Service Areas:
Biography
Michael Richardson is a trial lawyer known for his confidence and tenacity that opposing counsel have described as “unsettling.” With extensive experience in both state and federal courts, he approaches each case with a focused and disciplined strategy aimed at the ultimate goal from the beginning. His efficient methodology consistently produces cost-effective representation and very favorable settlements, and when settlement isn’t possible, his careful preparation ensures cases are fully ready for trial.
Mr. Richardson’s litigation practice covers a wide range of complex issues. He represents clients in tort cases involving personal injuries and wrongful death from commercial and private aircraft accidents, transportation mishaps, and product liability claims. He also manages commercial disputes, including breaches of contract, tortious interference, defamation, breaches of fiduciary duty, fraud, employment agreements, and non-compete covenants, as well as intellectual property issues involving trade secrets, trademark infringement, and patent infringement.
Throughout his career, Mr. Richardson has achieved numerous notable results. These include multimillion-dollar verdicts and judgments in breach-of-contract, defamation, and tortious-interference cases; successful defenses of national trucking and aviation companies against substantial personal injury and wrongful death claims; and favorable outcomes in complex intellectual property and trade-secret disputes. His experience covers trials, appeals, and high-stakes litigation across multiple jurisdictions, consistently delivering outstanding results for his clients.
Education
- University of Oklahoma College of Law (J.D., with honors,1990; Order of the Coif; Note Editor, Oklahoma Law Review)
- University of Oklahoma (B.B.A. 1986)
Admissions
- All courts of the State of Texas
- All courts of the State of Oklahoma
- U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas.
Professional Organizations
- State Bar of Texas
- State Bar of Oklahoma
- Dallas Bar Association
Experience
Trial Experience:
Mr. Richardson has represented clients in state and federal courts in Texas and across the United States. A substantial portion of his practice involves serving as replacement counsel to rehabilitate complex or distressed litigation, often on the eve of critical deadlines.
Most Recent Trials:
- $7.3 Million decision in a breach of contract, fraud and tortious interference case in Dallas County, TX state court on behalf of a casual game developer and publisher.
- Defense of a national trucking company against a significant injury claim in East Texas federal court resulting in a unanimous defense verdict where the jury placed 100% of the fault on the Plaintiff.
- $9.8 million decision in defamation and breach of contract case in Dallas County, Texas state court on behalf of a doctor who sued his former employer.
- Representation of an airport services company in a multi-week trial involving a catastrophic personal injury accident resulting in a defense verdict.
- Defense of an aerial applicator to claims of property damage by landowners in Texas state court.
- Defense of a national trucking company in a wrongful death claim in Mississippi state court resulting in a defense verdict.
- Defense of a national trucking company against significant brain damage and loss of limb claim in Missouri state court.
- Prosecution of wrongful death claims for family of teenager killed by trucking company that resulted in multimillion-dollar verdict and punitive damages in Tennessee federal court.
- Defense of company in suit involving alleged trade libel and misappropriation of trade secrets in Texas state court.
- Defense of Bivens claims asserted against National transportation Safety Board Investigators following their investigation of an aviation disaster in Texas federal court.
- Defense of an airport screening company from multiple claims of negligence resulting in defense verdict in Texas state court.
- Prosecution of coverage action against insurer for insurer’s failure to defend insured in suit involving alleged trade libel and misappropriation of trade secrets resulting in judgment for insured in Texas state court.
Recognition
- Top 15 Business Defense Lawyers: Dallas Business Journal (2009-2010: only lawyer to be named two years in a row)
- Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly (2009-present)
- The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum – The Top Trial Lawyers in America (Life Member)
- Distinguished Professionals (Member since 2010)
Publications
Michael Richardson is a trial lawyer known for his confidence and tenacity that opposing counsel have described as “unsettling.” With extensive experience in both state and federal courts, he approaches each case with a focused and disciplined strategy aimed at the ultimate goal from the beginning. His efficient methodology consistently produces cost-effective representation and very favorable settlements, and when settlement isn’t possible, his careful preparation ensures cases are fully ready for trial.
Mr. Richardson’s litigation practice covers a wide range of complex issues. He represents clients in tort cases involving personal injuries and wrongful death from commercial and private aircraft accidents, transportation mishaps, and product liability claims. He also manages commercial disputes, including breaches of contract, tortious interference, defamation, breaches of fiduciary duty, fraud, employment agreements, and non-compete covenants, as well as intellectual property issues involving trade secrets, trademark infringement, and patent infringement.
Throughout his career, Mr. Richardson has achieved numerous notable results. These include multimillion-dollar verdicts and judgments in breach-of-contract, defamation, and tortious-interference cases; successful defenses of national trucking and aviation companies against substantial personal injury and wrongful death claims; and favorable outcomes in complex intellectual property and trade-secret disputes. His experience covers trials, appeals, and high-stakes litigation across multiple jurisdictions, consistently delivering outstanding results for his clients.
- University of Oklahoma College of Law (J.D., with honors,1990; Order of the Coif; Note Editor, Oklahoma Law Review)
- University of Oklahoma (B.B.A. 1986)
- All courts of the State of Texas
- All courts of the State of Oklahoma
- U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas.
- State Bar of Texas
- State Bar of Oklahoma
- Dallas Bar Association
Trial Experience:
Mr. Richardson has represented clients in state and federal courts in Texas and across the United States. A substantial portion of his practice involves serving as replacement counsel to rehabilitate complex or distressed litigation, often on the eve of critical deadlines.
Most Recent Trials:
- $7.3 Million decision in a breach of contract, fraud and tortious interference case in Dallas County, TX state court on behalf of a casual game developer and publisher.
- Defense of a national trucking company against a significant injury claim in East Texas federal court resulting in a unanimous defense verdict where the jury placed 100% of the fault on the Plaintiff.
- $9.8 million decision in defamation and breach of contract case in Dallas County, Texas state court on behalf of a doctor who sued his former employer.
- Representation of an airport services company in a multi-week trial involving a catastrophic personal injury accident resulting in a defense verdict.
- Defense of an aerial applicator to claims of property damage by landowners in Texas state court.
- Defense of a national trucking company in a wrongful death claim in Mississippi state court resulting in a defense verdict.
- Defense of a national trucking company against significant brain damage and loss of limb claim in Missouri state court.
- Prosecution of wrongful death claims for family of teenager killed by trucking company that resulted in multimillion-dollar verdict and punitive damages in Tennessee federal court.
- Defense of company in suit involving alleged trade libel and misappropriation of trade secrets in Texas state court.
- Defense of Bivens claims asserted against National transportation Safety Board Investigators following their investigation of an aviation disaster in Texas federal court.
- Defense of an airport screening company from multiple claims of negligence resulting in defense verdict in Texas state court.
- Prosecution of coverage action against insurer for insurer’s failure to defend insured in suit involving alleged trade libel and misappropriation of trade secrets resulting in judgment for insured in Texas state court.
- Top 15 Business Defense Lawyers: Dallas Business Journal (2009-2010: only lawyer to be named two years in a row)
- Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly (2009-present)
- The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum – The Top Trial Lawyers in America (Life Member)
- Distinguished Professionals (Member since 2010)
ALFA International Member
Phillips Murrah is a member of ALFA International, the global legal network. With 145 member firms across the globe (80 in the United States), ALFA International is the premier global network of independent law firms whose success is driven by broad, deep, local relationships all over the world. Click HERE for an informational video about ALFA International, or visit www.alfainternational.com to learn more.

