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Nichols, Patrick R.

Contact Information:
Name: Nichols, Patrick R.
Address: 212 SW 8th, Topeka, KS 66603 and 5200 West 15th Street, Lawrence, Ks 66049
Phone: 1-866-770-5300
Fax: 1-785-865-1331
Email: pnichols@sunflower.com
Website: www.adrmediate.com
Practice Region: Topeka, KS

Bar Admissions
District of Kansas: 9696 (1977)
Others: Tenth Circuit
In Good Standing: Yes

ADR Experience
Experience: Mediate/Arbitrate full time. Mediation of Employment, Complex Personal Injury and Civil cases are the primary areas of practice. They mirror previous civil practice experience. Cases mediated in both Kansas and Missouri. Acted as participant in only Kansas Legislative Public Policy Mediation in 2000.
Lead Mediator Sessions: 30
Co-Mediator Sessions: 25
Counsel for a Party Sessions: 15

ADR Training
Course Info: Specialized Mediation in Complex Personal Injuries, Medical Malpractice and Employment Cases� Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine Law School 2004: � American Bar Association ADR Section First Annual Arbitration Training Institute (40 hours) 2004: � Extended Training in Mediating Family and Domestic Matters (40-hour course, Qualified for AFCC Certification) by Harvard-trained psychologist, Dr. Carl Schneider, Bethesda, Maryland Feb. 2004: � ABA, ADR Section Special Activities New York Conference (2004): � Initial Mediation Training by the Lawrence Human Relations Commission (2002):
Total CME Hours: 80
Approved Mediator for Civil Cases by the State of Kansas: Yes

Legal Experience
Experience: Practice Background: Mr. Nichols began practicing law in 1977 entering solo practice in 1979. Initially his practice centered on family and domestic, bankruptcy, civil litigation, and criminal law. He developed a special interest and expertise in the additional areas of employment and workers� compensation law as well as personal injury and general civil litigation. In 2003, Mr. Nichols terminated virtually all his private legal practice in order to work full-time in Alternative Dispute Resolution as mediator, arbitrator, and consultant in mediation/arbitration design and training. Professional Organizations and Achievements: Mr. Nichols was certified in 1996 as a civil trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, which requires extensive, verified, trial experience, submission and acceptance of legal writing samples and the completion of an extensive day-long written examination. Since 1993 he has been listed in the peer review-based publication �Best Lawyers in America� for Kansas under the category �Employment and Workers� Compensation�. He has been active in the local Bar and in 1997�1998 served as President of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association. He served as Chair of the Board of Directors of Kansas Legal Services in 1999, was a member of the Kansas Board of Indigent Defense Services from 1993 to 1996. He worked extensively with the screening panel for the Kansas chapter of the ACLU, receiving their President�s Award in 1989. Teaching and Writing: Mr. Nichols was an adjunct professor of trial techniques at Washburn University School of Law where he also taught pretrial advocacy. Later he taught workers� compensation as an adjunct professor for the University of Kansas School of Law. He has presented dozens of seminars for a variety of groups, including the Hugh Means American Inns of Court, the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, and the Kansas Bar Association. He has written articles on a wide variety of topics, including mediator ethics, expert witness use, attorney ethics, advanced trial practice for personal injury lawyers, use of technology in medical research, and a variety of other topics in employment and workers� compensation.
Active Litigation: 26 Years
90% representing Plaintiffs
10% representing Defendants
10% in Federal Courts
90% in State Courts
Other Experience:  
Education: BA Political Science, Ft Hays Kansas State College, 1974 JD, Washburn School of Law, 1977
Additional Details: see above

Fee Structure
Rate: Fees depend on type of case and services sought. Two party mediations generally at $125 per party, per hour. Multiple party cases generally $100 per party per hour. Travel within 75 miles at no charge. Prep time usually billed at hourly rate: most cases will involve premediation conferences with counsel and sometimes with certain parties, generally defendants.