From the beginning of his career, Attorney Richardson has represented individuals in employment matters and civil rights matters. Mr. Richardson joined the law firm in 1991, after receiving his Juris Doctorate from the Ohio State College of Law. Since joining the law firm, Mr. Richardson has represented employees in all areas of employment law, including matters involving discrimination or harassment, wrongful discharge, free speech, non-compete agreements, employment contracts, fraud, promissory estoppel, negligent misrepresentation, defamation, and other statutory and common law claims. Mr. Richardson regularly represents employees in state and federal court as well as in arbitration proceedings.

In addition to his employment practice, Mr. Richardson also represents individuals in housing discrimination matters.

Mr. Richardson is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, and the State Court for the State of Connecticut.

Mr. Richardson is listed in the 2006 and 2007 editions of the Best Lawyers in America, for employment law. Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America is the result of peer selection and represents the top 1% of the specified field. Mr. Richardson was also selected as a Connecticut Super Lawyer in 2006 and 2007.

Mr. Richardson is a frequent lecturer on topics related to employment law and has spoken at several seminars sponsored by the Connecticut Bar Association and several conferences for the National Employment Lawyers’ Association. He has also published multiple articles on subjects related to employment law.

During his career, Mr. Richardson has been appointed to serve on several committees, including the Federal Grievance Committee for the District of Connecticut (1996-2001), a Federal Magistrate Merit Review Panel (2001), the Connecticut Bar Association's Task Force on Multi-jurisdictional Practice (2000- present), and the Connecticut Bar Association’s Committee on Professional Ethics (2002- present). He also served, by appointment, as a member of the Executive Board for the Connecticut Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section (1997- 2002).

Mr. Richardson has held leadership positions in various organizations. He has been a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association (“NELA”) since 1993 and became a member of NELA’s executive board in 2006. Mr. Richardson served as a member of the Board of Governors for the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut (“ACLU of CT”) from 1996 through 1999. In 1999, Mr. Richardson was appointed to serve as the ACLU of CT’s Affirmative Action Officer, a position which he still holds today. Mr. Richardson also served as the Vice President of the New Haven Inn of Court from 2000 through 2003.

Mr. Richardson received his Juris Doctorate from the Ohio State College of Law, in 1991. He was a managing editor of the Ohio State Law Journal, a recipient of the Judge Joseph M. Haerter Memorial Award, and a recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award. He also interned for the Honorable Herbert R. Brown of the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Representative Matters:

Smith v. Cox, 39 Conn. Law Reporter 540 (2005)

Successfully represented co-host of a popular morning radio show in an action alleging breach of contract and defamation. The employee was awarded $76,000 under his breach of contract claim and $225,000 under his defamation claim.

Frank Dalo v. Imagistics International, Inc., 2005 WL 2502153 (2005)

Successfully represented an employee in an action alleging negligent misrepresentation and promissory estoppel. The employer promised the employee that he would be paid an amount which exceeded the company’s newly created commission cap. The employee relied upon the promise by foregoing another employment opportunity. The jury ruled in favor of the employee and awarded him his economic damages. The court upheld the verdict and awarded the employee interest at 10% per year on the economic damages.

Board of Education for the City of Norwalk v. CHRO, 266 Conn. 492 (2003)

Successfully represented employee in a discriminatory denial of promotion case. The employer was ordered to promote the employee and compensate him for his lost pay and benefits. The employer appealed the case to the Connecticut Supreme Court. Mr. Richardson argued the case on behalf of the employee and the Supreme Court affirmed the judgment in favor of the employee.

Merryfield Animal Hospital v. MacKay, 32 Conn. Law Reporter 652 (2002)

Successfully defended an employee against his former employer’s lawsuit, alleging that the employee had violated a non-competition agreement. The court held that the non-competition agreement was unenforceable.

Representative Speaking Engagements:

Connecticut Bar Association: Labor & Employment Section: New Federal Decisions and Guidances, October, 1998 (Topic: Summary of Recent Second Circuit Decisions Regarding Hostile Environment and Harassment Claims)

Council on Education in Management: 1999 Personnel Law Update (Topic: Impact of Recent U.S. Supreme Court Decisions on Harassment Cases)

Council on Education in Management: 2001 Personnel Law Update (Topic: Understanding the Implications of Employment Discrimination Cases from the Plaintiff’s Perspective)

National Employment Lawyers Association: 2003 New England Regional Conference (Topic: Effective Use of Exhibits at Trial)

National Employment Lawyers Association: 2003 Annual Convention (Topic: Non-Compete Agreements)

Council on Education in Management: 2003 Personnel Law Update (Topic: Impact of Recent Supreme Court and Second Circuit Decisions on Discrimination and Harassment Cases)

Connecticut Civil Justice Foundation: Employment Litigation Seminar, March, 2004 (Topic: Negotiation and Litigation of Non-Compete Clauses)

Connecticut Bar Association: Young Lawyers Section: May, 2005 Meeting (Topic: Litigating Non-Compete Cases)

National Employment Lawyers Association: 2005 Annual Convention (Topic: Non-Compete Agreements)