Dowd, John

Ms. Richards is the founding partner of The Richards Law Firm PC and has represented hundreds of North Carolinians and North Carolina businesses throughout her career.  She prosecutes a wide range of civil cases including employment discrimination, sexual harassment, and wage and hour violations.  She also advises small businesses on employment matters and franchising.  Ms. Richards is also very close with her grandparents, which has fostered her elder law practice. 

Ms. Richards has represented clients in administrative hearings, mediations before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and cases filed in several superior and district courts throughout North Carolina.   She has also served as a guardian ad litem for the elderly before the Clerks of Special Proceedings.

Ms. Richards is admitted to practice in all state courts in North Carolina, New Mexico, and California.  She is also admitted to practice in the federal district court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, as well as the Ninth and Tenth federal circuits. 

Ms. Richards is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, North Carolina Advocates for Justice, National Association of Professional Women, and the Wake County Bar Association.  Ms. Richards is an active member of the Employment Law Section of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice.

Prior to moving to North Carolina, Ms. Richards was the lead class certification attorney in Savaglio v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a wage and hour class action that resulted in a $172 million dollar verdict for the Wal-Mart workers.  Ms. Richards was lead counsel in the case through class certification and the chief architect of the expert models used by the workers to certify the case and eventually win the case at trial.  After certification, the managing partner of the law firm commented that Ms. Richards was the best orator the firm had ever employed in its over thirty year existence.

Ms. Richards was also a prosecutor in the violent, felony crimes unit, as well as the domestic violence unit before deciding to practice civil law.

While Ms. Richards has lived in New Mexico, California, and North Carolina, she considers Wake County her home where she enjoys spending time with her husband, Matthew, and their two young sons.  She enjoys playing racquetball and going to the beach.