Nicole Santora is an associate in the Gibson Dunn’s New York Office. She practices in the firm’s Litigation Department, where she specializes in high-stakes trial litigation, complex commercial litigation, and white-collar defense across a wide range of industries, including technology, entertainment, and finance. She has successfully represented clients in trade secrets, contract, and founder disputes, along with internal and federal regulatory investigations. Nicole has extensive experience in civil discovery, including first- and second-chairing depositions in federal court.
Representative matters include:
- Secured complete defense verdict on behalf of Fortune 250 company in three-week jury trial with nearly $1 billion at issue arising out of asset-backed financing related to an alleged “Ponzi” scheme, a verdict which was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
- Represented leading satellite company in breach of contract and unjust enrichment lawsuit, including two-week bench trial. Conducted deposition of rebuttal expert witness.
- Won summary judgment for healthcare technology company and its founders in lawsuit filed by early investor alleging breach of contract and fraud.
- Represented sports betting company in trade secrets misappropriation and breach-of-contract dispute with a former executive.
- Represented Esperion Therapeutics in a pharmaceutical licensing dispute, which resulted in a favorable settlement.
- Represented Amazon.com in lawsuit concerning Key for Business service.
- Represented former aerospace executive in a cross-border DOJ investigation into potential ITAR violations.
Nicole clerked for the Honorable Valerie E. Caproni of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York from 2022 to 2023. Prior to clerking, she was a litigation associate in Gibson Dunn’s New York Office.
Nicole received her Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, in 2019 from New York Law where she graduated first in her class. She served as Editor-in-Chief of the New York Law School Law Review and Executive Editor of the Moot Court Association. While attending law school, Nicole worked full-time as a human resources manager in higher education.
Nicole maintains an active pro bono practice. For example, she has represented a public housing tenant in obtaining a favorable settlement in a reasonable accommodation action under the ADA in the Southern District of New York and has represented clients in amicus briefs filed in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Nicole is admitted to practice in the State of New York and before the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
Capabilities
- Litigation
- Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice
- Appellate and Constitutional Law
- Media, Entertainment, and Technology
- Public Policy
- Trials
- White Collar Defense and Investigations
Credentials
Education:
- New York Law School - 2019 Juris Doctor
- Muskingum University - 2009 Bachelor of Arts
Admissions:
- New York Bar
Clerkships:
- USDC, Southern District of New York, Hon. Valerie E. Caproni, 2022 - 2023