MINNESOTA 250 | 

Russell Nicolet

Russell Nicolet is the founding attorney of Nicolet Law which he established in 2007. Licensed in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Iowa, Nicolet focuses his practice on personal injury cases across the Midwest.

Nicolet earned his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 2007 and his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin and the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.

His case results include a $10 million recovery for a wrongful death family, a $3 million settlement for a client injured in a semi-truck crash, and a $2.6 million jury verdict for a client injured at a Minnesota retail store. Additional recoveries include $1.5 million for the family of a pedestrian struck in a crosswalk near Milwaukee and $900,000 for a child injured at a Minnesota school.

Nicolet built the firm alongside family members, including his brothers Adam and Ben, who became the second and third lawyers at the firm, and his sister Holly, who joined as an early paralegal.

Organization

Education

William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota
J.D. – 01/2007
-University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, B.A. in Political Science & Business Administration, Minor: History, Pre Law Emphasis, Honors: Student Legal Services Office, 2004

Key Accomplishments

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2022 – 2025
Selected to Rising Stars: 2013 – 2021

Scholarly Lectures/ Writings:
-Lectured at CLE for Solo Marketing and Practice Area Decisions, Presenter, Solo Marketing/Practice Area Decisions, 2012
-I have written a free book for clients titled “Get Free of Debt Now” discussing bankruptcy options and information, Get Free of Debt Now, 2012
-The Ultimate Guide to Injury Cases in Wisconsin, The Ultimate Guide to Injury Cases in Wisconsin, 2012
-Speaker/Lecturer, Continuing Legal Education, 2012 – 2015

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
-$82,000 from a jury verdict for a young boy. The defendants made a statutory offer of $30,000.00 prior to trial which I beat by over double at trial resulting in a favorable verdict for the young boy and the defendant being ordered to pay costs., 2024
-$1,000,000 settlement for client who was injured when a semi-truck hit her car in Wisconsin. The case settled in lawsuit for the policy limits., 2025
-$1,050,000 settlement on pedestrian injury case where liability was denied and law enforcement initially placed all the blame on my client., 2021
$1,300,000 settlement for a client injured in a UTV accident in Minnesota. The case settled in suit after several important depositions and with a punitive damages motion waiting to be heard by the Court., 2024
$1,400,000 settlement in Minnesota for client rear-ended by another driver. I was brought on as the litigation/trial counsel and the case settled after lengthy litigation shortly after trial depositions started. , 2024
-$1,500,000 settlement for pedestrian who was hit in crosswalk in Wisconsin. Defendant’s put blame on pedestrian, but using video and accident reconstruction experts defendants eventually settled for the policy limits in suit., 2024
-$3,000,000 settlement on a trucking case in Minnesota that had zero offer prior to suit. The case settled shortly before trial., 2024
-$1,000,000 settlement for TBI client that settled shortly before trial in Wisconsin. Causation and damages were aggressively contested., 2023
R-epresented plaintiff in a $2,620,000 verdict in trial the trial of Erkenbrack v. Menards, 2022
-$690,000 settlement on motor-vehicle accident. The pre-suit offer was $165,000.00, with the “final” offer at mediation was $450,000.00. The case settled just days before trial after 2 1/2 days of expert witness video trial depositions. , 2022
-$900,000.00 settlement for a young girl injured after her wheelchair was tipped over by a school employee transporting her from one building to another. The case was settled just days before trial with the defense’s pre-suit offer only being $125,000.00. , 2022
-Seven figure total settlement on product liability case involving chemical exposure., 2021
-Confidential Settlement in care facility wrongful death that was in excess of the statutory limits., 2021
-Auto accident case where $1,000,000.00 total settlement was reached two weeks before trial on a case where there was only $100,000.00 offer up until the settlement two weeks before trial. , 2021
-Seven figure settlement reached in motor vehicle case in northern Wisconsin. Highest recorded resolution of known settlement and/verdicts in that county. Settlement terms are confidential. , 2021
-$850,000.00 settlement on car accident case after cross-examination of two defense expert trial witnesses. , 2021
-Decision for Debtor after 2 day trial, 2014
-2013 – Bankruptcy Adversarial Action Defending Debtor – Win- Decision for Debtor after Trial 2012 – $198,000.00 slip and fall settlement 2012 – $500,000.00 motor vehicle accident settlement 2015 – $200,000.00 soft tissue motor vehicle accident settlement

Board Affiliations

Bar / Professional Activity:
Minnesota Bar Association, Present
National Trial Lawyers Association
Eau Claire Bar Association, Present
Member, American Bar Association, Present
U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 2007
Member, The National Trial Lawyers
Minnesota, 2007
Member, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, Present
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Minnesota, 2011
Member, Student Legal Society UWSP, 2001 – 2004
Member, Wisconsin Bar Association, Present
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Western District of Wisconsin, 2007
Member, Minnesota State Bar Association
Member, State Bar of Wisconsin
Member, Better Business Bureau, 2012 – Present
Member, Wisconsin Association for Justice, Present
U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 2011
Member, Eau Claire County Bar Association
Member, St. Croix Valley Bar Association, Present
Wisconsin, 2007

Awards and Honors & Certifications

-The Power List selections result from deep reporting by our editorial team, based on their experience, interviews with respected attorneys and others around the state, and a review of the outcomes of significant cases handled by these attorneys., Wisconsin Law Journal’s 2024 Power List Top 30: Personal Injury Lawyers, Wisconsin Law Journal, 2024
-The Power List selections result from deep reporting by our editorial team, based on their experience, interviews with respected attorneys and others around the state, and a review of the outcomes of significant cases handled by these attorneys., Wisconsin Law Journal’s 2023 Power List Top 30 for Personal Injury, Wisconsin Law Journal, 2023
-Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Association of Trial Lawyers, 2021
-The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 is an invitation-only organization composed of the premier trial lawyers from each state or region who meet stringent qualifications as civil plaintiff and/or criminal defense trial lawyers. Selection is based on a thorough multi-phase objective and uniformly applied process which includes peer nominations combined with third-party research. Membership is extended only to the select few of the most qualified attorneys from each state or region who demonstrate superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, stature and public profile measured by objective and uniformly applied standards in compliance with state bar and national Rule 4-7., Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Association of Trial Lawyers, 2022
-An invitation-only professional organization composed of and limited to the Top 25 attorneys from each state or region who serve individuals and families who need attorneys to represent them in the American legal system regarding Motor Vehicle claims., Top 25 Motor Vehicle, National Trial Lawyers, 2021
-An invitation-only professional organization composed of and limited to the Top 10 attorneys from each state or region who serve individuals and families who need attorneys to represent them in the American legal system regarding Trucking claims., Top 10 Trucking, National Association of Trial Lawyers, 2022
-Top 100 Advocates, The National Advocates, 2021
-Top 40 Litigation Lawyers Under 40 in Minnesota, American Society of Legal Advocates, 2012 – Present
-Dean’s Merit Award Scholarship, William Mitchell College
-5 out of 5 Star Client Rating, Lawyers.com, 2011 – Present
-Top 40 Litigation Lawyers Under 40 in Wisconsin, American Society of Legal Advocates, 2012 – Present
-Client Distinction Award, Lawyers.com, 2013 – Present
-Clients Choice – Bankruptcy, AVVO, 2012 – Present
-Top 40 Under 40, National Trial Lawyers, 2014 – Present
-National Advocates Top 15 Consumer Bankruptcy Law 2018 – Present
-Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyers Specialty Association 2018 – Present
-Top 25 Motor Vehicle Accident Trial Lawyers Specialty Association 2018 – Present
-Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2013 – 2021
-Super Lawyers, 2022 – 2025
-BV rated, Martindale-Hubbell, 2012 – Present

Other Honorees

See the full list of honorees in each category

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The Minnesota Legal 250 is Minnesota Lawyer’s premier recognition program celebrating the most influential and accomplished attorneys throughout the state. Our editorial team carefully selects a minimum of 250 outstanding individuals who have experienced prolonged success and an ability to successfully navigate changing client needs, legal developments, technology, economic environments, and strong community engagement.
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