ERIK NICHOLS

Mr. Nichols is a partner in the Houston office, whose practice primarily involves the representation of school districts in a wide variety of matters including special education, personnel, student discipline, open government, board governance and contracts. Mr. Nichols has a long history of successful representation of public entities before the federal and state courts (both jury and non-jury trials) and before administrative agencies. Mr. Nichols also has significant experience defending governmental entities and public officials from civil rights claims, whistleblower claims, and other causes of action unique to the public sector. Mr. Nichols frequently conducts trainings for school districts with focuses on employment and personnel issues, student discipline and special education law.

Mr. Nichols is a former shareholder and partner with the law firm of Henslee, Fowler, Hepworth & Schwartz, L.L.P., and a former signatory partner with Rogers, Morris & Grover, LLP. Mr. Nichols graduated from Baylor University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance / Economics).  In 1993, Mr. Nichols received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Baylor University, where he was a member of Phi Delta Phi and the Order of the Barristers.

Mr. Nichols is a member of the State Bar of Texas School Law Section, where he served as an Officer in 2003-2004 and 2005-2008. He is also a member of the State Bar of Texas Labor and Employment Section, the Texas Council of School Attorneys and the National Council of School Attorneys, and admitted to practice in the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts as well as the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Nichols has appeared before courts throughout the state of Texas and has tried more than 30 cases to jury verdict.  He has also tried more than 100 due process hearings and successfully appeared before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals seven times.

– Baylor University School of Law (1993), Juris Doctorate, with honors
– Baylor University (1989), Bachelor of Business Administration, with honors