James M. Richardson's Profile Image

James M. Richardson

Managing Member
Phone: (512) 940-1176
Fax: (512) 503-3955
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Trial Lawyer | Commercial Litigation

Jim Richardson is a courtroom advocate who represents businesses, shareholders, and individuals in complex commercial litigation throughout Texas and the United States. He handles high-stakes disputes involving business torts, fiduciary duties, contracts, fraud, construction claims, and trust and estate litigation.

Clients describe him as “an amazing lawyer” who is “brilliant, ethical, and able to think on his feet.” Jim has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation for 15 editions (2012–2026) and named to Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers for nearly 20 years, including repeated recognition among the Top 50 Super Lawyers in Central and West Texas. He has served as first-chair and lead counsel in dozens of cases and maintains the highest AV Preeminent® Judicial Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Jim is a Past President of the National Board of Trial Advocacy, continues to serve on its Executive Committee, 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 has presented for the State Bar of Texas Advanced Civil Trial Course and served repeatedly as a Course Director and Moderator for the Ultimate Trial Notebook® and Essential Trial Advocacy Workshop programs in Central Texas.

Richardson Firm PLLC is nationally recognized as a Tier 1 law firm in Commercial Litigation by Best Law Firms.

Representative Matters

  • Resolved USD $150 million federal fraud claims involving insider lending and bank executive misconduct, including FSLIC proceedings.
  • Served as lead counsel in, and resolving, multi-forum litigation in Texas and arbitration in California arising from alleged fraud and expansive clay foundation failures that caused catastrophic structural damage to one of Austin’s largest research and development facilities.
  • Served as lead trial counsel in a two-week jury trial involving fraud claims relating to architectural plans for a Texas Racing Commission racetrack project.
  • Resolved an infrastructure and easement dispute involving alleged catastrophic LPG pipeline safety risks, excluding expert testimony and defeating USD $2 million damages claims.
  • Secured a USD $5.6 million judgment in fiduciary fraud litigation involving international real estate holdings.
  • 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 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.
  • Defended against USD $100 million claims arising from federal Superfund litigation involving abandoned mining operations.
  • Served as Texas co-counsel for a financial institution in litigation involving a USD $8 million fraudulent factoring scheme based on fabricated trucking invoices.
  • Obtained a jury verdict against a Fortune 100 financial institution arising from a commercial lease dispute, confidential settlement reached.
  • Tried partnership and fraud claims involving a USD $2 million real estate venture, obtaining a favorable jury verdict and specific performance judgment before confidential settlement.
  • 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.
  • Prosecuted wrongful termination claims on behalf of a senior executive of a major oil company through jury trial, resulting in a favorable post-trial resolution.

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

  • The Best Lawyers in America – Commercial Litigation (National and Texas Editions, 2012–2026)
  • Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers – Nearly 20 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 Trial Attorneys Guide – Recommended Trial Attorneys Nationwide (2025–2026)
  • The Construction Attorneys Guide – Featured Texas 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; 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

  • 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