James M. Richardson

Trial Lawyer | Commercial Litigation

Jim Richardson is a leading 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."

He handles high-stakes disputes involving business torts, fiduciary duties, contracts, fraud, construction claims, and trust and estate litigation.

Jim has also 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 been selected five times to the Top 50 Super Lawyers in Central and West Texas. He holds Martindale-Hubbell's highest AV Preeminent® 5.0-5 Judicial Rating.

Jim is a Past President of the National Board of Trial Advocacy, currently serves 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 and teaches on advanced trial strategy, advocacy, and procedure. He has presented at the State Bar of Texas Advanced Civil Trial Course, moderated national trial advocacy programs, and directed the annual 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.

Representative Matters

• Secured dismissal of USD $250 million lost-profit claims involving alleged conflicts of interest by a major Texas law firm related to ASIC technology intended for use with an Intel motherboard platform.
• Litigated and resolved USD $150 million federal fraud claims involving insider lending and bank executive misconduct, including FSLIC proceedings.
• Served as lead counsel and resolved multi-forum litigation in Texas and separate arbitration in California arising from alleged fraud and expansive clay foundation failures that caused catastrophic structural damage to two of Austin’s largest research and development facilities valued at more than USD $50 million.
• Represented the developer in an infrastructure and easement dispute with an LPG pipeline company involving the alleged risk of a catastrophic explosion on IH 35, excluding expert testimony and defeating damages claims.
• Secured a USD $5.6 million judgment in fiduciary fraud litigation involving international real estate holdings.
• Represented a major Texas law firm in fiduciary-duty and legal-malpractice litigation arising from a long-running technology-company ownership dispute involving shareholder claims, bankruptcy proceedings, and professional-liability allegations, obtaining summary judgment that was affirmed on appeal.
• Represented a national roofing materials manufacturer in a $12+ million construction-defect lawsuit involving more than seventy plaintiffs, obtaining a take-nothing judgment and dismissal with prejudice of all claims against the client.
• Represented one of North America’s most extensive fiber optic networks in long-running litigation involving a “most favored customer” dispute, international discovery, and extensive summary judgment proceedings, resulting in a favorable settlement.
• Defended against USD $100 million claims in federal Superfund litigation involving the economic and health impact of an undisclosed former creosote mining operation.
• Represented the former First Assistant Attorney General of Texas in high-profile proceedings arising from the State of Texas tobacco settlement, opposing efforts by former Attorney General Dan Morales to compel testimony during a parallel federal criminal prosecution.
• Obtained a jury verdict against a Fortune 100 financial institution arising from a commercial lease dispute, confidential settlement reached.
• 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 the defendant in an eight-year real estate dispute, securing a complete defense jury verdict and civil penalties against the plaintiff, plus a post-verdict JNOV awarding more than $524,000 in attorneys' fees, all immediately collected.

Practice Focus

• Commercial contract litigation

• Fraud and fiduciary litigation

• Commercial real estate litigation

• Partnership, shareholder, 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

Recognitions

• Chambers USA 2026 – Litigation: General Commercial in Texas: Austin & Surrounds, Chambers & Partners
• The Best Lawyers in America – Commercial Litigation (National and Texas Editions, 2012–2026)
• Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers – 19 Years
• Top 50 Super Lawyers, Central and West Texas (Thomson Reuters, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019)
• Best Law Firms, Tier 1 – Commercial Litigation (2022–2026)
• AV Preeminent® Judicial Rating, Martindale-Hubbell (1987–Present)
• National Trial Lawyers Top 100 (2019–present)
• The Construction Attorneys Guide – Featured Texas Trial Lawyer (2025–2026)
• 20-Year Fellow, Texas Bar College Society of Scholars
• Outstanding Law Graduate, Oklahoma Bar Association
• Editor-in-Chief, Tulsa Law Review

Board Certifications

• Board Certified in Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2002)

• Board Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy, National Board of Trial Advocacy (2003)

• Board Certified in Civil Practice Advocacy, National Board of Trial Advocacy (2012)

Leadership

• President, National Board of Trial Advocacy (2020–2022); Immediate Past President (2022–2024)

• Founding President, NBTA Austin Chapter (2015–Present)

• Member, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) (2012–present)

• Chair, Civil Litigation Section Board, Austin Bar Association; Member, Board of Directors

• Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation

• Founding Life Fellow, Austin Bar Foundation

• Senior Master, Robert W. Calvert American Inns of Court (2000–present)

• Member, State Bar of Texas: Rules of Evidence Committee; Texas Disciplinary Rules of Conduct Committee; District 9A Grievance Committee (Panel Chair)

• Special Counsel to the Attorney General, State of Texas

Bar Admissions

• Texas State Courts

• District of Columbia

• U.S. Supreme Court

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

• U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Western Districts of Texas

Education

• B.A., University of California at Los Angeles, magna cum laude
• J.D., University of Tulsa College of Law (Editor-in-Chief, Tulsa Law Review); Order of the Curule Chair