Services
Industries
Education
University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 2002
University of Michigan, B.A., 1997
Bar Admissions
- California
- Michigan
Court Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals
- 9th Circuit
- 6th Circuit
U.S. District Court
- Northern District of California
- Eastern District of Michigan
Wendy Richards is a skilled commercial litigator who has worked on numerous multimillion-dollar class actions and other complex matters. As the firm's Pro Bono Counsel, she heads Miller Canfield's pro bono program, which has garnered national recognition for taking on high-profile, high-impact cases and was shortlisted as one of the nation's best pro bono programs by the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America.
Throughout her career, Wendy's work has focused on complex litigation including class actions, securities and intellectual property matters. She is responsible for coordinating Miller Canfield's pro bono efforts firm-wide, which has resulted in the firm's involvement in several high-profile matters. Recently, Wendy has assisted in and led teams involving high-impact litigation matters, community development projects, entrepreneurship opportunities for persons living in needy communities, as well as several other community enrichment or access to justice projects.
Honors
State Bar of Michigan, John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award, 2024
Michigan State Bar Foundation, Access to Justice Award, 2024
The Fellows of the Michigan State Bar Foundation
2021 Crain's Detroit Business Notable Women in Law
Detroit Bar Association Pro Bono Awardee, 2021
State Bar of Michigan Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2020-present
Michigan Lawyers Weekly, "Women in the Law," Class of 2018
Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, Exceptional Achievement honorarium, 2018
DBusiness Magazine, Top Lawyers, Commercial Litigation, Nonprofit/Charities Law
University of Virginia School of Law, George Terrien Scholarship Recipient, Public Interest Law Association Fellowship Recipient
University of Michigan, high distinction, James B. Angell Scholar, Golden Key Honor Society
Professional Activities
Association of Pro Bono Counsel, Co-Chair, Voting Rights Task Force
Michigan State Bar Foundation, Access to Justice Statewide Steering Committee, Working Committee
State Bar of Michigan, Implementation and Innovation Steering Committee; Delivery of Legal Services for All Standing Committee; Co-Chair, Pro Bono Workshop & Networking Meeting, 2016 & 2017
Goodwill Detroit, Board Member, Ambassador Committee
Detroit Regional Chamber's Leadership Detroit, Class XXXVI
Civic, Cultural & Social Activities
New Economy Initiative Neighborhood Business Strategy Worktable
Tau Beta Association
Detroit Athletic Club
Speeches
"Best Practices for Establishing Driver's License Restoration Clinics," State Bar of Michigan Justice Initiatives Committee, Spring Pro Bono Workshop, May 16, 2023
"Common Election Law Questions," Co-Presenter with Scott Eldridge, Michigan Township Association Legal Institute, April 22, 2024
"Making A Difference: Creating or Enhancing Your Pro Bono Programs," Association of Corporate Counsel Michigan, March 9, 2023
ABA Civil Rights and Social Justice Chair Chat, March 1, 2023
"The Election Minefield: What Exploded in 2020, What Was Defused in 2022 and What to Dodge in 2024," Moderator, State Bar of Michigan Government Law Section 2023 Winter Educational Seminar, February 17, 2023
"Connecting Elections to Your Profession," Wayne State University Law School Voting Rights & Election Law Society and Wayne State University Schools of Social Work and Public Health, Sept. 16, 2022
"Practicing Voting Rights Litigation in Michigan," Wayne State University Law School Voting Rights & Election Law Society, March 22, 2022
"Legal Resources for Small Businesses," Detroit Digital Inclusion Week, Oct. 19, 2021
Voter Education and Protection Panel, WEGP, January 2021
Voting Rights Panel and Voting Rights discussion session, Moderator, Law Firm Anti-Racism Alliance, Fall Summit, Oct. 2020
"Cross Examinations Fundamentals," Moderator with Thomas Cranmer, Lakeshore Legal Aid, Sept. 2020
"Helping Small Business in the Time of COVID," Practicing Law Institute, Practicing Justice Podcast, Aug. 2020
"Partners in Impact: How Non-profits + Big Law Join to Make Change," hosted by the University of Michigan School of Law Pro Bono Board, March 2019
Publications
Miller Canfield Election Law Guide, 2022
"What Do Poll Workers Do?", New York Magazine, The Cut, Nov. 3, 2020
"Pro Bono Attorneys Look to Fill Poll Worker Gap During Pandemic," Law360, Oct. 25, 2020
"First Responders for Democracy," Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Oct. 5, 2020
"Big Law and the Ballot; Pro Bono Fight for Mail-In Voting," Law360, Aug. 23, 2020
"Lawyers Offer Free Assistance to Underserved During Pandemic," Michigan Lawyers Weekly, May 14, 2020
"New legal clinic to help Detroit nonprofits, small businesses," Detroit Free Press, May 7, 2020
"Attorneys provide pro bono legal services to nonprofits on National Day of Service," Corp! Magazine, Feb. 11, 2020
