Gary L. Nickelson

profile

Phone:

(817) 864-1356

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