We use optional analytics cookies to understand how visitors use our website. These cookies will only be used if you click Accept.

Phil R. Richards

Of Counsel

(918) 574-3050
phil.richards@mcafeetaft.com
Tulsa

Overview

Phil Richards is a nationally recognized veteran trial lawyer who has tried more than 100 cases to verdict before juries in state and federal courts throughout Oklahoma and has handled appeals before the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals, Oklahoma Supreme Court, and Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Over the course of his distinguished career, in addition to having successfully represented clients in cases involving claims of personal injury, product liability, professional liability, and other complex business and commercial disputes, he is particularly regarded for his knowledge, skills and expertise in defending national insurance companies in coverage disputes and bad faith litigation.

Active in the legal community on the local, state and national levels, Phil is a member of the Tulsa County Bar Association, Oklahoma Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, and Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel and has served in leadership positions with the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC), American Inns of Court, and American College of Trial Lawyers. He has also taught numerous continuing education programs on trial practice, insurance coverage, and bad faith law, and has authored papers and articles on such topics as trial practice, insurance coverage, bad faith, and constitutional jurisprudence. Published decisions in cases he has handled include matters of insurance coverage, bad faith liability, ERISA, medical malpractice, governmental liability, tort liability and commercial litigation.

Phil holds the distinction of being the only trial lawyer in Oklahoma to be inducted as a Fellow in all three of the following exclusive professional organizations: the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American College of Coverage Counsel, and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. His achievements as a trial lawyer have also earned him inclusion in numerous leading legal publications, including Benchmark Litigation, Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, The Best Lawyers in America (bet-the-company litigation; commercial litigation; insurance law; litigation – insurance; medical malpractice law – defendants; personal injury litigation – defendants), and Oklahoma Super Lawyers, in which he has been named to its exclusive list of “Top 10 Oklahoma Lawyers.” In the Tulsa market, Best Lawyers selected him as “Insurance Lawyer of the Year” for 2012, 2014, 2017, 2023 and 2024; “Personal Injury Litigation Defense Lawyer of the Year” for 2013 and 2023; and “Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year” for 2015, honors given to a single lawyer in each legal specialty in each market.

Phil began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in Stephens County, Oklahoma, before moving to his hometown of Tulsa and transitioning to private practice in 1984. Most recently, he served as a founding partner of Richards & Connor, a Tulsa-based boutique litigation firm, for 25 years prior to joining McAfee & Taft.

Reported Decisions

  • Good v. Farmers Insurance Co., 2023 OK CIV APP 28, 536 P.3d 961
  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation v. Lexington Insurance Company, 2023 OK 4, 523 P.3d 1110
  • Choctaw Nation v. Lexington Insurance Company, 2023 OK 3, 525 P.3d 850
  • Cherokee Nation v. Lexington Insurance Company, 2022 OK 71, 521 P.3d 1261
  • Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma, Inc. v. Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company, 21 F.4th 704 (10th Cir. 2021)
  • Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma, Inc. v. Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company, 525 F.Supp.3d 1348 (W.D. Okla. 2021)
  • Hellard v. Med Century Insurance Company, 519 F.3d 1025 (N.D. Okla. 2021)
  • Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma, Inc. v. Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company, 499 F.Supp.3d 1098 (W.D. Okla. 2020)
  • Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma, Inc. v. Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company, 499 F.Supp.3d 1098 (N.D. Okla. 2020)
  • Christopher Barnett v. Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C., et al., 956 F.3d 1228 (10th Cir. 2020)
  • Thomas v. Farmers Insurance Company, Inc., 774 Fed.Appx. 430 (10th Cir. 2019)
  • National Casualty Company v. Western Express, 356 F.Supp.3d 1288 (W.D. Okla. 2018)
  • Siloam Springs Hotel, LLC v. Century Surety Company, 906 F.3d 926 (10th Cir. 2018)
  • United Specialty Insurance Company v. Homeco, LLC, et al., 325 F.Supp.3d 1231 (W.D. Okla. 2018)
  • JP Energy Marketing, LLC v. Commerce and Industry Insurance Co., et al., 2018 OK CIV APP 14, 412 P.3d 121 (approved for publication by Oklahoma Supreme Court)
  • William D. Lunn, et al. v. Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, et al., 2018 OK CIV App 12, 417 P.3d 1206
  • Siloam Springs Hotel, LLC v. Century Surety Company, 2017 OK 14, 392 P.3d 262
  • Century Surety Company v. Shayona Investment, LLC, 840 F.3d 1175 (10th Cir. 2016)
  • Siloam Springs Hotel, LLC v. Century Surety Company, 781 F.3d 1233 (10th Cir. 2015)
  • Robert and Brenda Perry, et al. v. Grand River Dam Authority, 2015 OK CIV APP 12, 344 P.3d 1
  • Hanover American Ins. Co. v. Balfour, 594 Fed.Appx. 526 (10th Cir. 2015)
  • Board of County Commissioners of Delaware County v. Assoc. of County Commissioners of Oklahoma Self-Insurance Group, 2014 OK 87, 339 P.3d 866
  • Star Insurance Co. v. Bear Productions, Inc., et al., 983 F.Supp.2d 1347 (E.D. Okla. 2013)
  • John B. Acott v. Newton & O’Connor, et al., 2011 OK 56, 260 P.3d 1271
  • Tomlinson v. Combined Underwriters Life Ins. Co., 708 F.Supp.2d 1284 (N.D. Okla. 2010)
  • Tomlinson v. Combined Underwriters Life Ins. Co., 684 F.Supp.2d 1296 (N.D. Okla. 2010)
  • American Commerce Ins. Co. v. Jackie Craig Harris, 664 F.Supp.2d 1220 (E.D. Okla. 2009)
  • Herndon v. American Commerce Insurance Company, 651 F.Supp.2d 1266 (N.D. Okla. 2009)
  • Barry Conner v. American Commerce Insurance, 2009 OK CIV APP 61, 216 P.3d 850
  • Therrien v. Target Corp., 216 Fed.Appx. 751 (10th Cir. 2007)
  • Randall v. Travelers Casualty & Surety Company, 201 Fed.Appx. 603 (10th Cir. 2006)
  • Randall v. Travelers Casualty & Surety Company, 145 P.3d 1048 (Okla. 2006)
  • Randall v. Travelers Casualty & Surety Company, 450 F.3d 1115 (10th Cir. 2006)
  • Mario Badillo v. Mid Century Insurance Company, 2005 OK 48, 121 P.3d 1080 (amicus curiae)
  • Curry v. Mazzio’s Corporation, 72 Fed.Appx. 759 (10th Cir. 2003)
  • Continental Industries, Inc. v. Integrated Logistics Solutions, Inc., et al., 211 F.R.D. 442 (N.D. Okla. 2002)
  • Hartford Insurance Company of the Midwest v. Larry Dyer, et al., 2002 OK CIV APP 126, 61 P.3d 912
  • Mazzio’s Corporation v. Thomas L. Bright, 2002 OK CIV APP 45, 46 P.3d 201
  • Martin Emery Heintz v. Trucks For You, Inc., 1999 OK CIV APP 64, 984 P.2d 255
  • Glenn C. Williams v. Tulsa Motels, et al., 1998 OK 42, 958 P.2d 1282
  • Member Services Life Insurance v. American National Bank, 130 F.3d 950 (10th Cir. 1997)
  • Geoffrey Wells v. Boston Avenue Realty, et al., 125 F.3d 1335 (10th Cir. 1997)
  • Betty F. Guthrie v. Independent School District No. I-30 of Adair County, Oklahoma, 1998 OK CIV APP 47, 958 P.2d 802
  • Oklahoma Disability Law Center, Inc. v. Dillon Family And Youth Services, 879 F.Supp 1110 (N.D. Okla. 1995)
  • Stacie Lynn Sanders, et al. v. Crosstown Market, Inc., et al., 1993 OK 25, 850 P.2d 1061
  • Rick McFeely, et us, v. Donald R. Tredway, M.D., et al., 1990 OK CIV APP 71, 816 P.2d 575

Honors and Awards

  • Elected Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Elected Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel
  • Elected Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • Listed in the Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2024–Present)
  • Named a “Local Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (2007–Present)
  • Named “Best Lawyers Insurance Lawyer of the Year” in Tulsa for 2012, 2014, 2017, 2023 and 2024
  • Named “Best Lawyers Personal Injury Litigation Defense Lawyer of the Year” in Tulsa for 2013 and 2023
  • Named “Best Lawyers Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year” in Tulsa for 2015
  • Listed in Oklahoma Super Lawyers (2006–Present)
  • Named to Oklahoma Super Lawyers’ list of “Top 10 Lawyers” and “Top 50 Lawyers”
  • Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings
  • Honored with the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Maurice Merrill Golden Quill Award (2008)
  • Honored with the Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel’s Outstanding Service Award (2002) and Distinguished Service Award (2006)
  • Honored with the Hudson-Hall-Wheaton American Inn of Court’s Outstanding Individual Presentation Award (2003) and Thomas R. Brett Award (2004)
  • Honored with the University of Tulsa College of Law’s Honorary Outstanding Alumnus Award (2001)
  • Honored with the National Eagle Scout Association’s Outstanding Eagle Scout Award

Professional Organizations and Memberships

  • American College of Trial Lawyers (Fellow; Member, State Committee, 2006–2014)
  • American College of Coverage Counsel (Fellow)
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers (Fellow)
  • Tulsa County Bar Association
  • Oklahoma Bar Association
  • Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel (President, 2004; Board of Directors, 2000–2004)
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
  • Hudson-Hall-Wheaton American Inn of Court (Master Emeritus)

Civic Involvement and Leadership

  • Oklahoma Attorneys Mutual Insurance Company (Board of Directors)
  • Boy Scouts of America — Indian Nations Council (Chair, Troop Committee; Member, District Committee; Former Scoutmaster and District Chairman)

    Writing Credits

  • Is There A Difference Between Morals and Ethics?

    2023 | Hudson-Hall-Wheaton American Inn of Court

  • Depositions of Experts and Ethical Considerations for Depositions

    2016 | Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy

  • Direct Examination

    2015 | Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy

  • Darrow’s Tactics in the Modern Trial

    2014 | Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel

  • Commercial Insurance Law Update

    2013 | Oklahoma Bar Association CLE program Insurance Law Update

  • The Social Media Collision With The Jury System

    2012 | Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel

  • Bad Faith from the Defense Perspective

    2009 | Tulsa County Bar Association CLE program Insurance Law: Both Sides of the Courtroom

  • Oklahoma Bad Faith Basics

    August 9, 2008 | Oklahoma Bar Journal

  • The Opening Statement

    2007 | Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy

  • The Great Writ and Modern Detention of Enemy Combatants

    Spring 2006 | Hudson-Hall-Wheaton Chapter of American Inns of Court

  • Direct Examination

    2006 | Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy

  • Deposing the Plaintiff’s Medical Expert (Chapter 3) and Cross-Examination of the Plaintiff’s Medical Expert (Chapter 6)

    1989 | Expert Witnesses: The Medical Doctor and the Economist (Oklahoma Bar Association)

  • The Art of Scheduling a Fine Art Forgery in a Homeowner’s Policy of Insurance

    1988 | International Assoc. of Defense Counsel Property Insurance Committee Newsletter

Speaking Engagements

  • The ABCs of the CGL: Basic Content and Coverages in a Commercial General Liability Insurance Policy

    2025 Corporate Counsel Seminar

    December 9, 2025
    | Oklahoma City, OK

  • The Lawyer’s Duty of Candor

    Hudson-Hall-Wheaton Chapter of the American Inns of Court Holiday Banquet

    December 2025
    | Tulsa, OK

  • The Intersection of Law and Commerce

    Southside Tulsa Rotary Club

    April 17, 2025
    | Tulsa, OK

  • The Insured’s Failure to Cooperate: Preserving the Defense to Coverage

    Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Webinar

    April 10, 2025
    | Online

  • Premises Security and Lessons from 2022 Active Shooter Incident

    Building Owners and Managers Association of Tulsa

    February 13, 2025
    | Tulsa, OK

  • Anatomy of a Trial: Demonstration of State’s Closing Arguments

    ACTL One Day Boot Camp Trial Training Program

    August 9, 2024
    | Oklahoma City, OK

Practices

Appellate Practice

Insurance Coverage and Extra‑Contractual Litigation

Litigation

Complex Business Litigation

Product Liability Defense

Professional Liability

Admissions

  • Oklahoma, 1983
  • U.S. District Courts for the Western, Northern and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Education

  • J.D., University of Oklahoma, 1983
  • B.A. (political science), University of Oklahoma, 1980