appellate Litigation in State and Federal Courts; Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution; Breach of Fiduciary Duty; Fraud and Business Fraud Claims; Complex Breach of Contract Disputes; Trusts and Estates Litigation; Probate and Will Contests; Real Estate Litigation; Easement and Encroachment Disputes; Business Torts and Technology Litigation; Computer Crimes and Digital Evidence Matters; Construction Litigation (recognized by the Construction Attorneys’ Guide, 2025–2026); Professional Liability Defense and Prosecution; Employment Litigation; Environmental Litigation; Negligence and Tort Claims; and Complex Divorce and Property Litigation (special engagements only).

Honors and Distinctions

• President, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2020-2022; Immediate Past President, 2022-2024
  
• Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, 2012-2026
• Best Lawyers: Texas Edition, Commercial Litigation, 2012-2026
• Best Law Firms, Tier 1, Commercial Litigation, 2022-2025
• Top 50 Super Lawyers®, Central and West Texas Region, by Thomson Reuters, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers®, The National Trial Lawyers, 2019-present
• American Board of Trial Advocates, 2012-present
• The Construction Attorneys Guide – Featured Texas Trial Lawyer (2025–2026)
• 20-Year Fellow, Society of Legal Scholars, Texas Bar College
• Texas Top Rated Lawyer by ALM (2012–2026)
• Martindale-Hubbell/LexisNexis Judicial AV®Preeminent™ 5.0-5
• Editor-in-Chief, Tulsa Law Review
• Outstanding Law Graduate, Oklahoma Bar Association

Board Certifications:

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

Bar/Professional Activity:

• President, National Board of Trial Advocacy (2020-2022); Past President (2022-2024)
• Executive Committee (2016-present); Board of Directors (2015-present); Civil Trial Advocate (2002-present); Civil Practice Advocate (2011-present); State Coordinator–Texas (2013-present)
• State Bar of Texas, 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)
• Austin Bar Association, Past-Chair, Civil Litigation Section (2016); Chair (2015-16); Vice-Chair (2013-14); Treasurer (2012-13); Secretary (2011-12); Member, Board of Directors (1997-99)
• Fellow, American College of Board Certified Attorneys (2015-present)
• 20-Year Fellow, Texas Bar College
• Special Counsel to the Attorney General of Texas (1981-82)
• Senior Master, 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)

Scholarly Lectures and Writings:

• Presenter, 18th Annual Ultimate Trial Notebook, Objections, Impeachment, and Witness Voir Dire, Sept. 2023
  
• Presenter, 17th Annual Ultimate Trial Notebook, Direct and Cross-Examination, Austin Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section (Feb. 2023)
• Presenter, 15th Annual Ultimate Trial Notebook, "Which Cases to Try," Presented by the Austin Bar Association Civil Litigation Section (Oct. 2019)
• Course Director/Moderator, Civil Trial Workshop, National Board of Trial Advocacy, All Star Conferences, New Orleans, Louisiana (Nov. 2018)
• Presenter, 13th Annual Ultimate Trial Notebook®, Trial Advocacy Skills, Presented by the Austin Bar Association Civil Litigation Section (Nov. 2017)
• Course Director/Presenter, Essential Trial Advocacy Workshop®, presented by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, hosted by Jackson Walker LLP (October 2017)
• Co-Chair/Moderator, 12th Annual Ultimate Trial Notebook® 2016 (additionally co-chaired 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th Annual Ultimate Trial Notebook®)
• Presenter, Texas Lawyers and the Disciplinary Process (2014)
• Presenter, Litigation and Advertising Issues (Nov. 2009)
• Author, Courtroom Evidence Examination, National Board of Trial Advocacy (2009)
• Ask a Super Lawyer,” Automated Camera Defenses, Texas Monthly (Oct. 2006)
• Author, Courtroom Evidence Examination, National Board of Trial Advocacy (2006)
• Co-Chair and Presenter, National Business Institute, How to Litigate Your First Civil Trial in Texas, Austin, Texas (2002)
• Panelist, Review of Litigation/Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism, Conflicts of Interest Symposium: Cutting Edge Conflicts of Interest Hypotheticals, Austin, Texas (1997)
• Presenter, Advanced Civil Trial Course, Offering and Excluding Evidence, Houston, Texas (State Bar of Texas 1996)
• Presenter, Austin Bar Association, Offering and Excluding Evidence in Commercial Trials, Austin, Texas (1996)
• Presenter, Advanced Civil Trial Course, Sanctions and Alternatives to Sanctions, Houston, Texas (State Bar of Texas 1996)
• Presenter, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Texas Rules of Evidence: Predicates and Exclusions for Selected Rules, Lake Tahoe, Nevada (1996)
• Presenter, Advanced Civil Trial Course, Offering and Excluding Evidence, Fort Worth, Texas (State Bar of Texas 1996)
• Presenter, Advanced Civil Trial Course, Offering and Excluding Evidence, San Antonio, Texas (State Bar of Texas 1996)
• Panelist, Houston Board of Realtors, Dual Agency and Broker Liability, Houston, Texas (1986)
• Nova Health Systems, Preparing for the Jury Trial, San Antonio, Texas (1986)
• Author, Whom Do You Represent? Knowing Your Principals – Accidental Agency (co-author), 39 Texas Realtor 6 (Feb. 1986)
• Panelist, Texas Association of Realtors, Litigation Tips for the Unwary, Austin, Texas (1985)
• Author, Helicopteros Nacionales v. Hall: Clarifying the Limits of Personal Jurisdiction, 48 Texas Bar J. 651 (1985)

Representative Verdicts and Settlements:

• Resolved USD $150 million federal fraud claims involving insider lending and bank executive misconduct, including FSLIC proceedings.
• Resolved an infrastructure and easement dispute involving alleged catastrophic LPG pipeline safety risks, excluding expert testimony and defeating USD $2 million damages claims.
• 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 landowners and minority investors in litigation involving the Camino Colombia Toll Road project, resulting in denial of condemnation efforts and favorable settlement of fraud and shareholder disputes.
• 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.