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About Bob
For more than 29 years, Bob Nichols has represented employers in litigation, administrative investigations, and other actions related to employment including the defense of claims of alleged discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful discharge, and occupational safety and health violations.
Bob frequently represents employers in matters pending with government agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), state Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) agencies, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and a variety of other federal and state agencies.
Additionally, Bob also advises companies on union matters and other employment issues associated with mergers and acquisitions. He also provides day-to-day legal advice to employers concerning executive compensation, employment-related documents, occupational safety and health, and all aspects of the employment relationship.
Experience
Recent Notable Matters
Cactus, Inc. — acquisition of FlexSteel Technologies Holdings, Inc. and certain of its affiliates
Phillips 66 — agreement to sell the Belle Chasse Terminal, formerly the Alliance Refinery, to Harvest Midstream
Phillips 66 — realignment of its economic and governance interests in DCP Midstream, LP and Gray Oak Pipeline, LLC through the merger of existing joint ventures owned by Phillips 66 and Enbridge Inc.; advised on employment aspects
Woodforest National Bank — proposed sale of its asset-based and equipment finance lending businesses, including $504 million loan portfolio, to Sterling National Bank; advised on employment aspects
Great Plains Energy Incorporated — revised stock-for-stock merger of equals transaction with Westar Energy, Inc., creating a company with a combined equity value of approximately $14 billion, and with nearly 13,000 MW of generation capacity and more than 51,000 miles of distribution lines; advised on employment aspects
Drilling Tools International, Inc. — a portfolio company of Hicks Equity Partners LLC, in its acquisition of the drill pipeline rental division of Premium Oilfield Services LLC; advised on employment aspects
Basalt Infrastructure Partners II LP — acquisition of Detroit Renewable Energy LLC, an integrated renewable energy system comprised of Detroit Thermal, Detroit Renewable Power and Hamtramck Energy Services; advised on employment aspects
Parsley Energy, Inc. — $2.8 billion acquisition of certain entities holding undeveloped acreage and producing oil and gas properties in the core of the Midland Basin from Double Eagle Energy Permian LLC and certain of its affiliates consisting of approximately $1.4 billion in cash and approximately 39.8 million units of Parsley Energy; advised on employment aspects
Three Rivers Natural Resource Holdings III LLC — equity commitments from Riverstone Holdings LLC; advised on employment aspects
Vopak North America Inc. — binding agreement to sell three terminals and undeveloped land to a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, Inc. for $158 million; advised on employment aspects
Rockland Capital, LLC — and its wholly owned affiliate, Main Line Generation, LLC, in the acquisition of three natural gas-fired generation facilities from a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation; advised on employment aspects
Lufkin Industries Inc. — approximately $3.3 billion acquisition by General Electric Co.; advised on employment aspects
Publications and Speeches
“Cos. Should Brace For Workers’ Vaccine Safety Concerns,” Law360, September 2020.
"State Legislatures, Local Governments and Courts Attack Employer Use of Salary History," Texas Lawyer, April 23, 2018.
"Criminal Prosecutions over No-Poaching Arrangements Are Coming," Society for Human Resource Management, April 5, 2018.
"End of an era? Growing list of laws is ending the use of comp history in hiring," Westlaw, January 2018.
"The case for uniform ban-the-box laws," Strategic HR Review, December 2017.
"New Laws Complicate Employee Marijuana Use Rules," Today's General Counsel, August 2017.
"A Growing Number of State and Local Governments Ban Salary History Inquiries to Prospective Employees," Bloomberg Law, August 2017.
"OSHA Sharpens Focus on Businesses’ Obligations to Contingent Workers," Society for Human Resource Management, December 2015.
"Review of case laws provides insight into jurisdiction of federal agencies," Offshore, November 2015.
"OSHA vs. PHMSA: The Tangled Web of Jurisdiction Over Midstream Operations," North American Oil & Gas Pipelines, July 2015.
"Producers can use CVS case as guidance when engaging in workforce reductions," Oil & Gas Journal, February 2015.
“Effects Bargaining: Understanding the Impact on the Sale of Businesses,” Inside Counsel, October 27, 2014.
"Drafting Effective Separation Agreements to Withstand EEOC Scrutiny," State Bar of Texas Corporate Counsel Section, Fall 2014.
“Attorney-Client Privilege in OSHA Compliance Self-Audits,” Corporate Counsel, August 2014.
"National Labor Relations Board Increases its Focus on Issues Impacting Nonunionized Employers," State Bar of Texas Corporate Counsel, July 2013.
"EEOC V. US Steel Gives New Hope To Employers," Law360, March 2013.
Credentials
Education
Certifications
Board Certified, Labor and Employment Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, since 1993