Nicole Wrigley

Practice Areas

Nicole Wrigley is a nationally recognized complex commercial litigator, selected by Chambers USA, with over two decades of experience. While she has traditionally represented defendants in high-stakes disputes, Nicole has built a significant practice on the plaintiff’s side – most notably in defamation litigation. This gives her the strategic versatility to pursue affirmative claims for companies where litigation is the right business tool. This dual perspective makes her a sought-after advocate in “bet-the-company” matters on both sides of the “v.”

She is serving as Vice Chair of Benesch’s Litigation Practice Group and its Trial Practice Group, and she currently serves as lead counsel for Smartmatic in a $2+ billion defamation suit against Fox News. Her representation of Smartmatic against other defendants, such as Newsmax and OANN, has secured successful settlements for the company, as well as a recent summary judgment ruling in favor of the company against Mike Lindell and MyPillow.

Nicole has litigated some of the largest and most high-profile cases in U.S. legal history—from landmark defamation disputes and multibillion-dollar securities fraud claims to serving on the trial team in one of the largest auditor liability cases ever tried. Her practice spans the full litigation spectrum, including confidential business disputes, nine-figure commercial battles, and complex MDL proceedings where she served as liaison counsel defending industry-leading companies.

Opposing counsel have recognized her “great presence in front of a jury,” while clients praise Nicole as “a creative and aggressive, but practical advocate” with “an outstanding work ethic.”

Values the Client Relationship: Nicole’s approach centers on delivering value while maintaining the flexibility essential in high-stakes, evolving disputes. Her natural ability to connect with clients, judges, witnesses, and juries sets her apart—building trust when collaborating and commanding respect when fighting. Her deft touch in managing client relationships and stakeholder dynamics has earned strong recognition.

Diverse Subject Matter Experience: Nicole’s litigation portfolio encompasses class action defense, trade secret misappropriation, corporate investigations, defamation and disparagement, contract disputes, securities fraud, consumer fraud, and product liability. Beyond the courtroom, Fortune 500 clients seek out Nicole’s counsel for crisis management, reputational risk, and media relations during their most critical moments. She regularly advises companies on pre-litigation strategies. Her ability to quickly master new industries and legal frameworks—particularly in technology-driven disputes—allows her to jump into any matter with confidence and immediately add value.

Pro Bono and Community Commitment: Nicole is deeply committed to giving back to her community through extensive pro bono work and civic leadership. Her robust pro bono practice spans representation of prisoners in the Illinois Department of Corrections system, advocacy for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, and representation of Chicago public school teachers. In 2005, she received the Outstanding Pro Bono Commitment Award from Intercultural Montessori Language School. Currently, Nicole serves as an advisor to the Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago, mentoring the next generation of legal advocates. Her community leadership extends beyond legal work, as she previously served on the Associate Board for the American Cancer Society and as a director for Seven Generations Ahead, a sustainability organization.

Publications

Nicole is recognized nationwide not only for her litigation success but also for her thought leadership in the legal profession. She regularly delivers presentations and CLEs at premier conferences, including:

• “On the Frontline, Legal’s Role When Crisis Strikes”

• “Justice in the Age of Disinformation: Leveraging Legal Strategies to Safeguard Elections”

• “AI Litigation and Legislation: New Trends and Practical Takeaways”

• “Understanding Your Risk Tolerance & Preparing for Shifting Business Priorities”

• “Business Collaboration and the Risk of Trade Secret Litigation”

• “A Media Report Slammed Your Product—Should You Sue?”

• “Tips from the Trenches: Women Trial Lawyers in Action”

• “Federal Preemption and Product Liability: Where Are We Now?”

Nicole’s perspectives have made her a “go-to” resource for clients, peers, and the broader business and legal communities, helping shape legal strategies and policy trends nationwide.

Personal

Nicole is deeply committed to public service and has an active pro bono practice. She has represented clients in a wide array of matters, including:

• Class actions on behalf of prisoners in the Illinois Department of Corrections system

• Advocacy for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and Chicago public school teachers

• Representation of individuals in immigration and divorce proceedings

• Recipient of the Outstanding Pro Bono Commitment Award from the Intercultural Montessori Language School

Nicole currently serves as a lawyer advisor for the Future Justice Lawyers Program of Chicago Appleseed and the Chicago Council of Lawyers. Her dedication to her community also extends to her former service on the Associate Board of the American Cancer Society and as a Director for Seven Generations Ahead, a leading sustainability organization.

Education