Portrait of Stephen Nichols

Stephen Nichols

Principal

Steve Nichols specializes in bankruptcy and debtor/creditor law, as well as commercial litigation. In bankruptcy cases he appears primarily in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia bankruptcy courts. He has represented virtually all constituencies in commercial bankruptcy cases, including debtors in possession, trustees, secured and unsecured creditors, directors, defendants in adversary proceedings and purchasers. He has also practiced extensively as a commercial litigator in courts throughout the country, both at the trial and appellate level. He is admitted to the bars of the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia, Maryland and the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia, the United States District Courts for the District of Columbia, Maryland and the Eastern District of Virginia and the United States Courts of Appeal for the Fourth and District of Columbia Circuits.

Representative Matters

  • Flood Doctor, Inc. v. Endeka Enterprises, LLC, et al. (2013 CA 006484 B) - successfully represented property owner in dismissing $600,000 breach of contract action filed by an unlicensed contractor in the District of Columbia. Prevailed at the trial court level and on appeal

    Education

    • University of Texas School of Law (J.D.)
      • American Jurisprudence Award - Bankruptcy
    • University of Dallas (B.A., magna cum laude)

    State Bar Admissions

    • Texas
    • Virginia
    • District of Columbia
    • Maryland

    Court Admissions

    • United States District Court for the District of Maryland
    • United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland
    • United States District Court for the District of Columbia
    • United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia
    • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
    • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
    • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia
    • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

    Recognitions

    • Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation (2026-2027)
  • Biography
  • Publications & News

Firm Highlights

  • Events
    AIA Tri-State Conference
    Princeton will serve as the backdrop for three days of connection, learning, and design leadership. From keynotes to tours to the Tri-State Design Awards, this year’s conference is designed to go far beyond education sessions. Kick off the week with pre-conference intensives and individual state component Design Award celebrations, followed by three days of education, inspiration, networking, and design excellence at the 2026 AIA Tri-State Conference—featuring pre-conference intensives, three keynote speakers, 25 education sessions, curated tours, an expo, spec academies, and the AIA Tri-State Design Awards—bringing together architects and design professionals from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania to connect, learn, and celebrate the best of the profession. G2. Designing Secure Practices: Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, Contractual Provisions, and Insurance Risks for Architects (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM) Architects and design professionals increasingly rely on cloud platforms, BIM software, and digital tools to manage sensitive data, creating cybersecurity and privacy risks. A single incident can trigger liability claims, regulatory obligations, reputational harm, and insurance challenges. Yet many firms underestimate how contracts, insurance, and internal practices intersect during a breach. This program offers legal and insurance perspectives on cyber risk in architecture, examining liability exposure, risky contract provisions, and mitigation strategies. A cyber insurance expert will explain policy responses, coverage gaps, coordination with professional liability, and best practices for aligning insurance with contractual risk and protecting firms from evolving cyber threats. Learning Objectives: Identify key cybersecurity and data privacy risks faced by architecture firms and explain how these risks can impact professional liability and project outcomes. Analyze common contractual provisions to determine which clauses may increase exposure to cyber incidents and propose strategies to mitigate these risks. Evaluate the scope and limitations of cyber insurance policies, including coordination with professional liability coverage, to determine how a policy would respond in a breach scenario. Develop actionable risk management strategies by integrating legal, contractual, and insurance considerations to protect sensitive client and project data.