Christopher Nickels

Chris Nickels is a Partner at Clawson & Staubes, LLC. Chris, an experienced litigator with vast trial experience, focuses his practice on a variety of areas including defamation, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, insurance law, dram shop, and social host liability.

Chris is a South Carolina Supreme Court Certified Mediator and is rated by his peers as "AV Preeminent.” AV Preeminent® is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that Chris’ peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. Only lawyers with the highest ethical standards and professional ability receive a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating of AV.

Chris earned Bachelor of Science degrees, magna cum laude, in Finance and Economics with a minor in Political Science. Following undergraduate studies, he earned a Juris Doctor with honors.

While practicing law full-time, Chris was elected to serve on Mount Pleasant, SC Town Council. From 2011-2015, Chris served as Chair of important Town committees and interacted with local and state government leaders. During his tenure, Chris developed a wide professional network with access to substantive individuals who can help and assist on many issues and problems.

In 2015, Chris completed Clemson University’s Center for Economic Development’s “Leadership South Carolina”, a competitive statewide educational program designed for South Carolina’s leaders to address issues affecting quality of life for those fortunate enough to live, work, or retire in the Palmetto state.

In 2017, Chris was sworn into office as a Charleston County School Board Trustee representing the Town of Mount Pleasant. Mount Pleasant has close to 20,000 students who attend 14 high performing schools. The Board is responsible for governing school attendance zones, student discipline, school transfers, school bus transportation, and making recommendations to the Charleston County School District to ensure quality public education in the East Cooper area for students and teachers.

• Litigation
• Mediation

• South Carolina
• New Mexico

• NIU College of Law, cum laude

• NM Board Certified Specialist in Workers Compensation Law
• Amicus Curiae Award/Recognition
• Numerous briefed and reported appellate decisions
• Graduate of Leadership Charleston
• Elected to Mount Pleasant Council
• Appointed Board of Zoning Appeals

• Mount Pleasant Business Association
• South Carolina Municipal Attorneys Association
• Charleston Bar Association

‍