Bio
Nicole Cemo is a skilled litigator known for her keen ability to develop creative, practical solutions to complex legal issues to help clients reach their objectives both in and out of the courtroom. Nicole has advised and represented domestic and international clients, including numerous Fortune 500 companies, in every stage of litigation and across a variety of sectors, such as consumer products, real estate, transportation, logistics, technology, aviation, and retail industries.
Nicole focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation, product liability, labor and employment, business tort, trade secrets, unfair trade practice, and class actions. She also advises clients on legal issues concerning business strategy and litigation risk analysis.
When called to defend companies in litigation, Nicole’s zealous advocacy has often allowed her to achieve early dismissal of claims brought against her clients. And where trial is unavoidable, Nicole has the experience and winning record to successfully advocate for her clients.
During law school, Nicole interned for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office—Major Crimes Division and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office—Gang Unit.
Experience
Representative Engagements
- Represents companies and individuals in complex commercial litigation, mass tort litigation, and class actions, involving, among other things, contract disputes, product liability, business torts, consumer protection law, employment law, real estate law, breach of fiduciary duty, corporate law and collections.
- Leads, manages, and otherwise handles all stages of litigation, including managing complex discovery; drafting discovery, pleadings, motions, and settlement agreements; successfully arguing discovery and dispositive motions; taking and defending depositions; preparing fact and expert witnesses; developing and implementing case strategy; conducting settlement negotiations; representing clients in mediation, domestic and international arbitration proceedings, and other ADR processes; serving on multiple trial teams that obtained favorable jury verdicts; and leading collection efforts to enforce domestic and foreign money judgments in California state court.
- Routinely counseled clients on cross-border disputes, business strategy issues, litigation risk analysis and dispute avoidance and resolution, and works directly with clients to develop litigation strategies and provide legal advice consistent with business objectives and evaluation of merits.
- Drafted and successfully argued numerous dispositive motions, resulting in the early dismissal and favorable adjudication of claims brought against defendant clients, including claims for breach of contract, fraud and other business torts, unfair trade practice, as well as various equitable claims.
- Advised leading multinational travel management company (TMC) on business strategy, litigation risk, dispute resolution, and litigation and compliance aspects of company acquisition.
Credentials
Education
University of Southern California Gould School of Law, J.D., 2015
Senior Editor, Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal
University of California – Irvine, B.A., Political Science, 2012, cum laude
Bar Admissions
California
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
Professional Memberships
Hispanic National Bar Association
Philippine American Bar Association
Women’s Law Society
Honors & Awards
2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Labor and Employment – Management), Best Lawyers®
California Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters' California Super Lawyers (2025)