Michael J. Ritter

Michael J. Ritter is senior counsel at Schmoyer Reinhard LLP. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Ritter served as a staff attorney at the San Antonio court of appeals and drafted opinions for and advised the chief justice and six associate justices. Mr. Ritter has also served as an Assistant Attorney General, representing Texas agencies in federal and state suits alleging employment discrimination, tort claims, and section 1983 claims.

Mr. Ritter’s practice includes appeals, litigation support, and labor and employment law. His prior appellate experience includes appeals and mandamus proceedings involving employment law, commercial litigation, personal injury, family law, criminal law, and suits involving governmental entities. As an Assistant Attorney General, Mr. Ritter was involved in all aspects of appellate and trial litigation, including pleadings, motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, and jury trials.

Mr. Ritter grew up in Round Rock, Texas, and went to college at Trinity University on a debate scholarship. He later graduated from UT Law, where he served on the Texas Law Review, Review of Litigation, and ABA Moot Court team. By the time he graduated, Mr. Ritter had published notes in 5 different law journals at UT Law.

After graduating, he clerked for Justice Rebecca Simmons at the San Antonio court of appeals, and Judge Michael Keasler on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. In 2018, Mr. Ritter became the first appellate court staff attorney to be board certified in both civil and criminal appeals, and in 2021, became the first attorney openly from the LGBTQ+ community to be elected as a statewide representative on the State Bar of Texas board of directors.