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Overview

Nikelle represents clients in all aspects of local government and real estate with an emphasis in land use and real estate development, public-private partnerships, procurement, and governmental affairs.

Her work includes zoning, permitting, land use planning, development application processing and representation before local city councils, business development, relationship management, economic development, zoning boards of adjustment, planning commissions, local governing bodies and state and local agencies. In short, she helps clients navigate real estate development projects through governmental approvals.

She also has vast experience in commercial transactions including purchases and sales, leases, public financing and general contracts.

Before joining Husch Blackwell, Nikelle was a partner at Brown McCarroll.

Nikelle is a member of the firm’s Executive Board.

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • Austin Black Business Journal, Top 10 Central Texas Lawyers, 2019
  • Austin Black Business Journal, Achievements in Black Austin, 2019
  • Austin Business Journal, Top 20 People to Know, 2012
  • Austin Business Journal, Profiles in Power Award, 2009
  • Austin Monthly magazine, Top Austin Attorney, Land Use Environment, 2019
  • Bisnow, Austin Women Leading Real Estate, 2022
  • The Business Journals' Influencers: Law, 2018
  • The Best Lawyers In America®, Real Estate Law, Litigation - Land Use and Zoning, 2018-2023, Land Use and Zoning Law, 2020-2023; Best Lawyers® Land Use and Zoning Law "Lawyer of the Year," Austin, 2021
  • Chambers USA, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use, 2022
  • Kappa Alpha Psi Outstanding Community Leader Award, 2013
  • REDNews, Texas Icons, 2022
  • Texas Bar Foundation Fellow, 2013-present
  • Texas Monthly, Top Women Attorneys in Texas, 2020
  • Thomson Reuters' Texas Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2004-2006, Land Use/Zoning, Legislative & Governmental Affairs, 2016-2019

Education

  • J.D., University of Texas School of Law
    • Endowed Presidential Scholar, 1992-1995
  • B.A., University of Texas at Austin
    • English and Psychology
    • Texas Excellence Scholar, 1988-1992

Admissions

  • Texas

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • American Bar Association, State and Local Government Section, Business Law Section, Real Property and Trust Section
  • American Planning Association, state chapter and national chapter
  • Austin Bar Association, Real Estate Section, Administrative Law Section
  • Austin Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, Executive Committee
  • Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce, Member
  • Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, Travis County Appointee and Vice Chair, Chair of Real Estate/ROW Acquisition Committee
  • Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), Austin Chapter
  • International Bridge, Turnpike and Tunnel Association
  • National Council for Public Private Partnerships, Member
  • National Forum for Black Public Administrators, Central Texas Chapter
  • Opportunity Austin, Investor Representative
  • Real Estate Council of Austin, Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Past President
  • Round Rock Chamber of Commerce, Momentum Investor Group
  • State Bar of Texas, Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section, Business Section
  • Urban Land Institute (ULI), Member

Languages

  • German, conversant
  • Spanish, conversant
  • Italian, conversant
Experience
  • Represented a Fortune 500 company in negotiation of economic development incentives from state and local governments for the construction of a major industrial facility.
  • Represented a commercial real estate developer for a high-rise condominium development in Austin’s central business district and surrounding areas.
  • Counseled a national real estate investment trust (REIT) in entitlement matters.
  • Represented a property owner association in the negotiation of entitlements with a national developer for a $100 million development project.
  • Represented a multifamily housing developer for the creation of a public-private partnership to develop a 250-unit apartment development.
  • Advised an international developer in 5,000-acre mixed-use development with public financing.
  • Represented a Fortune 500 company in negotiation of a services contract with a local governmental body.
  • Served as land development counsel and local real estate and financing counsel for real estate investment firm as it acquired three hotels and resorts in Texas (worth $93 million), each of which were active resorts situated in areas of the state with unique and complicated water, wastewater and environmental issues.
  • Assisted a multi-family developer and construction company in putting approximately 1,700 units in place throughout Texas in one year worth more than $300 million.
  • Represented a multi-family developer in securing entitlements and negotiating agreements in connection with a multi-family housing development being developed in connection with a retail center anchored by CVS valued at $70 million.
Case Studies
Jacobs Engineering Group

Our team assisted the client, one of world’s largest engineering companies, in relocating its corporate HQ to the Lone Star State.

Hunt Development Group

Our P3 team assisted the client in crafting a winning bid to develop a 430,000-square-foot civil and family courthouse facility to replace the Heman Marion Sweatt Courthouse.

Articles | May 28, 2021
The Future of Texas Infrastructure
Media Mentions | January 27, 2023
REDNews: 2022 Texas Icons
News Releases | September 03, 2019
Nine Husch Blackwell Lawyers Named to 2019 Thomson Reuters' Texas Super Lawyers

Covering more than 70 practice areas, Super Lawyers is a directory of lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

News Releases | August 15, 2019
Husch Blackwell Places 143 Lawyers in 2020 BL Rankings' Best Lawyers in America®

The firm has eight "Lawyers of the Year" and 11 attorneys appearing on the list for the first time.

News Releases | August 06, 2019
Austin Monthly Names 12 From Husch Blackwell as Top Austin Attorneys

The Top Austin Attorney listing was compiled through an online peer-voting process.

News Releases | February 05, 2019
Nikelle Meade Named to Austin Black Business Journal Top 10 Central Texas Lawyers

Nikelle Meade, partner in Husch Blackwell’s Real Estate & Development Group, has been named a 2019 Top 10 Central Texas Lawyer by the Austin Black Business Journal.

News Releases | August 15, 2018
Husch Blackwell Places 143 Lawyers in 2019 BL Rankings' Best Lawyers in America®

The Best Lawyers in America® has listed 143 Husch Blackwell attorneys in its 2019 directory. The firm has eight "Lawyers of the Year" and five attorneys appearing on the list for the first time.

Community Leadership
  • AARO (Austin Area Research Organization), Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Chair of Water Committee
  • Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Austin, Board of Directors   
  • Austin Business Journal, Mentoring Monday
  • Austin Habitat for Humanity, Board of Directors; Executive Committee
  • Austin Parks Foundation, Board of Directors
  • Austin Steam Train Association, Board of Directors
  • Austin Trail Foundation, Project Advisory Committee
  • Ballet Austin, Board of Directors; Board Secretary, Executive Committee Member, Management Committee Member