2022 Legal Awards Honoree: Mark Nichols

A Florida native, Mark Nichols earned both his Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Juris Doctorate at the University of Florida and is a member of the Florida Bar and the American Bar Association (ABA). His original career choice was in finance, inspired by the 2001 financial crisis and the corporate collapses that ignited the subsequent recession. His decision to become an attorney was driven by his interest in helping businesses build solid financial and sound ethical foundations based on sustainable practices. Nichols began his legal career as a litigator focused on commercial business disputes and he received recognition early in his career as an ABA Young Lawyers Division Star and a Rising Star in both construction and business litigation from Thomsen Reuters. He has served in leadership positions with the Florida Bar Business Section and the ABA. Mark joined United Franchise Group in 2019 as an in-house counsel and was quickly promoted to the senior council, ultimately accepting the General Counsel position in 2020. His seasoned perspective combines legal solutions with practical business applications and financial efficacy. His philosophy on leadership is to have a good sense of humor, focus on people’s strengths, and then get out of their way.