Nicole Valente

Primary Focus & Experience

Ms. Valente is an experienced trial and appellate attorney working in complex and novel areas of law across industries and practice areas. Clients turn to her for strategic insights as well as her attention to detail. 

Ms. Valente has significant experience in defending companies and individuals in connection with securities litigation, antitrust litigation, and other high-stakes regulatory and business disputes. Her work spans federal and state courts and arbitration panels, and she advises clients on matters involving financial services, emerging markets and products, corporate transactions, shareholder and securities claims, and other business-critical controversies.

Beyond her commercial litigation practice, she maintains an active and diverse pro bono practice and has argued and appeared on behalf of clients in state and federal court. In 2022, Ms. Valente successfully argued, in an issue of first impression in the Second Circuit, that police may not rely on the lower criminal probable cause standard when conducting mental health arrests. Ms. Valente received the Legal Aid Society’s Pro Bono Publico Award for outstanding public service by an individual lawyer in 2019. 

Recognition & Accomplishments

Ms. Valente graduated from the University of Texas School of Law, where she was the Editor-in-Chief of The Review of Litigation and was a member of the Jessup International Law Moot Court team. She earned a bachelor's degree from St. John's University, Tobin College of Business.

In 2026, Ms. Valente was recognized by St. John’s University’s Tobin College of Business as an inaugural “40 Under 40” honoree. She is a member of the University of Texas School of Law New York City Regional Committee and the St. John's Alumni Advisory Committee.