Richard J. "Rick" Nickels

Rick Nickels is a member of the firm’s Tax and Trusts and Estates practice groups. Rick practices at the intersection of business, tax and estate planning.

A significant portion of his practice involves advising private companies and their owners, directors and executives on an array of state and federal tax, governance and corporate matters. Rick regularly assists with matters ranging from early-stage structure and funding to mid-stage buyouts and divorces to late-stage exits. He has substantial experience in handling all phases of closely held business acquisitions, sales, mergers, restructures and divorces, with an emphasis on Tennessee and federal tax planning in connection with such transactions. Rick advises family-owned companies with succession and exit planning matters, including preparing buy-sell agreements, stock restriction agreements and other internal governance documents.

Rick also devotes a substantial portion of his practice to estate planning. This dovetails well with his private company representation. Rick assists high net worth individuals and families with wealth preservation and transfer matters. He has significant experience helping clients tailor their estate plans to meet familial goals in a tax efficient manner. Rick advises on federal transfer and income taxes, and drafts wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, intentionally defective grantor trusts, asset protection trusts, charitable trusts, family limited partnerships and other estate planning documents. Within this framework, Rick also represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries with trust and estate dispute and administration matters.