Nickell Law Firm was founded in 2014 with a mission to provide the best client service to criminal defendants and personal injury clients. We strive to make a positive difference in our client’s lives, giving them a second chance for a better tomorrow. Whether accused of a crime or injured in an accident, we do everything we can to make sure that our clients are not limited in their future prospects. Lead Attorney Elliott Nickell lives with his wife in Saint Paul, MN, their chosen home. In his spare time, Elliott enjoys sailing, cooking, and spending time with friends.

Jim Lindell has specialized in civil litigation during his entire career and is certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association. Mr. Lindell has been voted a Super Lawyer® in the areas of personal injury and workers' compensation in annual polls of Minnesota lawyers conducted by Minnesota Law & Politics and Mpls/St. Paul magazine. Jim was invited to membership in the American Society of Legal Advocates, and in 2012 was named Attorney of the Year by The Minnesota Lawyer. He practices in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. Jim is a native of Litchfield, Minnesota. Contributing to his effectiveness in his practice is his broad scope of work experience, including: United States Army, 1st Lt. 1966-1969 Management positions in federal and state government Staff aide to the governor of Minnesota Construction Firefighting (smoke jumping) for the U.S. Forest Service Life-long interest in flying, private pilot license since 1985. Mr. Lindell is highly regarded by both clients and fellow attorneys. He enjoys a busy workers' compensation and personal injury practice and receives numerous referrals of those cases from attorneys in other specialties. He is active in the Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers of Minnesota and has served as a board member, officer and dean of that organization. Lindell is rated "a.v." by Martindale Hubble - the highest rating of competence and ethics available. He is also a qualified neutral arbitrator and mediator. When Jim is not practicing law, he is challenging himself anew. Working on his Wisconsin cabin (which he built from the ground up with his dad), learning to speak Russian, and learning to play the piano are his most recent endeavors. Besides the firm's main office in downtown Minneapolis, Jim maintains an office at his lake home in Webb Lake, Wisconsin.

Max Keller is the founding partner at Keller Criminal Defense Attorneys. He focuses his practice on defending clients facing criminal charges, including DWI, sex crimes, drug crimes, and probation violations. After graduating from law school in Washington, D.C., Max Keller clerked for three judges at the Minnesota Court of Appeals, which allowed him to study many briefs and see many oral arguments. Mr. Keller then prosecuted DWI’s in the Attorney General’s Office for about five years, including handling many appeals. In 2003, Max left the Attorney General’s Office to go into private practice. He worked as a part-time public defender in Southwestern Minnesota for the first year and half after leaving government service, as well as having a busy private law firm representing individuals in criminal, bankruptcy, immigration, and family law matters. Since 2004 he has focused his firm exclusively on criminal defense. Max strives to obtain dismissal of charges or reduced charges. In fact, he has been able to obtain dismissals of charges ranging from felony criminal sexual conduct to misdemeanor DWI before trial. In addition, he has tried jury trials in areas across the state from Nobles County to Martin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Cass County and Hennepin County. He has won jury trial cases in misdemeanor and felony cases and in DWI’s and non-DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. He is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

Todd Gardner began his professional life as a middle school teacher but opted to go to law school in his mid-twenties. During his time in law school, he clerked in the contracts department at Wells Fargo during the merger with Norwest Bank, clerked for five judges in the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings Workers' Compensation Division, and interned with a Hennepin County District Court judge. Following law school, he began working in a Minneapolis small firm representing injured workers and injured persons and later experienced representing insurance companies with a medium-sized law firm in St. Paul. In 2002, he left defending insurance companies and opened Gardner Law Office, LLC, focusing on serving the needs of the injured. With over 20 years of legal experience, Todd is personable and easy to talk to, but will always fight aggressively and ethically for his clients. At Gardner Law Office, we don't get paid unless our clients get paid.

Gerald W. Bosch represents injured workers throughout Minnesota for their workers’ compensation claims. Mr. Bosch handles every aspect of his clients’ claims, providing aggressive, pragmatic, and compassionate representation. He is “AV Peer Review Rated” by Martindale-Hubbell, indicating the highest level of ethical standards and legal ability. He was also named a Minnesota “Top 40” workers’ compensation attorney and numerous times to the list of Minnesota Super Lawyers. Mr. Bosch has practiced since 1993, is licensed in Minnesota State and Federal courts, is a member of various professional organizations, and also mentors law students. Having emigrated from Austria as a child with his family, Mr. Bosch appreciates the challenges faced by clients new to the United States. He enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking and swimming the woods and waters of Minnesota and “da U.P.”, as well as skiing and other sports. He lives in Roseville with his wife and two kids.

For more than a decade, Chris Cadem has concentrated his practice on litigation matters in both criminal and civil cases in State and Federal Court. His experience includes more than 100 trials and roughly a dozen appeals, including multiple petitions to the Minnesota Supreme Court. He has successfully litigated cases spanning from simple speeding tickets to first degree murder and first degree criminal sexual conduct. His civil docket includes everything from contract disputes to complex multiparty, million-dollar financial matters. Chris’s clients include an Academy Award nominated actor, family members of court staff, a judge, and thousands of other Minnesotans. Prior to forming Cadem Law Group, Chris practiced at a small Minnesota based law firm where he founded the firm’s first civil litigation practice. Before that, he worked as the vice president and as legal counsel for an insurance agency located in St. Paul, Minnesota, and an intern lobbyist in Washington D.C. for a large Minnesota law firm. Chris received his Bachelor of Arts degree in both political science and psychology from the University of Minnesota Morris with Highest Distinction, where he was honored with the prestigious Scholar of the College Award and the Gieske Academic Award. He was also a Phi Kappa Phi honorary and presented independent research on the impact of social identity on voting behavior at the University of Minnesota Research Symposium and at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Louisville, Kentucky. Chris received his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School. While a student there, Chris was in the Maynard Pirsig Appellate Advocacy Moot Court, where he was awarded honors and was nominated for the law school’s best appellate brief. He was also selected as a student director of the University of Minnesota Housing Law Clinic and to take part in the Kommerstad Center’s Business Law Clinic. During his final year in school, Chris externed with the Honorable Richard H. Kyle of the United States District Court, District of Minnesota. In his practice and personal life, Chris works diligently to have a positive influence in his community and on the lives of the people around him. Chris gives back to his community through multiple volunteer organizations. He served for many years as general corporate counsel for the Minnesota Jaycees, is a member of the Fergus Falls Jaycees where he has served as chairman of the board, president, vice president of membership, and treasurer. He is the two-time past president of the Fergus Falls Lions, was the secretary and treasurer of the Otter Tail County Bar Association, and was an ambassador for the Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce. Since 2006, he has served repeatedly as a Civil Rights Moot Court judge for the University of Minnesota Law School, and also volunteers as a mock trial judge for the Minnesota State Bar Association’s annual High School Mock Trial Tournament. In his spare time, Chris enjoys spending time with his kids, home renovation and improvement, biking, fishing, bodybuilding, time on the lake, and woodworking.

Before working as a Minnesota personal injury lawyer and wrongful death attorney, David Bolt represented insurance companies, railroads, and other personal injury defendants for 11 years. This defense experience provided David with an insider’s knowledge that continues to benefit clients who have experienced devastating injuries due to another person’s or corporation’s negligence. David represents clients in states across the country, from Washington to Florida. David’s focus is exclusively personal injury law, accidental death, and wrongful death. While his legal work has resulted in financial compensation above $1,000,000 for some of his clients, his compassion is what has really sets him apart from other Minnesota personal injury lawyers. David has been known to stay in touch with his clients to ensure they are not just financially secure, but emotionally supported as well. When David is not working on cases or in court representing his clients, he enjoys spending time with his wife and four children. His favorite recreational hobbies include traveling, hunting, paddleboarding, camping, snowboarding, canoeing, and fishing. He has served on the boards of non-profit organizations, including as chair of the Anoka Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. David is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Macalester College, and received a law degree with honors from the University of Minnesota. An extensive list of awards and certifications illustrate his talents and achievements in his field. He has been voted one of the state’s top 25 personal injury lawyers and named a “Super Lawyer” in Minnesota Law & Politics. American Law and Leading Attorneys named him a “Leading American Attorney,” and Martindale Hubble rated him with the highest possible rating of A-V.

Named Best Minnesota Personal Injury Lawyer, John J. Carlson is an experienced, successful trial attorney who has obtained millions of dollars in awards and settlements for his clients. 100% of his practice is devoted to litigation.