Nick has earned the title, “trial lawyer.” He began by trying criminal cases in the US Army JAG Corps. After fulfilling his four-year commitment, he left the military and tried white collar cases alongside legendary criminal lawyer Dan Cogdell. Three years later, he joined one of the largest firms in the world to defend bet-the-company securities litigation. In total, Nick has tried nearly forty cases to judges and juries. When his older brother Josh began The Norris Firm, Nick followed, eschewing the comfort of a globally renowned law firm to pursue this family dream.
Nick earned his spot alongside Texas titan Dan Cogdell by doing one thing: winning. The Army throws its best lawyers into the deep end of jury trials. There, Nick forged his skill and burnished his reputation. After a year as a prosecutor and Special Assistant US Attorney, Nick became a defense counsel in the Army’s busiest jurisdiction. His first defense case involved a client facing life in prison, without the possibility of parole. Nick picked his first jury, gave his first closing argument, and delivered his first acquittal. He never looked back, becoming known as the go-to lawyer for defending the most serious cases. In two years as an Army defense counsel, Nick tried 20 felony trials and achieved more than a 50% acquittal rate. These trials involved—almost exclusively—major felonies, such as attempted murder, rape, and manslaughter. Nick was eventually named the region’s best trial attorney and crowned the winner of an Army-wide trial advocacy competition.
If the Army was a bachelor’s degree, trying cases with Dan Cogdell was a PhD. Alongside his mentor, Nick perfected his craft, trying highly publicized cases in courts across Texas. Mr. Cogdell trusted him to examine pivotal fact and expert witnesses, often with cases hanging in the balance. Nick also drafted and argued crucial motions, earning praise for his written advocacy from multiple federal judges.
These experiences allowed Nick to become a senior associate at an esteemed Wall-Street law firm. There, he handled depositions, led teams in drafting key motions, and defended major stockholder litigation. Nick gained an insider’s knowledge of how large law firms and their major corporate clients operate—their strengths, their weaknesses, and their blind spots. Few lawyers possess this diverse array of experience. Even fewer possess the accompanying trial acumen. Nick forcefully applies it in service of his clients.