People

Richard Salgado

Partner

Dallas

Austin

Areas of focus

Tries complex cases in state and federal courts, arbitrations, and other proceedings across healthcare, trade secrets, product and environmental liability, and commercial litigation

Leads the firm’s class action practice, representing plaintiffs and defendants in bet-the-company disputes

Handles appellate matters, including oral argument before federal and state appellate courts across the United States

Maintains an active pro bono practice focused on protecting religious freedom and the rights of children and adults with intellectual and other disabilities

Richard Salgado is the Dallas lead of McDermott Will & Schulte’s Litigation Practice Group and co-leads the firm’s class action practice. He is an experienced trial lawyer who has first-chaired dozens of complex cases in state and federal courts, arbitrations, and other proceedings. His extensive jury and courtroom experience includes cases in all areas of health care, as well as trade secrets, product and environmental liability, and commercial litigation. He has successfully represented plaintiffs and defendants in complex, bet-the-company disputes including many cases in which the amount in controversy has exceeded hundreds of millions of dollars.

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Ranked in

Ranked in

The Best Lawyers in America

Recognized as a Stand-out Lawyer – independently rated lawyers

Recognized as a Stand-out Lawyer – independently rated lawyers

Thomson Reuters

Results
  • Obtained complete victory for a healthcare company in a US$600 million putative class action alleging antitrust and RICO claims in connection with alleged violations of network access and pharmacy pricing laws*
  • Secured highly favorable settlement for plaintiff healthcare company against foreign-based conglomerate for misappropriation of trade secrets in the Middle East and North Africa
  • Won complete no liability verdict in multi-week trial on behalf of private equity company against allegations of breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract, seeking more than US$150 million, asserted by former C-suite executive*
  • Obtained successful outcome for auto part manufacturer in putative class action stemming from recall of approximately 5 million airbag units*
  • Won complete no liability verdict in multi-week jury trial on behalf of technology company against trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract claims that sought more than US$75 million*
  • Successfully defended putative class action alleging manufacturer provided misleading information regarding price at which customers would be able to replace car batteries under warranty*
  • Obtained complete victory and concession by Internal Revenue Service in US$8.4 billion tax dispute involving debt vs. equity and cancellation of indebtedness issues*
  • Represented coalition of various large academic medical centers and patients in multi-jurisdictional litigation against US Department of Health and Human Services to enjoin potentially life-and-death changes to the allocation of donated organs*
  • Successfully defended software developer in putative class action brought on behalf of more than one million insurance claimants alleging that 500 major insurers used software to depress value of insurance claims*
  • Obtained complete win on summary judgment in toxic tort case alleging illnesses caused by chemical exposure and seeking more than US$100 million*
  • Won complete victory for investors and business partners in multi-week jury trial seeking more than US$25 million for alleged breach of contract and interference with prospective business relations in technology startup*
  • Obtained complete victory for third-party health care claims administrator in whistleblower action brought under the False Claims Act accusing the defendant of facilitating widespread Medicaid fraud in Texas public schools*
  • Won complete victory in international arbitration on behalf of healthcare technology company, prevailing on claims for business torts and trade secret misappropriation, defeating all counterclaims, and obtaining multimillion-dollar damages award, attorney fees, and permanent injunction*
  • Successfully represented industrial client in multi-week jury trial seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages based on illnesses allegedly caused by toxic exposure*
  • Obtained favorable jury verdict against US$600 million bad faith insurance claims in state court case concerning extensive environmental contamination by mining operations*
  • Successfully defended major energy and construction company in a putative class action alleging that its work on behalf of the US Army Corps of Engineers contributed to floodwall breaches in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina*
  • Obtained summary judgment of noninfringement on behalf of the world’s largest computer gaming company in major patent litigation*

*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott.

Recognitions
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice (2025-2027), Litigation – Intellectual Property (2025-2027), Commercial Litigation, 2027
  • Thomson Reuters, Stand-out Lawyer – independently rated lawyers, 2023-2026

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Capabilities and industries
Regional markets
Community
  • BYU Law School Alumni Association, former president
  • Dallas Hispanic Bar Association, member
  • J. Reuben Clark Law Society, North American Southwest area chair
  • DFW Alliance for Religious Freedom and Human Dignity, vice president
Credentials
Education
  • Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School, JD, summa cum laude, Order of the Coif
  • Brigham Young University, BA
Admissions
  • Texas
  • Utah
Courts/Agencies
  • US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • US District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • US District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • US District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • US District Court for the District of Utah
  • Supreme Court of the United States
Languages
  • English
  • Spanish