Matthew B Nichols

Matt Nichols is, hands down, the best attorney money can buy. I have used his services (along with those of his associate, Sarah Churchill) on three different occasions concerning OUI charges, and have never been let down. Matt Nichols knows his way around the legal system, and he always makes sure y...ou know exactly what to expect every step of the way. The last time I hired Matt to represent me, I was facing felony OUI charges that threatened to greatly derail my life; Matt was able to work out a deal with the D.A. that would greatly reduce my sentence. Both Matt and his legal assistant Joanne were quick to respond to any questions I had during the process, and also provided continued support in the aftermath. The greatest thing about having Matt Nichols in your corner is that he genuinely cares about his clients. This is not just a job for Matt; I can earnestly say that his support went far beyond what you would expect from a typical attorney-client relationship. I had no doubt that he was truly fighting for me 100%, and I couldn't have been more pleased with the results. I can't say enough good things about Matt Nichols; he is worth every penny!

I contacted Matthew in order to help me with a case where I was caught shoplifting. He not only charged me a reasonable price, but was quick to make contact with me and let me know what he could do for me. I am in school to be a teacher, and was very concerned about having such a bad choice affect my... career. Matt was able to reassure me that such a juvenile choice was not going to stay on my record as far as he was concerned. I was scheduled for court on three separate occasions, and I was fortunate to not have to attend any of the hearings. Matt really took care of me. He was relatively good about answering emails, and was always available to talk on the phone when an appointment was made. He knew exactly what to do! My case was dropped completely, and I couldn't be more lucky to have Matt perform such a task! I would certainly recommend this great lawyer to anyone and owe him a lot of gratitude for what he was able to do for me.

I hired Attorney Matthew Nichols about one year ago, after I was arrested and charged with OUI while on vacation with friends and family in Maine. As an out of state resident, I was unfamiliar with the laws and procedures in the state of Maine. I spent a considerable amount of time researching both..., and scheduled a number of consultations with local trial attorneys that specialized in criminal defense, specifically representing individuals charged with OUI. I spoke with five attorneys before my initial consultation with Attorney Nichols. From the first time that we spoke and every time thereafter, Attorney Nichols was professional, thoughtful and conveyed a level of expertise that distinguished himself from his peers. He anticipated, and precisely answered all of my questions. Additionally, Attorney Nichols identified and discussed all of the collateral consequences associated with the pending case and any potential outcomes. Most importantly, he was sensitive to my lack of familiarity the with the criminal justice process in the state of Maine, and took time to thoroughly explain, in terms that I could understand, everything that I could expect to encounter moving forward. During this stressful and uncertain time, I took great comfort in the fact that Attorney Nichols was always accessible by both telephone and email, and he encouraged me to contact him with any questions or concerns that arose, regardless of the hour. In addition to accessibility, I appreciated Attorney Nichols’s candor and honesty. At every stage of the process, he explained both the “good and the bad,” leaving no room for surprises. Contrary to comments offered by a previous reviewer, Attorney Nichols never once lectured me or judged the questionable behavior that culminated in my arrest. Instead, he was thoughtful, professional and respectful at all times. Attorney Nichols always arrived to court early and prepared, and his knowledge of the law and ability as a trial attorney was impressive to watch. I noticed that his colleagues, including the state prosecutor and the judge that presided over my case, addressed Attorney Nichols with a level of deference that could only have been earned though many years of ethical and zealous advocacy on behalf of his clients. In fact, I was not surprised at the conclusion of my trial when the judge returned a verdict of NOT GUILTY.

I had never been in trouble before my OUI arrest. I went to Matt and he explained the process and ramifications in the initial conversation. He went way over the 1 hour that he does for free and answered all my questions. He is not the type of attorney that will hand hold you, and he is not exactly c...omforting. He explains what it is, how it is and what needs to be done. I appreciated all of that in him, but some people might want/need a little more emotional support. Even still, any time I had a question I would email him and if it took an hour to get a response that would have been a long time. So he is there for you but he just won't devote a lot of energy to your feelings. Again, I appreciate this in people, so I don't mean it as a slight towards him. I received a copy of everything filed with the court by both parties and at all times I was made aware of the next step. He was always prompt to meetings and was always prepared--to which I think a lot of credit is due to his office assistant as she is amazing. Contrary to the other reviewer, I was never lectured on alcohol use by Matt and he doesn't come across as the lecturing type on such issue. I did loose my license for 90 days as part of the DMV suspension but not for the criminal offense because my case was dismissed. The DMV part of an OUI is a seperate issue from the criminal matter, it also starts very quickly after the arrest, and the scope of the hearing is very limited. Their real concern is the testing procedure of the breathalyzer and not much else matters. The hearing is painless and Matt did all the talking so in reality I spent more time worrying about the hearing than actually attending the hearing. He asked that I attend but I wasn't required to be at the hearing. Overall, Matt is a great attorney, he's friendly, efficient and is a guy you want fighting for you. Just don't expect him to call you up and ask how you're feeling.

Although Matt has a fair amount of experience in DUI law and seems to be respected in Portland, Maine. His demeanor and actions walk right up to the border of unprofessionalism. During my time with him I often think he forgot who was paying whom. His ego was so big he decided that representing me was... less important then preaching the gospel of alcoholism. His job as my attorney was to make sure the government proves its case against me according to law and ensure that I am afforded all of the protections the laws and Constitutions of the Federal and State government provide. He's also supposed to make every effort to have me found not guilty of the charges whether I am, or am not guilty of the crime charged. Matt seemed to depart this role frequently to get on his soapbox and preach to me the dangers of alcohol and all but calls me an alcoholic. I think I've been intoxicated two times in my 40+ years and probably out drinking 20. Regardless, his demeanor was often argumentative, he acted like a bully on more then one occasion and his "professional opinion" often bordered on more opinion than professional. In the end I received the mandatory sentencing that has been established by president. Honestly I would have gotten the same results with a public defender. If you get a DUI, OUI or DWI charge, by all means get a lawyer; just don't get this one unless you want a drama and peachiness. I'd rather have one that just gave me the facts without all the hyperboles.