About John C.
John C. Nickelson built a legal path that moves from large firm practice to local public service. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Texas Christian University in 2000 and received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2004. Those years set the stage for a career that has crossed federal chambers, regional firms and municipal government.
Fresh out of law school, Nickelson joined Baker Botts LLP in 2004. He spent his early years learning the rhythms of complex litigation in a national firm environment. In 2007 he took a position as a law clerk on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, an experience that offered a close view of appellate practice and federal decision-making.
By 2009 he moved to Cook, Yancey, King & Galloway, APLC. There he continued to handle a range of matters in a regional setting. In 2012 he opened Nickelson Law PLLC, establishing a small firm presence in the region. Alongside private practice he has also been involved in civic leadership. In 2018 he was elected to the Shreveport City Council, where he served as a councilman and engaged with municipal policy and local governance.
Nickelson’s involvement in the legal community extends beyond his offices. He served as board president of the Shreveport Bar Foundation in 2017. Since 2019 he has been on the board of the Louisiana Bar Foundation, a role he continues to hold. Those positions reflect a steady presence in statewide bar philanthropy and bar-related governance.
Across his career he has maintained licensure in both Texas and Louisiana, a practical arrangement for lawyers practicing in a region that often crosses state lines. His work has included appellate exposure from the clerkship and trial- and firm-based practice from his time at Baker Botts and Cook, Yancey. Opening his own firm in 2012 marked a shift to handling matters through a smaller, independent office.
Colleagues describe him as methodical and attentive to procedural detail. His background gives him familiarity with federal appellate procedure as well as the day-to-day demands of local practice. He balances courtroom and office work while also participating in civic and bar leadership.
He practices law through Nickelson Law PLLC and handles matters across Texas and Louisiana.
