Nick Nelson is an associate in the Business Litigation Practice Group in the Dallas office of Haynes and Boone, LLP. His practice focuses on trade secret, trademark, and copyright litigation and all facets of media law. Nick is a member of Haynes and Boone's Intellectual Property Litigation and Social Media Practice Groups. Nick developed the "Legal Spanish" app for the iPhone to assist attorneys in providing services to Spanish-speaking clients. Prior to law school, Nick was a newspaper reporter, and he has written on the subjects of media law and the First Amendment.
Representative Experience
- Served as second chair in a two-week jury trial, representing an international oilfield service company in a misappropriation of trade secrets action brought against a former employee, and obtained a unanimous jury verdict on all claims.
- Represented a European pharmaceutical company during a trademark cancellation proceeding at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
- Provided research and strategic support as part of the successful defense of a national media company sued for copyright infringement.
Recent Publications
- "Intellectual Property Law," SMU Law Review, 64 S.M.U. L. Rev. 367 (Winter 2011).
- "Social Media, Speech And The Schoolhouse," co-author with David Bell, Law360, August 11, 2011.
Pro Bono Activities
- Prevailed in a forcible detainer trial, allowing an elderly client to retake possession of her home.
- Worked with the Human Rights Initiative to assist a client in applying for a visa under the federal Violence Against Women Act.
- Co-founded Rosemont Dad's Club, a non-profit that supports Rosemont Primary School in Dallas.
Selected Representative Experience
Online Publications
03/01/2013 -
Texas Bill Would Make Service via Facebook the Law
Texas lawmakers will consider a bill that would specifically allow for service of legal process via Facebook or other social media sites.
02/14/2013 -
Gripes on Yelp Prompt Controversial Rulings
Consumer reviews posted on the popular website Yelp have sparked recent litigation in Florida and Virginia.
09/20/2012 -
Media Law Resource Center Guest Article: Texas Appeals Court Applies Reporter’s Privilege in the Defamation Context
A Texas court of appeals has ruled that even without the protection of the state’s new shield law, a journalist sued for libel has a qualified First Amendment privilege not to divulge confidential sources. Nelson, et al. v. Pagan, et al., No. 05- 09-01380-CV (Tex. Civ. App.—Dallas Aug. 8, 2012) (Morris, Francis, and Lang-Miers, JJ.).
07/10/2012 -
New Law Starts Clock Ticking for FDA to Issue Social Media Policy
For more than fifteen years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has struggled to craft a policy on how the Internet may be used to promote medical products.
06/20/2012 -
Kids These Days: Federal Court Dislikes Service Via Facebook
Just when it looked like Facebook was set to be the next big thing in service of legal process, one federal court is having none of it.
06/01/2012 -
Sex Offenders Battle States over Access to Social Networking Sites
Do convicted sex offenders have a First Amendment right to use Facebook and other social networking sites?
03/12/2012 -
Not Cool, School: Middle Schooler Sues over Facebook Search
A Minnesota middle school student has sued her school district, claiming that school staff unlawfully searched her Facebook and e-mail accounts and punished her for a Facebook posting that criticized a school employee,
CNN reports.
02/22/2012 -
British High Court Permits Service Via Facebook: Will U.S. Courts Follow?
The Associated Press
reports that a High Court Judge in England last week approved the use of Facebook to serve legal documents on a defendant in a commercial dispute.
12/05/2011 -
Students and Social Media: The Supreme Court Could Decide Whether Schools May Punish Off-Campus Online Speech
A teenager who posts a racy photo on Facebook might be grounded for a week, but should the teen also be suspended from school or kicked off the swim team?
08/11/2011 -
Law360 Guest Column: Social Media, Speech And The Schoolhouse
The U.S. Supreme Court soon will have the opportunity to consider the extent to which the First Amendment protects student use of social media sites and blogs off campus.