
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
Call today:
512-831-0918

Richardson Firm PLLC
2499 S Capital of Texas HwySuite 200, Building B
Austin, TX 78746 Visit website
Details
Jim Richardson is a nationally recognized trial lawyer with decades of experience in commercial litigation. He brings strategic depth to high-stakes disputes involving fiduciary duties, real estate, construction, contracts, and technology.
He served as President of the National Board of Trial Advocacy from 2020 to 2022 and now chairs its Austin-Area Chapter. He is also a longstanding Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), an invitation-only organization of the most accomplished trial lawyers and judges in the United States.
Jim has been recognized by Best Lawyers in Commercial Litigation since 2012 and is consistently named to Super Lawyers, including multiple appearances on the Top 50 list for Central & West Texas. He holds the highest possible AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has repeatedly been named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. He is named as the featured Texas Construction Attorney for 2025–2026 by the nationally rated Construction Attorneys Guide.
Jim is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and holds dual national certifications from the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Law and Civil Practice Advocacy, each earned through multiple recertifications.
A frequent speaker and moderator, Jim presents CLE programs on trial advocacy, evidence, and procedure. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the Tulsa Law Review.
His firm, Richardson Firm PLLC, is ranked Tier 1 in Commercial Litigation by Best Law Firms (2025).
Practice Areas:
- Breach of contract
- Fraud and breach of fiduciary duty
- Real estate disputes
- Partnership and corporate shareholder disputes
- Financial fraud or crimes
- Environmental litigation
- Professional malpractice
- Construction litigation
- Trusts and estates
Practice areas
Business Litigation, Civil Litigation: Plaintiff, Construction Litigation: Business, Estate & Trust Litigation, General LitigationFocus areas
Construction Defects, Litigation, Non-Compete Agreements, Restraining Order, Trade Secret
- 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/
- 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
- 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 College, State Bar of Texas (2019-present)
- Founding Life Fellow, Austin Bar Foundation (2005-present)
- Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation (1999-present)
- Past President, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2022-2024; President, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2020-2022, National Board of Trial Advocacy
- In 2025, Jim Richardson was selected as the exclusively recommended lawyer in Texas by the nationally prominent Construction Attorneys Guide. , Exclusively Recommended Lawyer in Texas for Construction Litigation, The Construction Attorney
- 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, 2012-2022, BL Rankings
- 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
- University of California at Los Angeles, B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Political Science, 1977
- 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
- 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)
- 20-Year Fellow, Society of Legal Scholars, College of the State Bar of Texas , 2022
- 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 - 2025
Top Lists
Top 50: Central/West Texas Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2014, 2016, 2018 - 2019Certificates and credentials
Civil Trial Law