Nicole Nocera

Nicole “Nikki” Nocera is a partner in the Litigation Department of Wildman Harrold. Nikki has spent her career litigating commercial, product liability, toxic tort, and trademark infringement matters for national and international companies and individuals. She has tried cases to verdict, practiced in state and federal appellate courts, and represented clients in mediation and arbitration proceedings. Nikki’s commercial practice includes litigating breach of contract and business tort claims such as misappropriation of trade secrets, tortious interference, enforcement and defense of employment-related restrictive covenants, and trademark infringement. Her toxic tort representation includes serving as a member of a national counsel team for asbestos litigation pending nationwide, and her product liability defense work encompasses medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and various other products. Nikki also has experience in obtaining and defending against claims for emergency relief, including temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions. As an advisor, Nikki works with her clients to devise business strategies to help minimize litigation risks.

Representative Experience:

Second-chaired a successful two-week federal jury trial on behalf of a billion dollar medical devices manufacturer involving a contract dispute with its Japanese distributor. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the verdict in favor of the manufacturer in a published opinion. Biomet Orthopedics, Inc. v. TACT Medical Instruments, Inc., 454 F.3d 653, 7th Cir. Aug. 10, 2006
First-chaired three-day bench trial in Illinois state court on behalf of executive search firm involving breach of contract and quantum meruit claims
Member of a team successfully prosecuting electrical component counterfeiters on a global basis for the manufacturer of electrical components, leading to preliminary and permanent injunctions barring the sale of counterfeit products, substantial monetary settlements, and recalls of counterfeit products under the auspices of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Second-chaired three-day preliminary injunction hearing in Arizona federal court on behalf of leading global designer and manufacturer of microscopic products involving a restrictive covenant dispute with a distributor, leading to a favorable settlement
Currently a member of the national counsel team defending approximately 3,000 asbestos cases pending in 15 states on behalf of UK-based global automation, controls, and process company
Argued before the Illinois Appellate Court, Second District on behalf of a physician in a professional liability matter involving application of an Illinois statute
Conducted extensive oral discovery on behalf of a billion-dollar pharmaceuticals manufacturer in a multidistrict litigation involving two leading diet drugs
Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a leading soft drink company involving a number of commercial issues, including fraud
Represented, pro bono, a former mental health patient sued by the Illinois Department of Human Services for the cost of treatment at a state mental institution; obtained a dismissal of the action in Illinois state court and first-chaired a successful administrative hearing before the Department of Human Services

Reported Decisions:

Biomet Orthopedics, Inc. v. TACT Medical Instruments, Inc., 454 F.3d 653 (7th Cir. Aug. 10, 2006)

Publications And Presentations:

Co-Author, “Stop Counterfeiters from Jeopardizing Your Brand and Bottom Line,” IndustryWeek.com, September 19 2008.
Co-author, “With Counterfeiting, You Want Govt. In Your Business,” IP Law360, February 25, 2008.

Professional Associations:

Wildman Harrold Summer Associate Program, Co-Chair (2003—2005)

Wildman Harrold Women’s Initiative, Member

Bar Admissions:

Illinois, 1998

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 1998

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, 1998

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, 2002

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, 2004

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 2005

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 2006 (Trial Bar)

Personal Information:

Nikki enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time with her family and friends on Chicago’s north side.

Please be aware, if you are not a current client of the firm, the attorney-client privilege does not exist and therefore confidential or sensitive information should not be sent in this email message.

I Understand
Cancel