Attorneys

John F. Nichols Sr.
Houston, Texas

Owner
phone	(713)654-0708
fax	(713) 654-0706
email	Email Me

Since being admitted to the Texas Bar in 1967, John F. Nichols, Sr., has built quite a collection of accomplishments. He has been named among the "Best Matrimonial Lawyers in America" by several publications, and has been named one of "Houston's Top Lawyers" and a "Texas Super Lawyer." He has written dozens of published articles and several articles about the law and been asked to teach over 100 classes and seminars. Mr. Nichols is a certified specialist in Texas in the areas of family law, personal injury, and civil trial law. He has argued in front of the highest Texas courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States.

A lifelong Houston resident, Mr. Nichols graduated from the University of Houston College of Law in 1967 and from Rice University in 1964. He is a proud member of the Rice University Athletic Hall of Fame. He is also a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the International Society of Barristers and the American College of Family Trial Lawyer. In the resume below you will find a more complete list of his credentials.

Certification/Specialties:: Family Law, State Bar of Texas, 1975; Civil Trial Law, State Bar of Texas, 1978; Personal Injury Law, State Bar of Texas, 1987; Civil Law, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1988

Bar Admissions:: Texas, 1967; U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 1968; U.S. Supreme Court, 1975; U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1975; U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit, 1981; U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, 1981; U.S. Court of International Trade, 1982; U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1992; U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1994; U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 1994

Education:: University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas, 1967
LL.B., Bachelor of Law; Rice University, Houston, Texas, 1964
B.S., Bachelor of Science

Published Works:: Attorneys Fees, Ethics, Fee Contracts and Legal Malpractice, 1977; Avoiding Grievances in Family Law Cases, 1977; You and Your Grievance Committee, 1977; Recent Developments in Family Law, 1978; Intrastate Jurisdiction and Transfers, 1978; Professional Responsibility-An Overview, 1978; Tips to Avoid Legal Malpractice in Family Law Cases, 1978; Ethical Pitfalls in Family Law Actions, 1978; Fee Splitting-Contracts for Division of Fees Between Attorneys, 1979; Jurisdiction, Venue and Transfers Where All Parties Reside in Texas, 1979; Trial Outline of Preparation and Submission of Jury Issues in Family Law Cases, 1980; The Marital/Family Therapist as an Expert Witness: Some Thoughts and Suggestions, Journal of Marriage and Family Therapy, 1980; Special Issues and The Jury Change, 1980; Discovery and Analysis of Records in Family Law Matters, 1981; Pre-Trial: The Deposition, 1981; Issue Editor on "Checklists" - Family Advocate, American Bar Association, Spring, 1982; Special Issues in the Trial of Divorce, Custody and Modification Case, 1982; Division of Property, 1982; Issue Editor "Trial Techniques" - Family Advocate, American Bar Association, Spring, 1983; Child Custody and Children's Rights, 1983; Handling Dual Representation of Marrying & Divorcing Couples, 1983; The Benefits and Pitfalls of Obtaining Attorney's Fees From the Adverse Party, Matrimonial Strategist, 1983; Pitfalls to Avoid Upon Transferring a Homestead By One Spouse to Another, Matrimonial Strategist, 1983; New Texas Rules of Evidence, 1983; Hearsay and Testimonial Exceptions, 1983; Recent Developments in Family Law, 1984; Documentary and Demonstrative Evidence, 1984; Ethical Traps and Malpractice Prevention, 1984; Non-Testimonial Hearsay, Authenticity and Identification, Documentary and Demonstrative Evidence, 1984; Reading the Body Language of Witnesses, 1984; Issue Editor "Evidence - Raw Testimony" - Family Advocate, American Bar Association, Winter, 1985; Voir Dire and Opening Statements, 1985; Reading the Body Language of Witnesses, 1985; Making and Meeting Objectives, 1986; The Charge of the Court, 1986; Handling Bill of Review Cases, 1986; The Court's Charge, 1987; Simplification of the Court's Charge, 1987; Court's Charge and Special Issue Submission, 1987; Opening and Closing Arguments on Property Issues, 1987; Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Country Judgments, Decrees and Orders, 1987; Voir Dire, Opening Statements and Final Argument, 1987; Court's Charge-Preservation of Error, 1988; Creative Presentation Techniques of Demonstrative Evidence, 1988; Evaluating Settling and Litigating Soft Tissue Injuries, 1988; Subpoenas, Conflicts and Big Money Divorce Cases, 1988; Domestic Torts and Interspousal Immunity, 1988; Opening Statements, 1988; Trial Tactics: Good Manners or Dirty Tricks, 1988; Trial Outline of Domestic Tort Emotional Distress Cases, 1988; Torts in Family Law, 1988; Demonstrative Evidence-Creative Presentation Techniques, 1988; Spoliation and Suppression of Evidence, 1988; Texas Family Law Service (Speer's 6th Edition), Chapter 10, Conduct of Trial, Bancroft-Whitney, 1988; Trial Outline of Domestic Tort Emotional Distress Cases, 1989; The Court's Charge, 1989; Overview of Domestic Torts, 1989; The Court's Charge (Preservation of Error), 1989; Domestic Torts, 1989; Witness Preparation (Discovery, Trial, and Body Language), 1989; Interference With Child Custody-Kidnapping, 1989; Common Evidence Problems, 1989; Jury Charge, 1990; Complementing or Combating Voir Dire With Effective Opening Statements, 1990; Presenting Demonstrative Evidence, 1991; Objections To The Court's Charge, 1991; Handling The Voluminous Divorce Case, 1991; Torts in Family Law, 1991; The Court's Charge, 1991; Pattern Points of Error, 1991; Handling The Neutral But Hostile Witness, 1991; Domestic Torts, 1991; Preservation of Error Form Filing to Close of Evidence, 1992; Brief Writing-Part IV: Technical Requirements, 1992; Damages Checklist, 1992; Evidentiary Problems in Family Law Cases, 1992; Making & Meeting Objectives, 1992; Complimenting or Combating Voir Dire with Effective Opening Statements, 1992; Strategically Presenting the Marital Tort Cases, ATLA "Trial", 1992; Recovery for Psychological Injuries & Intangible Damages, 1993; Preserving Error in the Court's Charge, 1993; Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress (Its Uses and Limits) And Recovery for Psychological Injuries and Intangible Damages, 1993; Oral Argument: Strategies and Alternatives, 1993; Kidnapping Torts, 1993; Batson And Its Progeny, 1994; The Court's Charge, 1994; Preservation of Error From Filing to Close of Evidence, 1994; Punitive Damages, 1994; Domestic Torts, 1994; Oral Argument: Strategies And Alternatives, 1994; Making & Meeting Objections, 1995; Preservation of Error-Court's Charge, 1995; Making and Meeting Objections, TTLA, 1995; Common Mistakes in the Court's Charge Conference, 1996; Trial Techniques and Courtroom Interaction Skills, 1996; Marital Property Agreements, 1996; Jury Persuasion-Voir Dire, Opening Statement, Trial and Final Argument, 1997; Preservation of Error and How to Make and Meet Objections, 1997; Opening Statement-1997, 1997; Checklists, Predicates and Presentation of Proof in Property Cases, 1998; Presenting and Defending a Fault Case: How to Make the Judge Care about Inequities or How to Keep the Judge from Seeing the Inequities, 1998; Presentation of the Case: The Plaintiff's Perspective, 1998; Schlueter-Before and After, 1999; Opening Statement-Jury or Non-Jury, 1999; Presentation of the Case: The Plaintiff's Perspective, 1999; Depositions, Law, Strategy and Forms in Family Law, 1980, Supplements 1983-86, and Revision Update 1999, Matthew Bender & Co., Inc.; Presentation of the Case: The Plaintiff's Perspective, 2000; Causes of Action in Torts, 2000; Understanding and Working With Changing Jury Attitudes, 2000; Asset Protection Trusts, 2000; Recognition and Enforcement of Matrimonial Judgments, Decrees and Orders in the United States and Foreign Countries, 2000; Accommodating Special Needs in the Courtroom, 2000; Family Law Depositions, Juris Publishing, 2000; Divorce Issues: Separate Property, Community Property and Marital Agreements, 2001; The Jury Charge, 2001; Economic and Physical Torts (What's left after Schlueter?), 2001; Recognition and Enforcement of Matrimonial Judgements Decrees and Orders in the United States and Foreign Countries, 2002; Marital Torts: Hitting, Biting, Gouging and Other Bad Stuff, 2002; Divorce Issues (Revised), 2002; Inquires and Caveats - Daubert Proofing Your Expert, 2002; The Effective Use of Pattern Jury Charges In Non-Jury Cases, 2004; Family Law Depositions (Updated), Juris Publishing, 2006; Personal Injury Depositions, Juris Publishing, 2006; Alter Ego, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, and Property Related Torts, 2006; The Trial of a Family Law Jury Case - The Art of Persuasion, Voir Dire, Motions in Limine, Opening Statement, The Court's Charge and Final Argument, 2006; Anticipating Divorce: A Family Law Handbook for those Contemplating Hiring a Lawyer, 2006; The Jury Charge: Nuts and Bolts, 2006

Representative Cases:: Gorsalitz v. Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp., 429 F. 2d 1033 (United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit 1970); Gorsalitz v. Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp., 456 F. 2d 180 (United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit 1972); Gorsalitz v. Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp., 407 U.S. 921 (Supreme Court of the United States 1972); Gorsalitz v. Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp., 409 U.S. 899 (Supreme Court of the United States 1972); Lasorsa v. Burr, 516 S.W. 2d 265 (Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, Houston (14th Dist.) 1974); Brown v. Brown, 520 S.W. 2d 571 (Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, Houston (14th Dist.) 1975); Morrison v. Rathmell, 650 S.W. 2d 145 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Tyler 1983); Rathmell v. Morrison, 732 S.W. 2d 6 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (14th Dist.) 1987); Robinson v. Robinson, 694 S.W. 2d 569 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Corpus Christi 1985); Glassman & Glassman v. Somoza, 694 S.W. 2d 174 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (14th Dist.) 1985); Chiles v. Chiles, 779 S.W. 2d 127 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (14th Dist.) 1989); Samuels v. Montgomery, 793 S.W. 2d 337 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (14th Dist.) 1990); Massey v. Massey, 807 S.W. 2d 391 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (1st Dist.) 1991); Massey v. Massey, 867 S.W. 2d 766 (Supreme Court of Texas 1993); Weririch v. Weirich, 833 S.W. 2d 942 (Supreme Court of Texas 1992); Bradley v. Robertson, 832 S.W. 2d 199 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (14th Dist.) 1992); Golias v. Golias, 861 S.W. 2d 401 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Beaumont 1993); Clark v. Jamison, 874 S.W. 2d 312 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (14th Dist.) 1994); Burton v. Dunn, 1995 WL 247998 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Beaumont 1995); Miner v. Begum, 8 F. Supp. 2d 643 (United States District Court, S.D. Texas, Galveston Division 1998); Rusk v. Rusk, 5 S.W.3d 299 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (14th Dist.) 1999); Rusk v. Runge, 2002 WL 31526494 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (14th Dist.) 2002); In Re Cartwright, 104 S.W.3d 706 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (1st Dist.) 2003); In Re Penafiel, 2005 WL 364151 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (14th Dist.) 2005); Stauder v. Stauder - Hilpold, 2005 WL 364151 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Corpus Christi 2005); In Re European Motorcycle Corp., 2005 WL 1302886 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Corpus Christi 2005); In Re Sheikh, 2005 WL 2470654 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (1st Dist.) 2005); Motalvo v. Parker Drilling Co., 2006 WL 1030012 (United States District Court, Texas, Houston Division 2006); In Re Small, 2006 WL 1490242 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (14th Dist.) 2006); In Re Sheikh, 2006 WL 2291107 (Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (1st Dist.) 2006)

Classes/Seminars Taught:: Institute on Family Law, State Bar of Texas, 1975 and 1976; Ethics in Family Law, Houston and Dallas Bar Associations, 1975; Family Law Seminar, Houston and Dallas Bar Associations, 1975; Malicious Prosecution and False Imprisonment, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 1976; Practice Skills Course, State Bar of Texas, 1976, 1977, 1978; 4th Annual Institution 1977, and 5th Annual Institution 1978, SMU Center for Advanced Professional Development; Institute on Family Law, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, 1977; Ethics in Family Law, American Bar Association Annual Convention Symposium, Chicago, Illinois, 1977; Texas Representative-Law In The Fifty States, American Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois, 1977; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1977; Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists Association, State Bar of Texas, 1977; Intrastate Jurisdiction Disputes, SMU Center for Advanced Professional Development, 1978; Texas Trial Institute, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, 1978; Marriage Dissolution Course, Houston and Dallas Bar Associations, 1978; Recent Developments in Family Law, Houston and Dallas Bar Associations, 1978; Texas Representative-Law In The Fifty States, American Bar Association, New York, New York, 1978; Interstate/International Divorce, Custody and Support Problems, American Bar Association, 1978; State Bar of Texas Annual Convention, 1978; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1978; Professional Responsibility Seminar Series, State Bar of Texas, 1978; National Institute on Divorce, American Bar Association, Orlando, Florida, 1979; Texanization of Custody Cases-Use of Juries, American Bar Association, Annual Meeting, 1979; Attorneys Fees: How to Determine and Set Attorneys Fees, State Bar of Texas, 1979; State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, 1979; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1979; Video Presentation "Family Law for the General Practitioner", State Bar of Texas Continuing Legal Education, 1979; Law In The Fifty States, ABA Annual Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1980; 6th Annual Institution, SMU Center for Advanced Professional Development, 1980; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1980; Legal Assistants in Civil Litigation, State Bar of Texas, 1981; Effective Use of Legal Assistants, State Bar of Texas Convention, 1981; Course Director, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1981; Biennial Specialists Symposium on Texas Family Law and Community Property, SMU Center for Advanced Professional Development, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1991; Minefields in the Courtroom-The Mental Health Privilege, Houston and Dallas Bar Associations, 1982; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1982 and 1983; Evidence Institute Series, State Bar of Texas, 1983; Reading the Body Language of Witnesses, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 1984; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1984; Advanced Civil Trial Course, State Bar of Texas, 1984; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1985; Pre Marital Agreements, Houston Bar Association, 1986; Advanced Personal Injury Course, State Bar of Texas, 1986 and 1987; Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Country Judgments, Decrees and Orders, American Bar Association, Mid-Winter Meeting, New Orleans, 1987; Advanced Civil Trial Course, State Bar of Texas, 1987; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1987; Domestic Torts-Interspousal Immunity, Houston Bar Association, 1988; Advanced Civil Trial Course, 1988; Advanced Personal Injury Course, State Bar of Texas, 1988; Advanced Evidence and Discovery Course, State Bar of Texas, 1988; Automobile Litigation Seminar, State Bar of Texas, 1988; Winning Trial Tactics & Techniques, State Bar of Texas, 1988; Seminar on Professionalism, Texas Bar Foundation, 1988; Advanced Evidence & Discovery Course, State Bar of Texas, 1988; State Bar Convention, State Bar of Texas, 1988; Advanced Civil Trial Course, State Bar of Texas, 1989; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1989; Advanced Personal Injury Course, State Bar of Texas, 1989; Advanced Evidence & Discovery Course, State Bar of Texas, 1989; Ultimate Trial Notebook-1, State Bar of Texas, 1989; Advanced Civil Trial Course, State Bar of Texas, 1990; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1990; Advanced Personal Injury Course, State Bar of Texas, 1990; Advanced Evidence & Discovery Course, State Bar of Texas, 1990; Ultimate Trial Notebook-II, State Bar of Texas, 1990; Persuading the Jury From Voir Dire Through Closing Argument, State Bar of Texas, 1990; Ultimate Trial Notebook-III, State Bar of Texas, 1991; Advanced Personal Injury Course, State Bar of Texas, 1991; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1991; Advanced Appellate Advocacy Course, State Bar of Texas, 1991; Examination of Hostile Witness, ABA-Family Law Section Mid-Winter Meeting, Vail, Colorado, 1991; Advanced Civil Trial Course, State Bar of Texas, 1992; Advanced Evidence & Discovery Course, State Bar of Texas, 1992; Advanced Appellate Advocacy Course, State Bar of Texas, 1992; Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, State Bar of Texas, 1992; Ultimate Trial Notebook IV, State Bar of Texas, 1992; Ultimate Trial Notebook - Family Law, State Bar of Texas, 1992; Civil Trial Mini Course, State Bar of Texas, 1992; Selected Topics in Litigation, State Bar of Texas, 1992; Common Evidence Problems, Houston Bar Association, 1992; Ultimate Trial Notebook V, State Bar of Texas, 1993; Advanced Civil Trial Course, State Bar of Texas, 1993; Domestic Torts, ABA Seminar, New York City, New York, 1993; Ultimate Trial Notebook VI, State Bar of Texas, 1994; Advanced Civil Trial Course, State Bar of Texas, 1994; Ultimate Trial Notebook-Personal Injury, State Bar of Texas, 1994; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1994; Points of Error, Houston Bar Association, 1994; Ultimate Trial Notebook VII, State Bar of Texas, 1995; Advanced Civil Trial Course, State Bar of Texas, 1995; Trial Institute, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Whitefish, Montana, 1995; Making and Meeting Objections, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, 1995; Annual Convention, State Bar of Texas, 1996; 13th Advanced Women in the Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1996; Litigation Update, State Bar of Texas, 1997; Jury Persuasion Institute-South Texas College of Law, State Bar of Texas, 1997; Litigation Update Institute, State Bar of Texas, 1997; 10th Annual Advanced Evidence and Discovery Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1997; Family Law Art & Advocacy, State Bar of Texas, 1997; AAML Mid-Winter Meeting, State Bar of Texas, 1998; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1998; Advanced Business Litigation Seminar, State Bar of Texas, 1998; 22nd Annual Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas, 1999; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1999; IAML Annual Meeting, State Bar of Texas, 2000; American College of Family Trial Lawyers, State Bar of Texas, 2000; Advanced Civil Litigation, State Bar of Texas, 2000; Ultimate Trial Notebook, State Bar of Texas, 2000; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2000; 10th Annual Advance Civil Trial Law Conference, State Bar of Texas, 2001; Family Law Depositions, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2001; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2001; Houston TSCPA Foundation: Personal Financial Lecture Series, 2001; American Women's Society of Certified Public Accountants of Houston, 2001; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2002; ABA Section of Family Law Conference, American Bar Association, 2002; American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2002; Quarterly Seminar, Houston TSCPA Foundation, 2002; Fiduciary Litigation, State Bar of Texas, 2004; Quality Assurance Seminar, Baylor College of Medicine, 2004; CLE Seminar "Causes of Action,", State Bar of Texas, 2005; Hague Convention, American Inns of Court - Houston Chapter, 2006; State Bar College - Spring Training, State Bar of Texas, 2006; International Discovery, HBA Litigation Section, 2006; Fiduciary Litigation, State Bar of Texas, 2006; The Trial of a Family Law Jury Case, Jefferson County Bar Association, 2006; Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2006

Honors and Awards:: Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation; Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates; Fellow, International Society of Barristers; Fellow, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; "Best (Family) Lawyers in America", All Editions, 20+ years; "Best Matrimonial Lawyers in America", National Law Journal; "Best Matrimonial Lawyers", Members International Magazine; "Best Matrimonial Lawyers in America", Town & Country Magazine; Rice University Athletic Hall of Fame; Fellow, American College of Family Trial Lawyers; "Houston's Top Lawyers", H Texas Magazine, All Editions; Texas Super Lawyers, Law & Politics Magazine, All Editions

Professional Associations and Memberships:: State Bar of Texas; Member; American Bar Association; Member; Houston Bar Association; Member; State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section; Member; State Bar of Texas, Family Law Council; Member; State Bar of Texas, Family Law Advisory Commission; Member; State Bar of Texas-Texas Board of Legal Specialization Commission of Examiners in Family Law; Member; American Bar Association, Family Law Section; Member; American Bar Association, Family Law Council; Member; Houston Bar Association, Family Law Section; Member; State Bar of Texas, Grievance Committees for Houston; Past Coordinator; Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Board of Family Law Examiners, 1978 - 1981; Member; State Bar of Texas, Litigation Council; Chairman; State Bar of Texas, Grievance Committee for Houston, Texas, 1993; Member; State Bar of Texas, 1995; Special Prosecutor; State Bar of Texas, CLE Council of Advisors; Member; Professional Liability Reporter; Member Editorial Board; Family Advocate (ABA); Member Editorial Board; American Family Law Tax Report; Member Editorial Board; Marriage & Family Review; Member Editorial Board; Journal of Divorce; Member Editorial Board; The Matrimonial Strategist; Member Editorial Board; Family Law Church (ABA); Member Editorial Board; Fairshare; Member Editorial Board; American Journal of Family Law; Member Editorial Board

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