Nick has over 30 years of experience in commercial litigation, administrative proceedings, and dispute resolution, including contracts, environmental, insurance coverage, intellectual property, products liability, and real estate matters. Nick is a member of GPM’s Litigation, Real Estate, Risk Management and Insurance, and Complex Investigation groups.
Representative Cases
- CorePointe Capital Finance, LLC v. Hecker, No. A11-1048, 2012, WL 360413 (Minn. Ct. App. Feb. 6, 2012), rev. denied (April 25, 2012) (Representation of a judgment creditor with respect to garnishment of and levy on funds held by district court administrator in a dissolution proceeding)
- University of Minnesota v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., et al., File No. 11-CV-56 (D. Minn.) (CERCLA/MERLA cost recovery action against former landowners relating to Gopher Football Stadium)
- Chrysler Financial Services Americas LLC v. Hecker (In re Hecker), Adv. No. 09-50119, 2010 WL 654151 (Bkrtcy.D.Minn. Feb. 23, 2010) (Representation of a lender in an adversary proceeding against debtor/guarantor. Obtained a $83 million non-dischargeability award as a result of discovery abuses relating to electronically stored information)
- Outdoor Specialties and Landscaping, LLC v. Minnesota Assigned Risk Plan, 2008 WL 570763, 2008 Minn. App. Unpub. LEXIS 231 (Minn. Ct. App. March 4, 2008), rev. denied, 2008 Minn. LEXIS 272 (May 20, 2008) (Representation of a statutory workers’ compensation assigned risk plan regarding claims of improper cancellation of policy)
- Ohio Savings Bank v. Progressive Casualty Ins. Co., Civ No. 05-45 (JNE/SRN), 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 63887, aff’d 521 F.3d 960 (8th Cir. 2008) (Representation of an insured in a dispute relating to Financial Institution Bond, Standard Form No. 24)
Publications
- “Fee Shifting: The Recovery of In-House Legal Fees,” William Mitchell Law Review , Volume 39, Issue 1, January 2013
- "The Duty to Advance or Reimburse Defense Costs v. the Duty to Defend," Coverage (American Bar Association Section of Litigation Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee) Vol. 22 No. 6, November/December 2012
- “Insurance Coverage for Attorney Fee-Shifting Awards,” Coverage (American Bar Association Section of Litigation Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee) Vol. 22 No. 2, March/April 2012
- “Legal and Practical Considerations for ESOP Fiduciary Liability Insurance,” coauthor, The National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) Issue Brief, October 2011
- "Recovery of Inhouse Legal Fees," Bench & Bar of Minnesota, March 2010
- "Protection from Financial Meltdown Through Excess SIPC Coverage—Real Protection or Marketing Gimmick?," ABA Committee News: Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, Fall 2009
- “A Plan for Wealth Managers to Reduce the Risk of Cyber Threats,” The Journal of Wealth Management, Winter 2006
- “Pandemic: Be Sure Your Company is on Solid Legal Ground, Just in Case,” StarTribune, December 18, 2005
- “With TRIA set to expire, industry holds its breath,” Minnesota Real Estate Journal, October 2005
Presentations
- “Insurance Coverage for Emerging Intellectual Property Claims,” GPM and AON Risk Solutions, November 17, 2011
- “Insurance Coverage for Social Media Risks, Should You Give a Tweet?,” ADA Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee CLE Seminar, March 2011
- Alternative Environmental Review– Minnesota Environmental Policy Act, September 9, 2008
- The Next Wave of Environmental Enforcement: Intrusion of Toxic Vapors into Indoor Air, February 7, 2006
- Managing Risk Post-Katrina: Survive or Thrive, October 18, 2005
Education
- University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., cum laude
- University of Minnesota, B.A., summa cum laude
Phi Beta Kappa
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- Wisconsin State Bar Association
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Hennepin County Bar Association
- Multilaw, The Multinational Association of Independent Law Firms