Colleagues and friends remember the late Nickolas P. “Nick” Chilivis, founder of the Atlanta litigation firm Chilivis, Cochran, Larkins & Bever, as both an extraordinary lawyer dedicated to his clients and profession, and an extraordinary man. Gary Grindler, co-founder of the firm who now practices in Washington, D.C., recalled defending a former member of President Jimmy Carter’s cabinet, Bert Lance, with Nick against charges of bank fraud. “After a grueling five-month trial which ended with a stunning verdict of not guilty on all counts, the news media was eagerly waiting outside the courthouse to hear what Nick would say about the trial. As we were about to get in the elevator to go down to the press conference, a young lawyer from our law firm who, during the trial, had assumed responsibilities for one of Nick’s cases, walked up and told Nick that he was going to a court appearance in that matter and was nervous about it. Ignoring the scores of reporters, cameras and microphones waiting to hear Nick talk about this great victory, Nick went straight to the court appearance to help this young lawyer. Nick’s complete and total commitment to his clients—no matter the nature of the case—was unparalleled and serves as a remarkable example of professionalism for all attorneys to aspire to.”
Anthony L. Cochran, currently the firm’s senior partner, recalled a similar experience while trying a high-profile case with Nick. “Nick was defending an attorney who had been charged with immigration fraud and was cross-examining one of the government’s star witnesses, a former client of the attorney. When Nick gently asked her about conflicting testimony she had given before the grand jury, she suddenly burst into tears. Without batting an eye, Nick pulled his handkerchief from his coat pocket and handed it to the witness, waited a moment, then continued his cross. Judge Tidwell called it the best cross-examination he ever had seen. After the trial, she sent the handkerchief, laundered and neatly folded, back to Nick—with a note thanking him!”
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