Senior Attorney
Nicholas K.C. Garcia Lisle (Nico) is a Senior Attorney with Flaherty & Hood, where he helps manage the firm’s labor relations and employment law practice area. Nico is a dedicated and dynamic advocate for and advisor to employers, empowering them to navigate the complexities of labor and employment law with clarity, practicality, and confidence. He works closely with organizations to translate legal requirements into workable solutions for day-to-day workplace challenges. Nico brings a unique depth of experience serving quasi-public and public entities, as well as private and nonprofit employers.
Nico provides advice, counsel, and representation across a broad range of labor and employment matters, including:
- Traditional Labor Relations
- Contract negotiations
- Unfair labor practices
- Mediation and arbitration
- Grievance handling
- Strike preparation and response
- Unit election, definition, and clarification
- Employment Law
- Leaves of absence and accommodations
- Wage and hour compliance
- Employee handbook, policy, and job description development, drafting, and training
- Performance management, coaching, counseling, and discipline
- Public Sector Specials
- Ethics and conflicts (e.g., incompatible offices, disqualifying interests, gift restrictions, public purpose doctrine)
- Conduct hearings for elected officials, commissioners, and board members
- Constitutional issues in the workplace, including free speech and due process
- Police officer licensing enforcement, use of force law and policy, and conduct standards
- Data Privacy
- Compensation and pay equity compliance
- Interest arbitration and essential unit labor mediation and negotiations
- Accessibility and accommodations
- Police and fire department policies
Nico has his Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Nonprofit Studies, summa cum laude, from Northern Illinois University and his Juris Doctor (J.D.) and J.D. Certificate in Labor & Employment Law from Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Tech.
During law school, Nicholas was a student editor for the Illinois Public Employee Relations Report and served as vice president of the Labor and Employment Law Society. He especially excelled in labor and employment legal writing, employment law, sports labor law, and trial advocacy, negotiations, and was named top student for Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Workplace. His passion for labor and employment work began even earlier, through hands-on experience in local government human resources.
Outside of work, Nico loves to spend quality time with his wife Alexandra and daughter Sofia, fur babies Pepe and Jefe, and friends and family; he is passionate about volunteerism and serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Ampersand Families Board of Directors.
