Antitrust Litigator Nicole Castle Joins Vinson & Elkins in New York

Vinson & Elkins today announced that Nicole Castle has joined the firm as a New York-based partner in the firm’s Antitrust Practice.

Castle regularly represents clients in class action antitrust cases and multidistrict litigation, as well as in government investigations before the Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice, and state attorneys general. She offers strategic advice on cartel prosecutions and defenses, from the initial stages of government investigations to the initiation of follow-on civil class action litigation. While she focuses on antitrust litigation and investigations, she also provides antitrust counseling on transactions, including advising clients under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and responding to Second Requests and Civil Investigative Demands.

Additionally, Castle works with clients to develop practical, efficient, and cost-effective solutions for managing and producing electronically stored information. She counsels clients on other vital issues, including information sharing, pricing and distribution, and trade association activities. Her antitrust experience spans various industries, including health care, pharmaceuticals, technology, consumer products, defense and aerospace, and food and beverage.

“Nicole is well known to partners in our Antitrust group, who can attest to her skill, judgment and experience handling complex litigation matters,” said Vinson & Elkins Partner Craig Seebald, a leader of the firm’s global Antitrust practice. “She is a phenomenal complement to our renowned Antitrust practice, which routinely plays a leading role in many of the biggest civil and criminal antitrust matters.”

Castle joins the firm from McDermott Will & Emery, where she was a partner in the firm’s Antitrust practice.

“I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to join Vinson & Elkins, which has built one of the nation’s leading antitrust litigation practices,” Castle said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to represent clients in cutting-edge, complex matters.”

Castle earned her Bachelor degree, magna cum laude, from The College of William and Mary. She received her Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center. She has been recognized by Legal 500 US (2023-2024) as a leading professional in antitrust and unfair competition litigation.

Over the course of many decades, Vinson & Elkins’ nationally recognized Antitrust practice has guided clients through their most challenging competition law issues. The team helps domestic and international clients with needs from the boardroom to the courtroom: structuring strategic transactions, obtaining regulatory clearances, facing regulatory inquiries and criminal investigations, and litigating class actions and other civil cases.