Gary L. Nickelson

Phone:
Fax:
817-735-1480
Email:
Areas of Practice
- Family Law
- Child Support
- Custody & Visitation
- Divorce
Certified Legal Specialties
- Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1984
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1972
Honors and Awards
- Listed in Fort Worth, Texas Magazine as a Top Family Law Attorney
- Recipient of the Judge Sam Emison Award, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists
- Top 100 Texas Super Lawyers, Texas Monthly Magazine
- Listed as a Texas Super Lawyer, Texas Monthly Magazine
- Recipient of the Dan R. Price, State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section
- Recipient of the Eva Barnes Award, Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association
- Fellow of the Year, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Certificate, Merit-Appellate Brief Writing
- Certificate, Merit-Appellate Argument
Education
- The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
- J.D. - 1972
- Honors: Member, Trial Advocacy Association, 1972
- Honors: National Member, Order of the Barristers, 1972
- Honors: Moot Court Board, 1970-1972
- Honors: Moot Court Board-Secretary/Treasurer, 1971-1972
- Honors: International Moot Court Team - 2nd in International Competition, 1972
- Honors: International Moot Court Competition, 1972
- Honors: Order of Barristers, 1972
- Texas Tech University
- B.A. - 1969
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Texas Family Law Foundation, President, 2010 to 2012
- Texas Family Law Foundation, President Elect, 2009
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, President, 2008 to 2009
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, President Elect, 2007 to 2008
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, First Vice President, 2006 to 2007
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Vice-President, 2001 to 2006
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, Immediate Past Chair, Family Law Council, 2002 to 2003
- Matrimonial Lawyers Network, Member, 2002
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, Chair, Family Law Council, 2001 to 2002
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Immediate Past-President, 2001 to 2002
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, Chair-Elect, Family Law Council, 2000 to 2001
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, President, 2000 to 2001
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Board of Governors, 1998 to 2001
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Vice President, 1998 to 1999
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, Vice-Chair, Family Law Council, 1999 to 2000
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter, President, 1999 to 2000
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, President-Elect, 1999 to 2000
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter, President-Elect, 1998 to 1999
- Texas Family Law Foundation, Life Member, 1999
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Counsel, 1997 to 1998
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter, Vice President, 1997 to 1998
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow, 1992 to Present
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, Treasurer, Family Law Council, 1998 to 1999
- International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Member, 1998
- Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, Board of Directors, 1989 to 1998
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, Secretary, Family Law Council, 1997 to 1998
- State Bar of Texas, Chairman, District 7A Professional Enhancement Program, 1996 to 1998
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Secretary, 1997 to 1998
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter, Secretary, 1996 to 1997
- State Bar of Texas, Member, Grievance Committee, 1994 to 1998
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Treasurer, 1996 to 1997
- State Bar of Texas, Chair, Pro Bono Committee of the Family Law Council, 1995 to 1997
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Member, Board of Directors, 1993 to 1996
- American College of Family Trial Lawyers, Diplomat, 1995
- Family Law Golf Association, Co-Founder and Chairman, 1993
- Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, President, 1993 to 1993
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, Family Law Council, 1992
- Texas Supreme Court, Child Support/Visitation Guidelines Committee, 1991 to 1994
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Practice Manual Revision Committee, 1991 to 1997
- Parker County Bar Association, 1991
- College of the State Bar of Texas, 1988
- American Bar Association, 1988
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 1984
- North Texas Family Law Specialists Association, 1984
- Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, 1980
- Tarrant County Bar Association, 1973
- State Bar of Texas, 1972
Published Works
- "New Legislation", Advanced Drafting, Dallas, TX, 2011
- "What Lawyers Can Teach Mental Health Professionals", AAML/AFCC, Philadelphia, PA, 2011
- "Legislative Update", Advanced Family Law, San Antonio, TX, 2011
- "Legislative Issues and Resources", Marriage Dissolution Institute, Austin, TX, 2011
- "The Art of Negotiation: How to get what you want while making the other side believe you have 'given up the farm', 36th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, TX, 2010
- "Practicing Family Law for Fun and Profit", State Bar of Texas Bar Convention, Fort Worth, TX, 2010
- "Finalizing the Deal: Rule 11 Agreements, Mediated Settlement Agreements and the Importance of Getting Orders Timely Signed", Marriage Dissolution Institute, San Antonio, TX, 2010
- "Equitable Remedies: Getting Out of Traps, Messes, and Other Problems", 35th Advanced Family Law Course, Dallas, TX, 2009
- "Temporary Orders", 35th Advanced Family Law Course, Family Law Boot Camp, Dallas, TX, 2009
- "Professionalism", 34th Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, TX, 2008
- "Maintaining the Chain of (Electronic) Evidence and Spoliation of (Electronic) Evidence", AICPA-AAML National conference on Divorce, Las Vegas, NV, 2008
- "Mediation: Be Prepared", Kentucky Bar Association, 11th Annual Family Law Seminar, Louisville, KY, 2008
- "Effective Preparation and Final Trial of a Suit Affecting the Parent Child Relationship", Northeast Tarrant County Bar Association, 2007
- "How To Get What You Got (In The Decree) Securing and Enforcing The Property Division", 33rd Annual Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, TX, 2007
- "The Complex Case", Marriage Dissolution, El Paso, TX, 2007
- "Temporary Orders and Witness Preparation"; "Substance Abuse and Bad Facts in a Custody Case"; "Preserving Error at Trial and Top Ten Mistakes at Trial", Ely Family Law Conference, State Bar of Nevada, 2007
- "Exhibits", Ultimate Trial Notebook, Family Law, New Orleans, LA, 2006
- "Hot Tip: Balanced Life", Advanced Family Law Seminar, San Antonio, TX, 2006
- "Effective Preparation and Presentation at the Final SAPCR Hearing", Advanced Family Law Seminar, San Antonio, TX, 2006
- "Practicing Law for Fun and Profit", South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association Seminar, Hilton Head, SC, 2006
Classes/Seminars
- Speaker, New Legislation, Advanced Drafting, Dallas, TX, 2011 to 2011
- Speaker, What Lawyers Can Teach Mental Health Professionals, AAML/AFCC, Philadelphia, PA, 2011 to 2011
- Speaker, Legislative Update, Advanced Family Law, San Antonio, TX, 2011 to 2011
- Speaker, Legislative Issues and Resources, Marriage Dissolution Institute, Austin, TX, 2011 to 2011
- Speaker, The Art of Negotiation: How to get what you want while making the other side believe you have 'given up the farm' , 36th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, TX, 2010 to 2010
- Speaker, Practicing Family Law for Fun and Profit, State Bar of Texas Bar Convention, Fort Worth, TX, 2010 to 2010
- Speaker, Finalizing the Deal: Rule 11 Agreements, Mediated Settlement Agreements and the Importance of Getting Orders Timely Signed , Marriage Dissolution Institute, San Antonio, TX, 2010 to 2010
- Speaker, Equitable Remedies: Getting Out of Traps, Messes, and Other Problems, 35th Advanced Family Law Course, Dallas, TX, 2009 to 2009
- Speaker, Temporary Orders, 35th Advanced Family Law Course, Family Law Boot Camp, Dallas, TX, 2009 to 2009
- Speaker, Professionalism, 34th Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, TX, 2008 to 2008
- Speaker, Maintaining the chain of (Electronic) Evidence and Spoliation of (Electronic) Evidence, AICPA-AAML National conference on Divorce, Las Vegas, NV, 2008 to 2008
- Speaker, Mediation: Be Prepared, Kentucky Bar Association, 11th Annual Family Law Seminar, Louisville, KY, 2008 to 2008
- Speaker, Effective Preparation and Final Trial of a Suit Affecting the Parent Child Relationship, Northeast Tarrant County Bar Association, 2007 to 2007
- Speaker, How To Get How To Get What You Got (In The Decree) Securing and Enforcing The Property Division, 33rd Annual Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, TX, 2007 to 2007
- Speaker, The Complex Case, Marriage Dissolution, El Paso, TX, 2007 to 2007
- Speaker, Temporary Orders and Witness Preparation; substance Abuse and Bad Facts in a Custody Case; Preserving Error at Trial and Top Ten Mistakes at Trial , Ely Family Law Conference, State Bar of Nevada, 2007 to 2007
- Speaker, Exhibits, Ultimate Trial Notebook, Family Law, New Orleans. LA, 2006 to 2006
- Speaker, Hot Tip: Balanced Life, Advanced Family Law Seminar, San Antonio, TX, 2006 to 2006
- Speaker, Effective Preparation and Presentation at the Final SAPCR Hearing, Advanced Family Law Seminar, San Antonio, TX, 2006 to 2006
- Speaker, Practicing Law for Fun and Profit, South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association Seminar, Hilton Head, SC, 2006 to 2006
- Speaker, The Characterization of Punitive Damages, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, San Diego, CA
- Speaker, Enhancing the Practice, Marriage Dissolution Seminar, Boot Camp, Austin, TX, 2006 to 2006
- Speaker, Handling The Property Case On A Shoestring, Texas Stars - Pro Bono Seminar, Abilene, TX, 2006 to 2006
Past Employment Positions
- Texas Christian University, Adjunct Instructor of Business Law (2/3 time), 1976 to 2008