James M. Richardson
Attorney Profile
Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney in Austin, TX
Austin, TX 78703
- Business Litigation (20%),
- Civil Litigation: Plaintiff (50%),
- Construction Litigation: Business (10%),
- Estate & Trust Litigation (10%),
- General Litigation (10%)
- English,
- Spanish
- Virtual Appointments
Jim Richardson handles high-stakes commercial trials and complex business litigation, including large multiparty cases and significant arbitrations.
Jim is nationally recognized in Commercial Litigation 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 by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Law and Civil Practice Advocacy.
In 2020, Jim was elected to a two-year term as President of the National Board of Trial Advocacy, the largest private organization for attorney Board Certification in the United States. NBTA offers board certification in eight practice areas, including Civil Trial Law. In addition to serving as NBTA's national president, Jim has served on the NBTA Board of Directors since 2016 and is President of the NBTA Austin-Area Chapter.
Jim has been named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100® and is a Member and Fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has served on numerous committees of the State Bar of Texas and is a frequent course director and presenter on topics of Trial Advocacy and Evidence.
Practice Areas: Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Fraud, Breach of Contract, Real Estate Litigation, Business Torts and Technology, Construction Litigation, Professional Liability, Employment, Environmental Litigation, Negligence, Complex Divorces and Property Divisions, and Trusts and Estates.
- 20%Business Litigation
- 50%Civil Litigation: Plaintiff
- 10%Construction Litigation: Business
- 10%Estate & Trust Litigation
- 10%General Litigation
Trade Secret, Non-Compete Agreements, Construction Defects, Will Contests, Litigation, Restraining Order
Selections
Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2008, 2011 - 2021
Top Lists
Certificates and Credentials
To: James M. Richardson
Super Lawyers: Potential Client Inquiry
Additional Sources of Information About James M. Richardson
About James Richardson
Admitted: 1981, Texas
Professional Webpage: https://www.richardson-firm.com/about-us/james-m-richardson/
Honors/Awards:
- President, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2020-2022
- Top 50 Texas Super Lawyers, Central and West Texas Region, by Thomson Reuters, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019
- The Best Lawyers in America© in Commercial Litigation by BL Rankings, 2012-2020
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers®, The National Trial Lawyers, 2019, 2020, 2021
- Member, American Board of Trial Advocates
- Martindale-Hubbell/LexisNexis, AV®Preeminent™ 5.0-5
- Editor-in-Chief, Tulsa Law Review
- Outstanding Law Graduate of Oklahoma, 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, National Board of Trial Advocacy (2018-2020); Executive Committee (2016-present); Member, Board of Directors (2015-present); Civil Trial Advocate (2002-present); Civil Practice Advocate (2012-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 of the State (2002-03) (Member from 1997)
- Austin Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section (Past-Chair, 2016-17; Chair, 2015-16; Vice-Chair, 2013-14; Treasurer, 2012-13; Secretary 2011-12); Member, Board of Directors (2009-12; Chair, CLE (1994-96); (Member from 1985)
- Member, American Board of Trial Advocates, TEX-ABOTA Chapter
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (2015-present)
- Fellow, American College of Board Certified Attorneys (2015-present)
- Master of the Bench, American Inns of Court, Robert W. Calvert Chapter (2005-present)
- Special Assistant Attorney General, State of Texas, 1982
- Outstanding Law Graduate, Oklahoma Bar Association
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Pro Bono College, State Bar of Texas (2019-present)
- Founding Life Fellow, Austin Bar Foundation (2005-present)
- Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation (1999-present)
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Course Director/Presenter, Essential Trial Advocacy Workshop®, Winning Motions, Presented by National Board of Trial Advocacy, Hosted by Jackson Walker LLP (Oct. 2017)
- Presenter, 14th Annual Ultimate Trial Notebook®, Voir Dire, Presented by the Austin Bar Association Civil Litigation Section (Oct. 2018)
- Co-Chair/Moderator, 12th Annual Ultimate Trial Notebook 2016 (Co-Chair/Moderator in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
- Presenter, Model State Emergency Health Powers Act (March 2015)
- Presenter, Texas Lawyers and the Disciplinary Process, 2014
- Presenter, Lawyers and Social Network Media Websites: Litigation and Advertising Issues, American Inns of Court, Austin, Texas (Nov. 2009)
- Author, Advanced Courtroom Evidence Examination, National Board of Trial Advocacy (2009)
- Presenter, Tort Reform Time Machine, American Inns of Court, Austin, Texas (Mar. 2007)
- "Ask a Super Lawyer," Automated Camera Defenses, Texas Monthly (Oct. 2006)
- Presenter, Litigating Disaster Recovery Issues, American Inns of Court, Austin, Texas (Oct. 2006)
- Author, Advanced Courtroom Evidence Examination, National Board of Trial Advocacy (2006)
- Co-Chair, 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)
Educational Background:
- University of California at Los Angeles, B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Political Science, 1977
Industry Groups
- AMERICAN BOARD OF TRIAL ADVOCATES
- National Board Of Trial Advocacy
James M. Richardson:
Last Updated: 5/30/2021