Aaron A. Nichols focuses on an array of complex business and litigation matters. He counsels clients in the areas of antitrust and trade regulation, class actions, insurance coverage and defense, intellectual property, trade secrets, shareholder disputes, breaches of fiduciary duties, and breaches of contracts.
His experience is deeply rooted in advising clients on all phases of the litigation process with a view toward the broader objectives of the businesses he represents. Aaron has significant experience handling e-discovery related issues, including developing and implementing e-discovery strategies to ensure an effective and efficient discovery process, while maintaining and protecting sensitive business information.
Reported and Representative Cases
- Obtained favorable settlements for one of the country’s largest manufacturers of water treatment chemicals in a multi-district litigation (“MDL”) pending in the United States District Court for New Jersey and cases filed in various state courts, including false claim and qui tam actions. The MDL proceedings were a consolidation of multiple putative class-action lawsuits pursuing antitrust and related claims on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers of water treatment chemicals, many of which were government entities throughout the United States.
- Served as counsel to government contracting consulting firm in responding to a U.S. Department of Justice issued subpoena for records and protected the client’s interests to avoid involvement in antitrust challenge.
- Obtained a dismissal of a RICO lawsuit filed against an international travel company and its members for alleged racketeering activity and convinced the court to award over $70,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs as a sanction against plaintiff, his counsel and his counsel’s firm for pursing the lawsuit in bad faith.
- Represented an investment vehicle entity and obtained a $10.9 million trial verdict on fraud claims against a former partner of a venture capital firm and obtained a high seven figure settlement from co-defendant.
- Represented and obtained a favorable settlement for a local developer in a trademark infringement case brought against a competing developer.
- Successfully defended a local solar energy company against claims for breach of contract and unjust enrichment, avoiding over $225,000 in damages, and prevailed on counterclaims, in an arbitration proceeding.
- Served as counsel to an international marketing firm in responding to a subpoena issued in a multi-district litigation against a manufacturer of tobacco products.
- Counsel to local manufacturer in responding to subpoenas issued by government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice and the Maryland Office of the Attorney General.
- Obtained the voluntary dismissal of a class action lawsuit after conducting targeted deposition discovery on named-class plaintiff.
- Obtained summary judgment for a local business related to the sale of company assets and obtained sanction award against opposing party.