The Marquis Who’s Who organization has honored Salisu “Sal” A. Richardson, Esq., with its prestigious award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to workers’ compensation law. This distinction highlights his more than two decades of experience and leadership in protecting the interests of employers, carriers and servicing agents.
Mr. Richardson, currently the managing partner for workers’ compensation at QPWB Law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has built a reputation for his bold and strategic outlook on litigation. Mr. Richardson’s efficiency and effectiveness have made him a respected figure in his field.
Legacy Magazine featured Mr. Richardson in its “40 Under 40” list in 2013, and he was named one of the Most Powerful Black Leaders in Broward County the next year, 2014. In Touch Magazine awarded him a Worker’s Compensation Exceptional Defense Attorney Award in 2019, and he has been named a Lawyer of Distinction for Workers Compensation annually from 2021 and 2025.
Learning by Extensive Experience
Mr. Richardson began his legal journey at the University of Florida, earning a Bachelor of Science in finance, with honors, in 1998. He continued his education at the same institution, obtaining a Master of Arts in real estate in 2001 and a Juris Doctor in law in 2002. His passion for trial advocacy was evident early on as he actively participated on the university’s trial team.
Upon graduation, Mr. Richardson sought opportunities to put his skills into practice immediately. His career took off at a well-regarded law firm in Central Florida, with a dedicated workers’ compensation defense practice. According to Mr. Richardson, the firm’s rigorous environment provided him with extensive exposure to a variety of accidents and injuries coupled with intensive litigation experience from day one.
“I was very keen and interested in trying cases,” Mr. Richardson recalls. “I began to really see what it was to delve into the practice. There were a lot of litigated files, including the need for both lay and expert witnesses. I learned how to do that very effectively then.”
Mr. Richardson quickly realized that real-world experience provided invaluable lessons beyond theoretical knowledge. He then put those litigation and trial skills to use in defending cases and has continued to do so, thriving largely as a result.
After training at Columbia University through the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), Mr. Richardson expanded his competence by obtaining certification as a Certified Litigation Management Professional (CLMP). This certification emphasizes efficient litigation management strategies used by large employers managing extensive case inventories. It reshaped his understanding of litigation’s broader scope to reduce risk management inventory, which goes far beyond an individual case, though it starts there.
Boldness, Efficiency and Effectiveness
Mr. Richardson has consistently embraced boldness as his defining trait throughout his more than two-decade career. His present work as the managing partner for worker’s compensation at the Fort Lauderdale Office and his past experiences, such as his roles as managing partner for litigation at Adelson, Testan, Brundo, Novell & Jimenez between 2011 and 2023 and associate attorney positions from 2003 to 2010, further reinforced his strategic mindset toward case management and client advocacy.
“I think boldness comes from experience,” Mr. Richardson mentions. “I can’t say I’ve ever done anything perfectly—but I’ve never truly lost a trial the same way twice.” This ability to learn from mistakes has enabled him to make strategic decisions, particularly when employing affirmative defenses—a challenging yet impactful aspect of workers’ compensation law.
However, for Mr. Richardson, boldness is not enough. He emphasizes that boldness must always be paired with efficiency and effectiveness. For instance, in Florida’s workers’ compensation system, mediation must occur within 130 days, and trials must occur within 210 days. Mr. Richardson excels at closing files around mediation timelines, with his proactive strategies certifying that his clients benefit from timely resolutions that minimize costs and risks.
“Everything has to be strategic,” Mr. Richardson asserts. “You can be bold and efficient; however, if you don’t know the law, the evidence needed, and how to strategically get it before the court, you can’t apply those traits to be effective.”
Redefining Success in Legal Presentation
Reflecting on more than 20 years of practice, Mr. Richardson acknowledges that legal aptitude alone does not guarantee success. Initially believing mastery of law sufficient for career advancement, he soon recognized additional factors necessary for sustained achievement.
“Being a great lawyer isn’t enough; you also need to know how to market yourself effectively,” Mr. Richardson observes. He learned that attorneys must present themselves confidently—using their knowledge boldly—to build credibility among clients and peers alike. This realization has shaped his perspective on both client interactions and professional development.
The inclusion of Mr. Richardson in Marquis Who’s Who highlights his professional achievements and impact on the legal field. In addition to his stellar professional experiences, Mr. Richardson is also actively involved in various industry-related organizations. He has been a member of the TJ Reddick Bar Association and a Workers’ Compensation Executive Committee Member for the Workers Compensation Section of the Florida Bar. He is also a member of the Florida Defense Lawyers’ Association (FDLA), and a member of the South Florida Chapter of the National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA).
Mr. Richardson demonstrates his commitment to civic engagement is evident through his involvement with several organizations. He served several years as the chairman of the 4H Foundation of Broward County and currently serves as vice president of the 100 Black Men of Greater Fort Lauderdale, an organization he has proudly been a part of for more than 15 years. In the Saturday Leadership Academy, he has taught financial literacy to African American young men for the past three years.
Despite his long career in the legal industry, Mr. Richardson is up for more. He works at one of the country’s largest workers’ compensation firms and aims to unify its teams across various states to attract large clients and handle numerous old and new cases efficiently.
Mr. Richardson and his wife are both attorneys who attended law school together and were trial team partners. They have three children: two older boys, now out of college, and a high school-aged daughter currently in a legal magnet. Mr. Richardson hopes she will follow in his footsteps and further improve the standards of legal practice.
About Marquis Who’s Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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