About Ray
Ray Richards graduated from The Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law in 1996. He moved into practice shortly thereafter, taking early staff lawyer positions that put him inside both private and public defense environments. His legal education preceded a career spent largely in criminal defense and federal matters.
His first post-law school role was as a staff lawyer at Becker Lanctot Schollmaster Taylor and Hom in 1997. A year later he joined the Legal Aid and Defender Office in Detroit as a staff lawyer, handling matters for clients who could not afford private counsel. In 1999 he launched the Law Office of Ray E Richards II PLC, serving as senior partner and founder. He led that office through its early growth and later took on new partnerships.
In 2013 he co-founded Richards/Kasoga PLLC as founder managing partner. By 2016 he had shifted into two roles: managing partner at Richards & Associates PLC and of counsel at Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho PLC. Those positions reflect a mix of firm leadership and advisory work. Over the years he has moved between running small firms and serving in counsel roles that support broader litigation teams.
Richard maintains memberships that align with criminal defense practice. He has been a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel since 2007, representing eligible defendants in federal cases under the CJA appointment system. He is also listed with the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers, a membership he has held since 2014. He is admitted in Michigan and to practice before the Federal Circuit. He also holds a certification in Motor Sports Management from Sports Worldwide Agency, an additional credential he has carried alongside his criminal practice.
His office is listed at 200 EAST BIG BEAVER. Over the course of his career he has handled state and federal criminal matters, managed firm operations, and served appointed federal clients through the CJA Panel. He currently focuses on criminal defense and related federal practice.
