Nicole L. Castle
The Grace Building
1114 Avenue of the Americas
32nd Floor
New York, New York 10036
I like to help clients navigate complex antitrust challenges with strategic, practical advice. Whether in litigation, investigations, or counseling, I provide solutions that deliver results and align with clients’ goals and business objectives. Nicole L. Castle provides strategic legal counsel in complex civil and criminal antitrust litigation. She has extensive experience representing clients in class action antitrust cases, including multidistrict litigation. Nicole also represents companies in merger and nonmerger antitrust investigations conducted by the Federal Trade Commission, United States Department of Justice, and state attorneys general.
Nicole offers strategic advice on cartel prosecutions and defenses, from the initial stages of government inquiries to follow-on civil class action litigation. Nicole has been recognized by publications such as Benchmark Litigation, Super Lawyers, and Legal 500 as a leading professional in antitrust and unfair competition litigation.
Nicole regularly assists companies in responding to Second Requests and Civil Investigative Demands. She works with clients to develop practical, efficient, and cost-effective solutions for managing and producing electronically stored information.
Additionally, Nicole regularly provides antitrust counseling to clients on a wide range of topics including information sharing, pricing and distribution, and trade association activities. Nicole’s antitrust experience spans various industries, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, consumer products, defense and aerospace, and food and beverage.
Nicole also represents clients in commercial litigation matters involving claims of false and misleading advertising, violation of state unfair competition laws, and other business torts.
Experience Highlights
Defended an American multinational technology company in various lawsuits against claims of false advertising and violation of state unfair competition statutes
Defended Mars, Incorporated in a multi-district class action price-fixing litigation, winning summary judgment for Mars, Incorporated In re Chocolate Confectionary Antitrust Litigation
Defended Stora Enso North America in a multi-district class action price-fixing litigation and in a criminal trial against the Department of Justice. After a five-day trial, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty In re Publication Paper Antitrust Litigation
Successfully defended hospital systems in several class actions alleging nurse wage-fixing conspiracy claims
Successfully defended Lockheed Martin against monopolization and tortious interference claims involving aftermarket service on P-3 aircraft
Defended Eagle Materials Inc. and American Gypsum Company LLC in a multidistrict litigation arising from allegations that defendants conspired to fix the price of gypsum wallboard in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act In re Domestic Drywall Antitrust Litigation
Defended two defendants in multidistrict litigation involving allegations that generic pharmaceutical manufacturers conspired to increase the price of generic pharmaceuticals in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act In re Generic Pharmaceuticals Antitrust Litigation
Represented a Fortune 500 American health care company in grand jury investigation which resulted in the DOJ pursuing no enforcement action
Defended multinational restaurant chain and its affiliates in putative class action in which a proposed class of employees challenged “no-poach” clauses in the company’s franchise agreement under federal and state antitrust laws
Credentials
- Georgetown University Law Center, JD, cum laude, 2006
- College of William and Mary, BA, magna cum laude, 2003
- Former Intern, Federal Trade Commission, 2004
- Legal 500 US,Recommended Lawyer, 2023–2024
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch 2021, Litigation – Antitrust
- Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under Hot List 2018–2021
- Selected to the Washington, D.C. Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2014–2016
- Selected to the New York Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2019–2020
- Member: American Bar Association Antitrust Section; New York State Bar Association
- District of Columbia
- Massachusetts
- New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- Press ReleaseMarch 26, 2025