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Nicholas Howell is a first-chair trial lawyer who defends companies in high-stakes environmental and toxic tort litigation across the country. He has tried multiple cases to verdict in federal and state courts and in administrative proceedings, securing defense wins in personal injury, toxic exposure, and environmental permitting disputes. Nicholas defends clients in class actions, mass torts, and individual personal injury claims arising from alleged exposure to hazardous substances and environmental contaminants. He also represents industrial clients in actions brought by state attorneys general, including statewide claims for natural resource damages tied to alleged contamination of surface water, groundwater, soil, and air. In addition to litigation, he guides companies through incident response and internal investigations involving OSHA, worker safety, and whistleblower allegations. 

Widely recognized for his expertise, Nicholas is ranked by Chambers USA as an “Up and Coming” lawyer in environmental law and has been named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Environmental Law. He is a frequent author and speaker on trial strategy, toxic tort trends, and emerging contaminants, and has held multiple leadership roles within the State Bar of Georgia’s Environmental Law Section, serving as an officer for five years and as President in 2023.

Before joining King & Spalding, Nicholas served as a law clerk to the Honorable J. Randal Hall of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. He also worked as an Associate at a large international law firm in Atlanta, Georgia, focusing on environmental, toxic tort litigation.

Full Bio

Credentials

J.D., University of Georgia School of Law, cum laude

B.A., Furman University, cum laude

Georgia

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia

Law Clerk, Honorable J. Randal Hall, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia

Atlanta Children's Shelter Young Professionals Advisory Committee, Former Board Member

Conservative Policy Leadership Institute, Class of 2020

Environmental Law Section, State Bar of Georgia, Former Chair

State Bar of Georgia

State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division Leadership Academy, Class of 2017

University of Georgia School of Law Young Alumni Committee, Former President

Up and Coming: Environmental Law


Chambers, 2025

Up and Coming, Environmental Law


Chambers, 2024

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2024

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2023

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2022

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2021

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2020

Emerging Leaders Initiative


Environmental Law Institute, 2021

Class of 2020


Conservative Policy Leadership Institute

Leadership Academy


State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division, 2017

Close

Recognition

Up and Coming: Environmental Law


Chambers, 2025

Up and Coming, Environmental Law


Chambers, 2024

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2024

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2023

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2022

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2021

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2020

Emerging Leaders Initiative


Environmental Law Institute, 2021

Class of 2020


Conservative Policy Leadership Institute

Leadership Academy


State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division, 2017

Matters

Obtained full defense verdict as lead trial counsel in six-week long jury trial brought by residents near a medical device manufacturing and sterilization facility alleging development of various diseases due to exposure to ethylene oxide emissions

Lead trial counsel in month-long jury trial, successfully resolving all claims brought by residents near manufacturing facility

Successfully defeated class certification and obtained complete dismissal of all claims brought on behalf of class of residents near medical manufacturing and sterilization facility

See more

Close

Matters

Obtained full defense verdict as lead trial counsel in six-week long jury trial brought by residents near a medical device manufacturing and sterilization facility alleging development of various diseases due to exposure to ethylene oxide emissions

Lead trial counsel in month-long jury trial, successfully resolving all claims brought by residents near manufacturing facility

Successfully defeated class certification and obtained complete dismissal of all claims brought on behalf of class of residents near medical manufacturing and sterilization facility

Successfully defended an international medical device manufacturer and sterilizer against the State of Georgia in a lawsuit seeking a shutdown of its sterilization operations due to use of ethylene oxide.

Obtained defense verdict as trial counsel in a federal jury trial in the Northern District of Georgia involving allegations of violations of the Clean Water Act. This was the first NPDES stormwater citizen-suit tried to verdict in Georgia in almost a decade.

Successfully defeated class certification in a federal court class action involving more than 200 putative class members against an automotive parts manufacturer for claims of chemical exposure and property damage from groundwater.

Successfully defended an electric utility in appeal of Clean Water Act NPDES wastewater discharge permit for coal-fired power plant.

Successfully defended a manufacturer in a suit alleging environmental property damage claims related to vapor intrusion of volatile organic compounds.

Successfully defended national scrap metal recycler in disputes related to large industrial fire and related state and local regulatory violations.

Obtained defense verdict as trial counsel in federal bench trial in the Southern District of Florida in a lawsuit involving international retail chain. 

Successfully defended two national grocery retail chains in federal district and appellate courts in a restrictive covenant property dispute involving claims for lost profits in excess of $70 million.

Represented Am Law 100 firm in dispute alleging claims for legal malpractice totaling over $100 million.

Matters

Obtained full defense verdict as lead trial counsel in six-week long jury trial brought by residents near a medical device manufacturing and sterilization facility alleging development of various diseases due to exposure to ethylene oxide emissions

Lead trial counsel in month-long jury trial, successfully resolving all claims brought by residents near manufacturing facility

Successfully defeated class certification and obtained complete dismissal of all claims brought on behalf of class of residents near medical manufacturing and sterilization facility

See more

Close

Matters

Obtained full defense verdict as lead trial counsel in six-week long jury trial brought by residents near a medical device manufacturing and sterilization facility alleging development of various diseases due to exposure to ethylene oxide emissions

Lead trial counsel in month-long jury trial, successfully resolving all claims brought by residents near manufacturing facility

Successfully defeated class certification and obtained complete dismissal of all claims brought on behalf of class of residents near medical manufacturing and sterilization facility

Successfully defended an international medical device manufacturer and sterilizer against the State of Georgia in a lawsuit seeking a shutdown of its sterilization operations due to use of ethylene oxide.

Obtained defense verdict as trial counsel in a federal jury trial in the Northern District of Georgia involving allegations of violations of the Clean Water Act. This was the first NPDES stormwater citizen-suit tried to verdict in Georgia in almost a decade.

Successfully defeated class certification in a federal court class action involving more than 200 putative class members against an automotive parts manufacturer for claims of chemical exposure and property damage from groundwater.

Successfully defended an electric utility in appeal of Clean Water Act NPDES wastewater discharge permit for coal-fired power plant.

Successfully defended a manufacturer in a suit alleging environmental property damage claims related to vapor intrusion of volatile organic compounds.

Successfully defended national scrap metal recycler in disputes related to large industrial fire and related state and local regulatory violations.

Obtained defense verdict as trial counsel in federal bench trial in the Southern District of Florida in a lawsuit involving international retail chain. 

Successfully defended two national grocery retail chains in federal district and appellate courts in a restrictive covenant property dispute involving claims for lost profits in excess of $70 million.

Represented Am Law 100 firm in dispute alleging claims for legal malpractice totaling over $100 million.

Credentials

J.D., University of Georgia School of Law, cum laude

B.A., Furman University, cum laude

Georgia

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia

Law Clerk, Honorable J. Randal Hall, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia

Atlanta Children's Shelter Young Professionals Advisory Committee, Former Board Member

Conservative Policy Leadership Institute, Class of 2020

Environmental Law Section, State Bar of Georgia, Former Chair

State Bar of Georgia

State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division Leadership Academy, Class of 2017

University of Georgia School of Law Young Alumni Committee, Former President

Up and Coming: Environmental Law


Chambers, 2025

Up and Coming, Environmental Law


Chambers, 2024

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2024

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2023

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2022

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2021

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2020

Emerging Leaders Initiative


Environmental Law Institute, 2021

Class of 2020


Conservative Policy Leadership Institute

Leadership Academy


State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division, 2017

Close

Recognition

Up and Coming: Environmental Law


Chambers, 2025

Up and Coming, Environmental Law


Chambers, 2024

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2024

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2023

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2022

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2021

One to Watch: Environmental Law


Best Lawyers, 2020

Emerging Leaders Initiative


Environmental Law Institute, 2021

Class of 2020


Conservative Policy Leadership Institute

Leadership Academy


State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division, 2017