Often called “The Midwest’s Lawyer,” Russell Nicolet has grown Nicolet Law from a one-person law office (just himself) to a firm operating in three states, with dozens of employees. But for Nicolet, this isn’t about building a legal empire. Nicolet Law is founded on a personal mission–to advocate for hard-working Midwestern families in regions with little local access to personal injury advocates. Without someone willing to come alongside them and stand up for their rights, these workers and their families can too easily get trampled by insurance companies and large corporations.
A Driving Passion
“I am proud of the growth,” Nicolet remarks, “but I am most proud of the excellent folks that work here that come in day after day to fight for the hard-working people and families in the Midwest that need our help, and we will not stop growing and not stop fighting for those people, because everyone that works here feels and understands that what we do is not only a job, but a calling to help, serve, and stand up for those that need it most.”
That calling has driven Nicolet throughout his career. Believing that everyone deserves an advocate, no matter how remote or rural, he spent his early years voraciously studying personal injury law.
“I spent a lot of time as a young attorney doing research in the Washington County Law Library to make sure that I effectively handle cases for clients,” he shares. “Becoming obsessed with getting clients’ problems solved and wanting to get better was what really made a difference for me.”
Nicolet studied other injury law attorneys, including those opposing him in court, not just those in Wisconsin and Minnesota. He traveled to different states to listen to top-tier attorneys speak and to watch them work. Wanting to learn from “the best of the best of trial lawyers,” Nicolet trained with attorneys in Florida, Georgia, New York, and California.
Showing Up for Those Who Feel Powerless
Having studied with the best, Nicolet brings that expertise to the courtroom today. According to the National Trial Lawyers Association, Nicolet certainly has his share of professional accolades (including awards like Top 40 under 40 Trial Lawyers and Top 100 Trial Lawyers).
Still, Nicolett tends to tout his courtroom victories more than his awards.
“I have settled and taken cases to verdict which include some of the largest amounts awarded in those counties,” he recollects. “Additionally, I have had the privilege to help guide and support other lawyers at my firm in obtaining outstanding settlements and verdicts, as well.”
Nicolet’s approach to law is relentlessly personal. Even with multiple offices and a large staff, he insists on a culture where clients feel known and know they are fought for. The swift growth of his practice across multiple states has been motivated less by a desire to compete for market share and more by a desire to create access to justice in underserved regions.
Nicolet has opened offices specifically in areas where legal help has been scarce. Nicolet Law supports not just individual clients but entire communities, providing legal education and advocacy in moments of crisis. His team’s commitment is centered on holding insurance companies and corporations accountable, especially in cases where clients and their communities don’t have the resources to push back on their own.
Previously, few showed up to help in these communities when hard-working people suffered the misfortune of an unexpected injury, but now they have an advocate.
Looking ahead, Nicolet hopes to continue opening offices in underserved areas across the Midwest where people need greater access to a personal injury lawyer.
To learn more about Nicolet Law, you can watch Russell Nicolet speak about his practice and its impact in this face-to-face video on the Nicolet Law website.
This article appears in July 2025.