James A. Nickovich

Jim Nickovich is a litigator with significant experience in antitrust litigation and investigations, and other complex disputes, including class action, intellectual property, product liability, breach of contract, and employment matters.  Mr. Nickovich has pre-trial and courtroom experience in federal and state courts.  He has drafted successful dispositive motions, managed complex and voluminous discovery, taken and defended percipient and expert depositions, and represented clients in court.

Mr. Nickovich's pro bono experience demonstrates his dedication to equal access to the law, and has provided him with diverse and challenging responsibilities. He has served the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center, East Bay Community Law Center, Center for Constitutional Rights, Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights, Berkeley Law Moot Court Board, Street Law Program, YMCA Youth and Government Program, and United States Department of Defense.

Representative Work

• Assisting team in representation of global manufacturer of LCD panels in multidistrict antitrust class actions, related opt out actions, numerous United States Attorneys General actions, and defending prosecution by the United States Department of Justice.
• Assisted team defending world's largest airline manufacturer in product liability claims arising out of occurrences of September 11, 2001.
• Assisted team defending leading microchip manufacturer against a competitor's claims and multiple putative class actions alleging antitrust violations.
• Successfully defended leading coffee retailer by managing discovery and defeating class certification in wage and hour lawsuit.
• Successfully defended real estate developer against breach of contract claims.
• Advised leading information management services firm on privacy law matters.
• Defending sole proprietorship in complex groundwater contamination litigation and related government proceedings.
• Advised several national retail companies on California wage and hour law compliance, creating pro-active employee work schedules.
• Managed all non-party discovery for technology incubator plaintiff in trademark dispute. Obtained two preliminary injunctions restricting defendant's Internet activity.
• Successfully defended a leading online advertising agency against claims of trade secret misappropriation and unfair competition.
• Defended numerous technology-based business clients against private third party and government subpoenas, protecting sensitive company information.
• Successfully represented solo inventor in a patent infringement lawsuit against Fortune 500 company, drafting complaint and creating damages theory.
• Advocate in the Guantanamo Bay Detainee Litigation; represented Sudanese national in Federal District and Circuit Courts, and before the United States Military Commissions.
• Won asylum for Nicaraguan refugee family based on past gender-based persecution and fear of future gender-based persecution.