Practice areas: Business Litigation, Civil Litigation, Construction Litigation; view more
Licensed in Texas since: 1981
Education: The University of Tulsa College of Law
Languages spoken: English, Spanish
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2008, 2011 - 2026 Call today:
512-831-0918
Virtual Appointments Richardson Firm PLLC
2499 S Capital of Texas HwySuite 200, Building B
Austin, TX 78746 Visit website
Jim 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 – Texas, Austin & Surrounds, published by Chambers & Partners. Chambers describes him as "an amazing trial lawyer" and "skilled advocate" – "resourceful, diligent, courteous, and always prepared."
Jim 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 handles high-stakes disputes involving business torts, fiduciary duties, contracts, fraud, construction claims, and trust and estate litigation.
Jim 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 in New Orleans; and repeatedly moderated the annual Ultimate Trial Notebook® series and other conferences in Texas.
Richardson Firm PLLC is nationally recognized as a Tier 1 law firm in Commercial Litigation by Best Law Firms.
Practice Areas:
- Commercial contract litigation
- Fraud and breach of fiduciary duty
- Commercial real estate disputes
- Partnership, corporate, and business ownership disputes
- Financial fraud and white-collar related litigation
- Environmental and regulatory litigation
- Professional liability and malpractice litigation
- Construction and infrastructure litigation
- Trust, estate, and fiduciary litigation
- Complex technology litigation
Practice areas
Business Litigation, Civil Litigation: Plaintiff, Construction Litigation: Business, Estate & Trust Litigation, General LitigationFocus areas
Construction Defects, Litigation, Restraining Order
- 20% Business Litigation
- 50% Civil Litigation: Plaintiff
- 10% Construction Litigation: Business
- 10% Estate & Trust Litigation
- 10% General Litigation
First Admitted: 1981, Texas
Professional Webpage: https://www.richardson-firm.com/about-us/james-m-richardson/
Bar / Professional Activity
- President, National Board of Trial Advocacy (2020-2022); President-Elect (2017-2020); 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)
- President, NBTA Austin-Area Chapter (2016 to 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
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Board Certified – Civil Trial Law – National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2003
- Board Certified – Civil Practice Advocacy – National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2012
- Board Certified – Civil Trial Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2002
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)
Educational Background
- University of California at Los Angeles, B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Political Science, 1977
White Papers
- Empirical analysis and historical background contrasting specialization of medical doctors with specialization of attorneys, trending toward increasing legal specialization of attorneys in the United States. Richardson, James M., President, National Board of Trial Advocacy, Legal Specialization: Fifty Years of Lawyers Playing "Catch Up" with Doctors, United States - Trial Attorneys; Legal Specialists; Attorneys, 2021
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Presenter, 18th Annual Ultimate Trial Notebook, Objections, Impeachment, and Witness Voir Dire, Sep. 2023.
- Presenter, 17h 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, Austin Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section, Oct. 2019.
- 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)
Other Outstanding Achievements
- 20-Year Fellow, Society of Legal Scholars, College of the State Bar of Texas , 2022
Honors
- Chambers USA: Jim is "an amazing trial lawyer" – "resourceful, diligent, courteous, and always prepared." , Chambers USA - Litigation: General Commercial, Texas – Austin & Surrounds, Chambers & Partners, 2026
- The Best Lawyers in America© in Commercial Litigation by BL Rankings, 2012-2026, BL Rankings, 2026
- Past President, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2022-2024; President, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2020-2022, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2022
- In 2025, Jim Richardson was selected as the featured Trial Lawyer for the State of Texas for the Construction Attorneys Guide. , Featured Trial Lawyer in Texas – Construction Litigation, The Construction Attorney
- 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, 2026
- 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
Industry Groups
- AMERICAN BOARD OF TRIAL ADVOCATES
- National Board Of Trial Advocacy
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“I have used this attorney's services and know him personally. His work and integrity are impeccable.”
Office location for James M. Richardson
2499 S Capital of Texas Hwy
Suite 200, Building B
Austin, TX 78746
Phone: 512-831-0918
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2008, 2011 - 2026
Top Lists
Top 50: Central/West Texas Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2014, 2016, 2018 - 2019Certificates and credentials
Civil Trial Law
