Nicole Y. Brown
Partner
New York
Education
J.D. St. John’s University School of Law
B.A. State University of New York at Albany
Bar Admissions
New York
New Jersey
Court Admissions
Eastern District of New York
Southern District of New York
District of New Jersey
Professional Experience
Nicole Y. Brown is a skilled litigator who, after more than 20 years of courtroom experience trying cases and arguing appeals in New York state and federal courts, remains passionate about her work on behalf of clients. Nicole handles a very wide variety of complex civil litigation, defending clients against high-exposure labor law, construction, property damage and product defect claims; premises liability, recreational liability, negligent security and Dram shop cases; motor vehicle lawsuits; and negligent hiring and negligent supervision claims. Many of her cases involve catastrophic injuries or significant property losses. Her clients include public and private companies in a variety of industries, including retail and hospitality, as well as municipal agencies, educational institutions and insurers.
A self-professed “straight shooter,” Nicole is an analytical and results-driven partner to clients, who trust her to cut away the “fluff” of often-complex cases and present the salient facts, strategies and defenses, so they can make informed decisions on the best path to secure the optimal outcome. Whether at trial, in mediation or in settlement talks, her keen advocacy and often-innovative approaches contribute to her successes on behalf of WCM clients. Nicole also prides herself on being personable, taking time to get to know the people behind the companies and organizations she represents.
Nicole joined WCM as a summer associate during law school. She credits her legal knowledge and formidable advocacy skills to her training as a litigator “from Day One” with the firm.
In addition to her love of her legal work, Nicole is an avid traveler whose goal is to see as much of the world as she can. She also commits time to volunteer work in the nursery and kids’ ministry at her church.
Select Representations
Defended charter school in a trip-and-fall case against the plaintiffs’ claim of negligent supervision by highlighting the adequacy of the supervision on the playground at the time of the alleged accident and the co-defendant’s obligation, not our client’s, to maintain the playground, ultimately securing summary judgment and dismissal of the claims against our client.
In a high-exposure labor law case, secured a voluntary discontinuance of the claims against our client, the municipal agency that funded the development of the construction project where the accident occurred.
Following a multimillion-dollar verdict in a two-week damages-only labor law trial, successfully reduced the verdict by over 50% after post-trial motions and an appeal.
Defended a contractor in a labor law case alleging that the plaintiff sustained fractures and subsequently underwent surgery after his foot was crushed by an excavator while the plaintiff was repairing it, arguing that the plaintiff was comparatively negligent, maintaining the pretrial settlement offer in line with our position through jury selection and several days of trial, and finally securing the plaintiff’s agreement to the original offer and settlement during trial.
Secured a favorable mediated settlement in a significant personal injury case stemming from a motor vehicle accident in which the plaintiff subsequently underwent multiple spinal surgeries, leveraging the plaintiff’s prior accidents and injuries to reach a settlement of less than 30% of the verdict value of the claim.
Honors and Distinctions
St. John’s University School of Law
Criminal Law Institute’s Frank J. Rogers Mock Trial Competition Runner-up Award
Professional Activities
American Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
Publications
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