Nicole E. Gage

Nicole serves as lead national counsel overseeing thousands of matters and managing local counsel in numerous jurisdictions across the country, including the so-called judicial hellholes, such as New York, Illinois, and South Carolina. Nicole develops and maintains a consistent national defense, while controlling legal spend and reducing case counts.

Nicole has extensive experience representing multinational companies in asbestos-related lawsuits, including product manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors of electrical controls, aviation engines, valves, pumps, automotive components, and HVAC equipment in state, federal, and multidistrict venues. She also defends companies in general product liability cases, designing winning strategies in the defense of product defect, design defect, failure to warn, and strict liability claims.

Nicole manages matters throughout the life of the case, including through trial. Her trial experience includes second-chairing a trial and cross-examining witnesses, as well as jury selection, and drafting and arguing motions in limine. She is particularly known for her negotiating skills and is often the attorney called upon by clients to negotiate big-demand/high-risk cases to resolution in jurisdictions across the country.

Nicole lives in Berkeley with her husband and two children who keep her busy outside of work, which includes attending multiple sporting events, including volleyball. Aside from spending time with her family, Nicole enjoys cooking and traveling. Nicole is fluent in Swedish.