Springfield Business Journal named Husch Blackwell Partner Mike Nichols to the 40 Under 40 class of 2011. The award honors 40 area leaders under the age of 40 for their accomplishments as business and community leaders.
Nichols focuses his practice in the areas of business/corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, real estate development, and banking and finance. He represents a range of small businesses and large corporations in all phases of operation including the purchase, sale and mergers of businesses and business assets, entity selection, formation and documentation requirements for all types of businesses, and he provides counsel on daily operations and risk management issues. Nichols also assists developers and investors in all phases of real estate acquisition, ownership, development and disposition, helping to shape the economic and commercial development environment of Springfield. He is one of only a handful of attorneys in the Springfield area with significant experience with the real estate financing/economic development tools known as CIDs, NIDs and TIF. Notably, Nichols represents Larino Properties in connection with its three high-profile real estate developments in the Springfield area, including the new Hickory Hills Marketplace at Highway 65 and Chestnut Expressway. Nichols also represents lenders and borrowers in connection with acquisition, construction and real estate loans.
In addition to his legal work, Nichols participates in many civic groups. He serves on the local Make-A-Wish Foundation board, is a graduate of Leadership Springfield, and is very active with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. He is on the Chamber's Voice of Business Committee and is a past chairman of the Development Issues Input Group. In addition, Nichols volunteers with the Springfield Little Theatre and the Coalition for School Board Recruitment.