Nicole Hochglaube is honored to be selected for the second time as “Lawyer of the Year” for Criminal Defense – General Practice in the Houston region by The Best Lawyers in America® in 2024. Nicole, with much gratitude for the recognition in the work she loves, sat down to reflect on what excellence means to her and to her firm.
For Nicole and her team, excellence is driven by several factors. Meticulous preparation, superior client experience and the best possible results for each client. Nicole started trying cases to jury trial in 1994. Since then, she has tried more cases than most other firms’ entire team of lawyers collectively. Nicole started her work at the criminal courthouse as a prosecutor and had the experience of understanding law enforcement’s development of a case from investigation through trial. She participated in the handling of a broad array of cases, from the most basic to the most complicated public integrity matter or the most serious fraud, sexual assault or murder case. The sentiment amongst law enforcement and the government is often that the diligent work of investigators lowers the chance of error in prosecutions. And, while it does lessen that chance when done right, the reality is often much different. Law enforcement and prosecutors can and do make mistakes.
The privilege of examining a case from the viewpoint of a defense lawyer is to be able to see and learn just how much more there often is, not only to the case but to the person facing the accusation, than the prosecution knows or understands. Sitting across the conference room table from an accused person and their family to discuss pending allegations highlights the enormous responsibility a criminal defense lawyer has to do all she can to prevent injustice wherever and whenever possible.
Over the years, Nicole has learned firsthand that sometimes, the government gets some important details of their accusation wrong. Sometimes, it is not just a detail they have wrong but their entire theory. Sometimes, this is through no particular fault of the investigator or the government, and sometimes, an overwhelming desire to win, or at least not to lose, pushes prosecutions in a direction of unfairness and injustice without the prosecutor even being aware of their error. So, Nicole has come to believe that excellence is not a hopeful goal—it is the requisite. Anything less than unrelenting tenacity and superior preparation is necessary for each and every client.
While trial is often the last resort for a client who just cannot achieve justice without the stress and expense of a full trial, Nicole’s experience trying cases puts her and her firm at the top of a very short list in terms of top-tier reputation. For this reason, she has had the privilege of being considered a resource for other lawyers and law firms across the nation who need to send a loved one, business owner or valued client to the right law firm for aggressive defense of their rights. One of the greatest honors is to receive a call from a former opponent or even someone in the judiciary after seeing Hochglaube & DeBorde at work asking for legal assistance for someone they care about. We are grateful to know that the care we have for our clients and the preparation we put into our cases is evident in our work and the results. Her reputation for jury trial work and jury selection has also led to her team being called upon to assist in helping those with serious injuries prepare for jury trials to achieve justice.
But achieving a reputation as a top-tier trial lawyer is not just about the trial. Achieving excellent results in the courtroom depends heavily on excellent preparation. Preparation is another area in which Nicole and her team hold a reputation for excellence amongst adversaries, colleagues and the judiciary. Meticulous preparation means knowing how to approach a case in the investigation phase as well as how the case could proceed, not only through trial but in post-conviction matters. Hochglaube & DeBorde is one of the rare firms with a reputation not only for trial but for outstanding appellate and post-conviction work as well. For decades, the firm has handled not only investigations and trial but motions for new trial, appeals, writs of habeas corpus and parole. Very few firms handle criminal cases at all phases, and Nicole and her team continue to do so with excellence. Having the knowledge to defend the accused at all of these stages enables Hochglaube & DeBorde to help a client navigate the preparation for the best results and the options and what each option means for a client’s future.
Being the best at what we do is what we strive for at Hochglaube & DeBorde, PC every day because our clients deserve the very best at what is very often one of the worst times in their lives. We strive for excellence as a team for our clients from beginning to end, and our tenacity and aggressive pursuit have earned us the respect and a reputation for the highest level of representation for our clients. Every client we represent is a part of that reputation we continue to work so hard to earn daily. Nicole is sometimes asked how or why she does the work she does. Sometimes, the question is, “How can you defend these people or this case?” Nicole defends these clients and these cases because justice matters. The Constitution matters. Each of our rights matters. And if our adversaries cut corners unchecked on the unpopular cases or the cases where a desire to win overrides even what may seem like some small rule, someone you love or your business could be next. We must stand up for our Constitution and our rights or risk losing them when it matters most. We accept the challenge and responsibility to fight against injustice with gratitude for the gift of being able to fight this fight well. Thank you, Best Lawyers, for the recognition for the work we love in the fight we wage every day.
