Fred A. Nickl, Attorney

Attorney Fred A. Nickl is a founding partner of Williams & Nickl, LLC, a Chicago based Law Firm that practices Professional License Defense. With more than 20 years’ experience in counseling, litigation, and investigation, Fred diligently works to protect the best interests of his clients. Attorney Nickl offers legal defense for licensed professionals and their businesses against the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

To schedule a free, one-hour consultation with Fred Nickl and his partner, Edward W. Williams, visit our website or contact us today at 312-335-9470.

• Illinois State Bar Association: 1998 - Present

• Elite Lawyer
  -Member
  -2020

• Defense of Registered Nurses
  Williams & Nickl defended a downstate nurse (a former Marine) who after he had repaired and cleaned a handgun, test fired it into his garden. A neighbor complained and he was convicted of Reckless Discharge of a Firearm. The Department filed a two-count formal complaint against the nurse and he retained Williams & Nickl to defend and represent him at the formal hearing. Over many months, IDFPR refused to negotiate any discipline less than suspension with us. We took IDFPR to trial and convinced the Board of Nursing and the Administrative Law Judge to give the lowest possible discipline: a simple Reprimand.

• Defense of Veterinarians
  A veterinarian was convicted of felony Identity Theft and Forgery for writing fraudulent prescriptions. She hired Williams & Nickl, and we defended her before IDFPR and the DEA. We also referred her to one of the top criminal defense attorneys who was able to get her misdemeanor probation. Once that happened, we pushed hard to obtain a settlement with IDFPR so the veterinarian could continue to practice her chosen profession. Once we obtained probation on her license, we then successfully obtained complete restoration of her DEA Controlled Substance Registration. This case was very complex and involved intersecting state and federal criminal laws and administrative regulations.

• Defense of Surgeons
  A surgeon had a criminal conviction and was also accused of improper opioid prescribing and failure to maintain patient records. An attorney – with much less experience defending doctors before IDFPR – made a mess of the case. The surgeon found Williams & Nickl by referral, and hired us to take over the case. We fought the Department hard and obtained a simple probation order on the surgeon’s medical license, and then restored it to fully unencumbered status. During that ordeal, we also successfully appealed negative actions by third party insurers to terminate the doctor’s participation in their programs, plus fought off the doctor’s Specialty Board association’s attempt to suspend his board certification.

• Defense of Real Estate Managing Broker
  A Real Estate Managing Broker and property manager hired Williams & Nickl when IDFPR filed a multi-count complaint alleging the Broker took payments but did no work for the client. IDFPR insisted on a suspension of the Broker’s license, so we took them to trial. During the first day of testimony, IDFPR presented the complaining witness. We cross-examined the witness and got him to admit that he had violated state and federal banking laws! The Administrative Law Judge immediately viewed the complainant as an untrustworthy witness, so IDFPR dismissed every single count against our client during the middle of the trial – an astonishing success.

• Publication Name: Epitome - 1st Quarter        
  Title: Ask An IDFPR Lawyer
  Date: 2019
  
  Publication Name: Epitome - 2nd Quarter
  Title: Ask An IDFPR Lawyer
  Date: 2019
  
  Publication Name: Manual: Introduction to Process Serving
  Title: Introduction to Process Serving
  Date: 2018
  
  Publication Name: Manual: Private Detectives & the Law
  Title: Private Detectives & the Law
  Date: 2017