East Lansing, Michigan
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(517) 432-9000
(800) 550-5892 (Toll Free) |
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(517) 203-4448 |
Mike Nichols Curriculum Vitae
Read a recent article by Mike Nichols:
Is Michigan Hiding Information that could Acquit Charged Drunk Drivers?
Mike Nichols is one of the leading criminal defense attorneys and all-around litigators in Michigan. Mike Nichols has been practicing law since 1999 with an emphasis on litigation in the areas of criminal law, family law, contractual/intellectual property law, and professional and administrative licensing. Mike Nichols has litigated a number of complex criminal, civil and contract cases. He is the Chair of the Ingham County Bar Association Criminal Law Section, a member of the Ingham County Bar Association’s Board of Directors and a member of the Ingham County Bench-Bar committee. Mike Nichols also uses his knowledge and experience as a reporter covering the state capitol as a member of the Legislative Committee for the Family Law Council of the State Bar of Michigan.
One of few attorneys who is well-versed in media contracts and with over 10 years in broadcast journalism, Mike Nichols has developed an insider's knowledge of the television and radio industry and the law of covenants not to compete, commonly known as no compete clauses, which is one of the key aspects of media contract law. Mike Nichols is a member of the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan; the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; the National College of Drunk Driving Defense; the State Bar of Michigan Criminal Law Section; the State Bar of Michigan Business Law Section; State Bar of Michigan Family Law Section, on which he serves on the Legislative Committee the American Inns of Court, Michigan State University College of Law Chapter and; the Ingham County Bar Association.
MIKE NICHOLS COMPLETES THE GRUELING CHICAGO MARATHON DESPITE RECORD HEAT THAT CANCELLED THE RACE
Mike Nichols ran his first marathon, the Chicago Marathon, on October 7th, 2007. Mike completed the race despite the 90 degree heat and the fact that race organizers canceled the event in light of the numerous injuries caused by the unbearable, muggy weather. The accomplishment marked the culmination of months of training that began in early 2007.
HIGH PROFILE CASE SUMMARY
Mike Nichols successfully defended one of the Michigan State University students charged in a major assault in the so-called “Welcome Week” fight in 2005. The client was found not guilty of felony assault with intent to commit great bodily harm; Mike Nichols is defending one of 6 codefendants charged in a military-style home invasion of the owners of “Discount Trees” in rural Ingham County; Mike Nichols also defended in federal court in Grand Rapids the girlfriend of the biggest drug dealer in Lansing history; Mike Nichols was co-counsel in the biggest criminal case in Ingham County in recent history, "People v Holland", in which Mike co-counseled the defense of the mother of a 7 - year old boy, whose remains were found in Southern Ingham County in January, 2006. The boy’s disappearance launched a search that began on July 2, 2005, when his father reported him missing from his Williamston home. The ensuing search was called the largest in County history.
Mike Nichols is defending a lobbyist in a no-compete case, who is accused of violating an employment agreement that allegedly prevented him from representing clients of his former firm. The case is the buzz in Lansing and has received media attention as well.
Mike Nichols is also one of the first criminal defense attorneys in the United States to go to trial in a so-called “black box” case, in which Mike’s client was found not guilty of negligent homicide even though the black box in his vehicle showed that he was nearly 20 miles an hour over the speed limit.
Mike Nichols successfully defended a police officer from Chelsea, who was accused of rape. The trial lasted one week and included evidence of prior acts against the officer that were allowed into evidence but successfully rebutted by the defense. Mike Nichols used a team approach and technology to show the jury with Power Point how the evidence did not fit the crime.
Mike Nichols successfully defended a police officer in Battle Creek, who was charged with sexual assault but acquitted after a one-week jury trial.
Mike Nichols represented successfully a fireworks dealer in Southwest Michigan, who was accused of two violations of Michigan's fireworks statute. The seizure of the fireworks in the summer of 2005 was called the biggest in Van Buren County history.
Mike Nichols is the one who people turn to when they have a matter that is high-profile and sensitive. Mike's years of experience in broadcast journalism help him deal with the public eye for his clients and also help him focus on the jury--even when the lights from the cameras are at their hottest. Mike is also the one to whom people who are high-profile turn when they need discretion in criminal matters, especially drunk driving cases, whether you are an office-holder or a star athlete.
Mike Nichols successfully litigated a custody matter for an Islamic client, who was granted the right to take his daughter home to Kuwait.
Mike Nichols successfully litigated a complex custody case involving a father of the Muslim faith and a mother who was not of the Muslim faith. The father was allowed to move his children to South Carolina from Michigan based, in part, on the fact that the children were raised as Muslims and would enjoy continuity in the furtherance of their religious beliefs by virtue of the move. "People of the Muslim faith are the underdogs in American society. They need, and deserve passionate, thoughtful and caring representation. As a person of Irish decent, whose ancestors were bombed with fruit and vegetables and subjected to ethnic slurs when they disembarked at Ellis Island, I understand somewhat, how Muslims feel" Nichols says.
Mike Nichols has represented and advised clients ranging from world-renowned surgeons to news anchors to employers on no-compete clauses.
Among Mike Nichols' experience in no-compete cases includes successfully suing an employer in Southwest Michigan, who tried to keep a former employee from opening up a competing business. The no compete was invalid because it had no time limitation.
Mike Nichols also defended successfully an oral surgeon in Lansing and negated a no-compete clause in his shareholder agreement with his former partners. The doctor then opened up practices in the Lansing area and has been serving the community ever since.
Mike has been a guest lecturer at Michigan State University and has also lectured at the Michigan Trial Lawyer's Association. Mike is also proud of his contributions to the community, serving as a tutor in the Lansing School District. He is admitted to practice in all Michigan state courts, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mike Nichols earned his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University (with Honor). He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from The Thomas M. Cooley Law School, was on the Dean's List three semesters and was also the winner of the Society of Irish-American Lawyers Scholarship. Mike Nichols was a Partner and Vice President of The Reynolds Law Firm, P.C. before becoming Of Counsel at The Gallagher Law Firm, PLC.
- Criminal Law
- Family Law
- Covenants against Competition in Contracts (No Competes)
- Professional and Administrative Licensing
- Michigan
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan
- Juris Doctor
- Honors: Dean's List
- Honors: Society of Irish-American Lawyers Scholarship
- Michigan State University
- Honors: With Honor
- Guest Lecturer, Michigan State University
- Lecturer, Michigan Trial Lawyer's Association
- Tutor, Lansing School District
- Ingham County Bar Association, Criminal Law Section Co-Chair and Board Member
- Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- National College of Drunk Driving Defense Member
- State Bar of Michigan, Family Law Section Member
- American Inns of Court, Michigan State University College of Law Chapter Member
- Ingham County Bar Association Publications Committee
- Ingham County Bar Association Bench-Bar Committee
- The Reynolds Law Firm, P.C., Partner and Vice President
- The Gallagher Law Firm, PLLC., Of Counsel
Why I Run